LOUISVILLE — The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky invites applications under its new Investing in Kentucky’s Future initiative, from communities working to improve children’s health. The Foundation anticipates making grants to five to ten communities throughout the Commonwealth. This new five-year, $3 million program seeks to test innovative ways to reduce chronic disease risks for school-aged children.

Chronic diseases are diseases that last over time, decrease quality of life and increase the risk of early death. They include conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Substance abuse and some mental illnesses are also chronic. Troublingly, chronic diseases occur at higher rates in Kentucky than in surrounding states.

“Our goal is to help communities make positive changes that will help children start and sustain healthy habits to last a lifetime,” stated Susan Zepeda, CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “Whether the challenge is access to needed routine medical check-ups, safe places to play or nutritious foods, or caring adults to show ways to communicate and avoid risky behaviors, we want to help communities find new pathways to positive solutions.”

Interested communities are encouraged to apply. The deadline to submit a letter of intent to apply for grant funding is Nov. 16. Following a letter of intent, the Foundation will invite applicants to submit a full proposal. The deadline for the receipt of the full proposal is Feb. 28. For a complete copy of the RFP, and additional information regarding grant opportunities through the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, please visit healthy-ky.org or call our office toll-free at 877-326-2583.

Research shows that safe and effective health care, supportive education, and adults who protect and nurture children are factors that promote health.

“The health of our next generation is at stake. That’s why we are investing in Kentucky’s future,” concluded Zepeda. “We believe that by working together on the local level, civic leaders with vision can develop innovative strategies to improve the health of our children.”

Investing in Kentucky’s Future includes funding and providing training and technical assistance to community groups to launch effective, sustainable models for better children’s health. The Foundation relies on local leaders to identify critical health needs and helps focus investments on how best to engage the community in order to have the biggest impact.

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky is a non-profit, philanthropic organization working to address the unmet health care needs of Kentuckians. Our approach centers on developing and influencing health policy, to promote lasting change in the systems by which health care is provided and good health sustained, to:

• improve access to care,

• reduce health risks and disparities, and

• promote health equity.

The Foundation makes grants, supports research, holds educational forums and convenes communities to engage and develop the capacity of the Commonwealth to improve the health and quality of life of all Kentuckians.

For more information, please visit www.healthy-ky.org.