October 18, 2023

Concord, NH – The Foundation for Healthy Communities (FHC) announced at its annual meeting its receipt of an “innovation” grant through which its HealthForce NH initiative will seek out novel solutions to the health care workforce shortage.

The grant, which provides for $1 million dollars over five years, will create an “innovation fund” to which applicants can seek to receive funding for creative initiatives that address New Hampshire’s significant health care workforce shortage. HealthForce NH’s Senior Director, Kate Luczko, said the innovation fund aligns perfectly with HealthForce NH’s mission.

“Our mission is to promote innovative partnerships and cross-sector collaboration to grow, retain, and sustain a robust health care workforce,” said Luczko. “With support from the Endowment for Health, we will seek out partners – from health care, education, business, and a dynamic cross-sector of industries – and invest in them as they create unique new ways to help solve the workforce challenges facing the health care industry in New Hampshire.”

The grant opportunities being announced are part of an overall effort to launch bold, innovative projects to address the state’s need for a dedicated, robust health care workforce.

“Now more than ever, we need innovative approaches to the pressing issue of the health care workforce shortage,” said Yvonne Goldsberry, President, Endowment for Health. “Facing significant shortages in qualified health care workers, with efforts to date having had minimal impact, we absolutely must think outside-the-box. We applaud the efforts of the Foundation for Healthy Communities and HealthForce NH and look forward to seeing what high-impact strategies will come out of this initiative.”

More information on the process to engage with HealthForce and its Innovation Fund will be announced in early 2024. Details will be shared at healthforcenh.org and on the organization’s social media channels.

About the Foundation for Healthy Communities, HealthForce NH and the Endowment for Health

The Foundation for Healthy Communities (FHC) is a non-profit organization that builds healthier communities for all by leading partnerships, fostering collaboration, and creating innovative solutions to advance health and health care.

HealthForce NH, an initiative of FHC, takes a broad, systemic approach to helping NH grow, retain, and sustain a skilled health care workforce, leveraging their cross-sector position and offering leadership to the field while convening partners to cultivate resources, amplify existing efforts, and monitor the health care landscape. HealthForce does this work with a shared goal of creating an environment where current and future members of the health care workforce can flourish.

The Endowment for Health works to improve the health and reduce the burden of illness for the people of New Hampshire – especially the vulnerable and underserved.  Since 2001, the Endowment has awarded more than 1,600 grants totaling $67 million to support a wide range of health-related projects in New Hampshire. For more information about the Endowment for Health, visit www.endowmentforhealth.org

Download the press release here.

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