Member spotlight: foundation for a healthy kentucky
September’s Member Spotlight is the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky! Read below to get to know the work they do, what they are celebrating, and where they see gaps in support.
What recent accomplishment are you most proud of that reflects your ongoing mission to enhance health equity across Kentucky?
The Foundation serves as the backbone organization for the Kentucky Coalition for Healthy Children (KCHC), a policy and advocacy coalition launched in 2019 that includes 38 organizations on its Steering Committee. The KCHC is dedicated to improving children’s health in school settings by developing policy recommendations, advocating for legislative changes, coordinating with public agencies, and fostering public-private partnerships to share data and resources.
We are also proud of the Foundation’s longstanding support for programs that enhance nutrition for children and families, in particular Community Farm Alliance’s Kentucky Double Dollars program, Fresh RX for Moms and the Kentucky Farm to School Network. These initiatives exemplify our commitment to addressing nutrition as a critical component of health. [Here is a link to a video highlighting this work.]
2. Can you share a success story - perhaps a demonstration project or policy victory - that exemplifies your impact?
One of our most successful demonstration projects was Investing in Kentucky’s Future. Through this six-year, $3 million initiative, we provided funding, training, technical assistance, evaluation support, and coaching to seven health coalitions across the Commonwealth. The project led to 38 local policy changes, numerous improvements to the built environment, and measurable positive shifts in children’s behaviors, nutrition, and physical activity levels. The following are links to the report and videos:
Foundation Healthy KY-Childhood Obesity Prevention
3. What types of partnerships or collaborations within Central Appalachia could amplify your current initiatives - where do you see the biggest gaps that funders could help fill?
To help fill critical gaps, funders could focus on increasing support for local health coalitions, area development districts, and community-based organizations, particularly by investing in capacity-building efforts.
4. What promising but under-resourced approaches in Kentucky could make a transformative difference if funders stepped in now?
We believe that investing in children’s health and well-being is one of the most transformative strategies for creating lasting change. To that end, increasing support for public schools and strengthening partnerships between schools, community organizations, and other agencies is essential.
5. What gives you the most hope right now?
The increased interest from youth in their health and well-being. There are various youth groups in Kentucky that are working towards addressing some of the most pressing issues they face. Two prominent and very active examples are the Kentucky Student Voice Team and #iCANendthetrend.
6. How has being part of the Appalachia Funders Network supported or strengthened your work - and where do you see AFN helping to amplify funders’ collective impact in the future?
The AFN has been a great resource, offering insights into best and promising practices from other states, facilitating meaningful discussions with funders about the unique challenges facing Appalachian communities, and providing connections that we’ve been able to share with our grantees and staff.
As federal and state funding declines, increased collaboration among funders will be essential to help fill critical gaps, especially for community- based organizations and programs that are driving meaningful change.
Thank you, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, for the incredible and impactful work you do for Central Appalachia!