Target Areas/Objectives
Since its inception, Welborn Baptist Foundation has focused its efforts in six key target areas.
Grant proposals are currently being accepted in five of the six areas:
• Promotion of Early Childhood Development
• Promotion of Healthy Adolescent Development
• Improvements to Community Health Status
• Faith-Based Initiatives
• General Opportunity
The grant cycle for the sixth target area, School Based Health, typically begins in April; please refer back to the HEROES section of the Foundation web site for updates on prospective granting at that time. HEROES is a 3 year commitment, during which a school will focus on implementing the Centers for Disease Control’s Coordinated School Health Model (CSH) into their school environment and begin to change their school’s culture. The funding from WBF is geared towards the Physical Education/Physical Activity and Nutrition components of CSH but the schools are also expected to begin making changes in the other 6 components as well. For additional information, please contact Rhonda Meade at HEROES@welbornfdn.org.
Promotion of Early Childhood Development – The first few years of life are increasingly being viewed as the foundational element to optimize future health and achievement potential. “All babies and toddlers need positive early learning experiences to foster their intellectual, social and emotional development and lay the foundation for later school success. Babies and toddlers living in high-risk environments need additional supports to promote their healthy growth and development. All child-care arrangements, including family, friend, neighbor, and family- and center-based child care have the potential to provide high-quality, individualized, responsive and stimulating experiences that occur within the context of strong relationships and which are imbedded in everyday routines.” (from www.zerotothree.org)
Ultimate success in this target area would be reflected in every child entering kindergarten at grade level reading readiness, as well as physically, socially, and emotionally ready to learn. As such, the Foundation’s historical support has focused on key determinants of this success such as high-quality child care, parent engagement, and school readiness programs. In 2010, these areas will be continue to be paramount; the Foundation is also interested in considering a) research-based initiatives which improve outcomes for high-risk children in child care with family, friends, and/or neighbors; and b) not-for-profit child care programs embedding best practices on increasing physical activity and healthier eating.
Promotion of Healthy Adolescent Development – The risks associated with the adolescent years are substantial and well-documented. For instance, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “During the transition from childhood to adulthood, adolescents establish patterns of behavior and make lifestyle choices that affect both their current and future health. Serious health and safety issues such as motor vehicle crashes, violence, substance abuse, and sexual behavior adversely affect adolescents and young adults. They also struggle with behaviors that will affect their risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood, such as eating nutritiously, engaging in physical activity, and choosing not to use tobacco.”
On the positive side, numerous studies have shown that the active presence of caring adults in the life of a teenager can make a profound positive impact on their healthy development and ability to cope with a wide range of life situations.
The Foundation’s ultimate objective in funding proposals in this target area is for every adolescent in the community to have the coping skills and access to positive influences that will maximize their personal development and health. Consequently, our primary focus in 2010 is on a) programs that result in fewer adolescents indulging in high-risk behaviors (with a particular emphasis on substance abuse), and b) programs that result in more adolescents having the self image, educational attainment, and coping skills that are associated with consistent and significant adult involvement in their lives (with a particular emphasis on mentoring and enhanced family relationships).
Improvements to Community Health Status– Numerous communities across the country have established a portfolio of specific indicators to track changes over time in the economic, social, and environmental well-being of their constituents. Those tracking the health status of their communities typically use the prevalence of chronic disease, preventative measures, and the absence of barriers to good health as helpful indicators. In 2008, the Welborn Baptist Foundation released a baseline study called Adult Health in the Tri-State, with self-reported data from a representative sample of our community on 18 factors impacting our collective health status.
Based on the results of that study, the Foundation has initiated a community-wide coalition known as move.ment, which is designed to achieve long-term reduction in the proportion of residents that are either overweight or obese, through increased physical activity and healthier eating. While Foundation funding of obesity-related projects will be in large part determined by coalition input, we welcome additional partners in this important initiative. Please contact the Foundation at movement@welbornfdn.org if your organization would like to play a role in coalition activities.
Beyond move.ment, the Foundation’s funding objective in this target area is for all community residents to proactively take the appropriate steps that can lead to lower levels of chronic illness. Our primary focus in 2010 is therefore on a) programs that increase the access of high-risk populations to health care services, and b) programs that address the prevention and successful management of chronic disease states.
Health Ministries – A subcategory of the Foundation’s Community Health Status target is Health Ministries. A health ministry integrates faith and health within a church community for its members and the community it serves. It is an integral part of the overall ministry of the church, promoting physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being. Health ministers are many – clergy, nurses and laity – coming together to share the compassionate love and grace of Jesus Christ.
The Foundation will continue to offer technical assistance, training and seed funding to establish health ministries in congregations throughout the Foundation’s Service Area. Please contact HealthMinistries@welbornfdn.org for more information.
Faith-Based Initiatives – The Foundation’s Baptist heritage has led it to designate grants each year to Christian faith-based entities and organizations that exemplify our mission: to apply Christian principles in support of improved community health, well-being, and quality of life. Though broad in scope, historical funding has focused on messaging initiatives (such as evangelism and discipleship) of youth-oriented faith-based organizations, as well as ministry outreaches of both churches and faith-based organizations. Messaging initiatives provide the spiritual direction which fosters health in body, soul, and spirit; ministry outreaches typically are those that involve ongoing relationships with those served, as opposed to those providing daily needs. Typically, projects designed to meet urgent human needs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, direct shelter services, rental and utility assistance programs and the like are not considered to be within the purview of the Foundation.
The Foundation’s funding objective is for all community residents to benefit from the renewal inherent in the gospel message of grace, mercy, and service. Our primary focus in 2010 is on a) programs that provide evangelistic and/or discipleship outreach, with a focus on parachurch organizations (defined as Christian faith-based organizations which work outside of and across denominations, usually independent of church oversight) rather than individual churches; and b) ministry programs that meet practical needs in the context of an ongoing relationship.
General Opportunity– To meet needs that do not naturally fit into the other priority target areas, but which are consistent with the Foundation’s mission, the General Opportunity target area has been established. In the past, General Opportunity grants have focused on opportunities that enhance the general health and/or the health educational status of the community. Ideal opportunities for consideration in this category are those which address both health and health education. Proposals which have only a peripheral relationship to health or health education are not likely to be funded.