(Chelsea Update would like to thank Matt Pegouskie for the information in this story.)
The Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation (CWF) Board of Directors approved $500,000 for their fourth year of investment in the 5 Healthy Towns (5H) program, and $2.5 million total in four years.
5H is the CWF strategy for improving access to opportunities for sustaining and improving health for all residents of Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester and Stockbridge. In 2015, each community will have access to $100,000.
CWF distributes grant funding through each community’s Wellness Coalition. The coalitions are made of community volunteers who review data to determine community wellness-related needs. The coalition uses CWF funding and funding from other sources to implement a community-wide wellness plan to meet those needs.
Plans are made up of multiple interventions, each with an identified non-profit oversight organization. Coalitions are dependent on local non-profits to oversee technical aspects of the plan, like applying for and managing funds. This assures broad community buy-in, collaboration and cooperation. Typical oversight organizations include schools, local governments, libraries, health care providers and other non-profit organizations.
Before approval, each community’s plan is evaluated by their wellness coalition, CWF board members and other representatives from the service area. Approved plans will have the potential to reach multiple segments of the community’s population.
The Chelsea Friends and Family Wellness Coalition is the first to submit their year 4 plan. They are requesting $92,000 of the available $100,000, for 12 interventions. They recommend CWF use the un-assigned $8,000 as seed money to begin a five coalition, 5H marketing plan.
Representatives of CWF’s Board of Directors will consider their suggestion at their May meeting when they review Chelsea’s 2015 plan submission. This level of collaboration between communities is encouraged and their suggestion is likely to be endorsed.
Manchester’s fourth year plan will be considered by CWF’s Board in June. Stockbridge in August.
To see all five communities third year wellness plans visit CWF’s website and scroll to the bottom third of the page where you will find links to each community’s plan.
The Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation governed by a volunteer board of directors. The foundation serves the populations included in the school districts of Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester and Stockbridge. CWF will grant funds for projects dedicated to creating a culture of wellness and sustainable improvements in health.
