The St Joseph Community Health Foundation Inc

Community initiatives are operated in response to learning from the grantmaking program as to the outcomes and results as well as unmet needs of the community's most vulnerable populations. These initiatives include but are not limited to offering community education sessions around emerging best practices in prenatal and infant care in response to high local infant mortality; training medical interpreters to assist care providers in reaching the 10% of the population who report speaking other than the english language; and assisting local non-profits in improving their holistic care of their clients.

Foundation operated heal (healthy eating active living) pilot program to introduce low-cost, affordable fresh, nutritious foods into food desert neighborhoods with community gardens, cooking classes, and farm markets which accept and match government wic and snap vouchers.

Resource directory: a directory of over 70 quality, low-cost health care providers in allen county was published on-line at www.healthcaredirectory.org as well as paper versions in both english and spanish were distributed into the community reaching over 15,000 households. Directory provides details on types of services, hours, fees, contact information, bus routes, etc.