Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware awards grants to 17 nonprofits.
The social determinants of health grants total more than $1.9 million, and are through Highmark’s donor-advised fund, BluePrints for the Community.
"For our members that have an identified need partnering with community organizations to address tho needs is critical to address the social risks that affect their help," said Deb Donovan, Highmark Health’s VP of Social Determinants of Health. "[These] Blueprints Grants will help our communities by supporting organizations who are focused on economic development, education, workforce development, and access to care."
The areas of social determinants of health considered included economic and financial stability, access to education, transportation, health and health care, including dental/oral health, and neighborhood and environment factors.
"These programs and projects encompass a variety of approaches and targeted populations, but they all clearly demonstrate an acute awareness of the needs of their communities and have promising outcomes that will directly support the improved and sustained health and well-being of our Delawareans," said Blueprints for the Community Advisory Council chair Rita Landgraf, a former Delaware Health and Social Services Secretary.
The grant was originally set to total $1 million, but the funding was increased in response to growing needs that existed prior to the pandemic being exacerbated by COVID-19.
Grant recipients include Catholic Charities-Diocese of Wilmington, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Children and Families First DE, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, and the United Way of Delaware, Inc.
