Health First to Award More Than $360,000 in Wellness Grants to 12 Community Partners

Health First Improves Community Health by Strengthening Community Partners

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Health First will award more than $360,000 on Tuesday in Wellness Grants to 12 community partners.

Wellness Grants focus on addressing the disparities identified in the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), which is completed every three years in partnership with the Space Coast Health Foundation.

The most recent CHNA 2022 identified access to healthcare and physical activity and nutrition of children as our community health focus areas.

“We are very excited to award these wellness grants to our community partners,” said Paula Just, Chief Experience Officer with Health First. “By working together, we can make real strides toward improving the wellness of our entire community.”

The community partners approved for an FY23 Wellness Grant are:

■ 211 Brevard
■ Boys & Girls Club (Brevard clubs)
■ Brevard Public Schools
■ Complementary Cancer Care
■ Junior League of the Space Coast
■ Family Promise of Brevard
■ Promise in Brevard
■ South Brevard Sharing Center
■ Space Coast Sled Hockey
■ Streetside Showers
■ WAYS for Life Brevard
■ Who We Play For

A Community Health Improvement Committee, comprised of Health First leaders across the organization, evaluated and approved applications for Wellness Grants with the goal of improving the wellness and health disparities in our community.

Health First is proud to invest in programs that align with the current community wellness focus areas, including the following:

■ “Space Coast Blast (Sled Hockey) is beyond thrilled to be a beneficiary of the Health First Wellness Grant, and this grant will enable our adaptive sports program to expand and share information to the community about our program and will open doors for the disabled person of inclusion and a sense of normalcy that otherwise would not be there,” said Anne Skinner, Secretary of the board for the Space Coast Sled Hockey.

“Now the program will be able to host try sled hockey clinics throughout the year, while continuing to introduce adults and children in the community with a disability to our adaptive sport.”

■ “Streetside Showers is extremely thankful for the generous donation which will be used to purchase a new shower trailer that is handicap accessible,” said John Adams, who operates the mobile shower service and personal hygiene care for those experiencing homelessness.

“There is nothing like a refreshing hot shower and clean clothing to make you feel good about yourself. This donation will go a long way to bring some hope and dignity for anyone without a home including those with physical disabilities.”

■ “WAYS for Life is beyond grateful to Health First for its award of a 2022-2023 Wellness Grant for our Journey to Health Expansion Program,” said Pamela Bress, Executive Director with WAYS for Life.

“The Health First Wellness grant will support the WAYS for Life drop-in youth center which specifically serves youth in transition ages 15 to 25. Most kids who come to our center have aged out of foster care or are experiencing homelessness, and with the help of this grant, it’ll create better ways for life for our vulnerable youth by providing them with services to meet their basic needs, which provides them an opportunity to successfully transition to adulthood and sustainable independence.

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