Community Health Improvement Plan Grant

Jackson Care Connect is a nonprofit, community-focused health plan dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities within Jackson County, Oregon. Governed by a local Board of Directors and advised by a Community Advisory Council (CAC), the organization actively collaborates with community stakeholders to assess and address public health needs. As part of its ongoing commitment to community health, Jackson Care Connect participated in a comprehensive Community Health Assessment (CHA) in 2024. The CHA identified pressing health priorities for the region and directly informed the creation of the 2024 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which outlines key strategies for improving health outcomes through coordinated local action. The CHIP initiative represents a collective effort to address specific health challenges identified through data and stakeholder input. The plan prioritizes four focus areas: Access to Health Care, Behavioral Health, Community Building, and Housing. Jackson Care Connect partners with local organizations to implement strategies that align with these priorities, emphasizing collaboration, equity, and long-term health outcomes. The CHIP framework is designed to guide investment and programming decisions, including the distribution of grant funding to eligible organizations that support these objectives. Each year, Jackson Care Connect allocates one-time grant funds through its CHIP grant opportunity. These grants are overseen by the CAC and are intended to support short-term, impactful projects that advance the CHIP’s core focus areas. For the 2025 cycle, grants could be requested in amounts up to $20,000, though not all applicants would necessarily receive the full amount requested. Importantly, awarded funds are considered one-time and are not intended for sustained programmatic support across multiple years. Only one application per organization per cycle is permitted, and entities that received funding in the prior year are ineligible for the current cycle. Conversely, organizations not previously funded are given priority. Applicants for the CHIP Grant must be either nonprofit organizations or government agencies. All proposed projects must directly align with at least one of the CHIP priority areas. Applications are reviewed on a rolling monthly basis until available funds are depleted. Each application undergoes a rigorous evaluation process involving CAC members, Jackson Care Connect staff, and other community stakeholders. Applicants should be prepared to present their proposal during this process. The review period may take up to 90 days following submission. All projects funded under the CHIP Grant must be completed within a one-year implementation cycle. Jackson Care Connect uses Zoom Grants as its online application platform. Organizations must create an account on the platform to begin the submission process. For further information or assistance during the application process, prospective applicants are encouraged to contact David Hansen, Community Health Manager, at [email protected].