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(Hyannis, February 7, 2018) – Cape Cod Healthcare (CCHC) this week announced the recipients of its FY2018 Community Benefits Annual Strategic Grants. The CCHC Community Benefits annual competitive grants program was open to all non-profit community organizations operating in Barnstable County with programs aligned with CCHC Community Benefits priorities. To qualify, proposals had to meet at least one of the following two guidelines: • Address and positively impact chronic disease or infectious disease management and/or • Improve the health and disease prevention of residents of Barnstable County and sustain the wellness of seniors and caregivers. Eleven of the 17 projects submitted for consideration were chosen to receive grants, totaling more than $250,000. The 11 organizations awarded this year’s grants are: • Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Support Center – free care consultation for families • NAMI Cape Cod – Mental Health First Aid training • Cape Wellness Collaborative – integrative therapies for cancer patients • YMCA Cape Cod – Livestrong at the Y program expansion • Cape Cod Times Needy Fund – safety net program for individuals with chronic and infectious disease • Samaritans of Cape Cod and the Islands – elder suicide outreach programs • Team Maureen – HPV prevention through Cape-wide education • AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod - Hepatitis C outreach, testing and connection to care • Cape Cod Cooperative Extension – tick-borne disease prevention videos • Housing Assistance Corporation – HAC Family Shelter Health and Wellness programs • A Baby Center – infant car seat program “Working collaboratively with our community partners on the pressing health issues facing our community is extremely important to Cape Cod Healthcare,” said Theresa Ahern, CCHC Senior Vice President, Strategy and Government Affairs. “We are pleased to distribute this year’s grant awards to 11 exceptional organizations working to improve the health of the people in our region.” The CCHC Community Benefits program promotes Cape Cod Healthcare’s mission to coordinate and deliver the highest quality, accessible health services in order to enhance the health of all Cape Cod residents and visitors. In 2016, CCHC invested more than $28 million in community health initiatives. These initiatives included direct and strategic grant funding to community-based organizations and community health centers, charity care to residents of Barnstable County, hospital-based outreach, education and support programs, workforce development initiatives, regional health and human service partnerships, and employee volunteerism. “Community Benefits grant funding from Cape Cod Healthcare has helped us fully develop and expand our Senior Outreach program,” said Stephanie Kelly, executive director of the Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands, which is both a past and current recipient of a CCHC grant. “This FY18 grant will make it possible for us to reach more seniors across the Cape and Islands who are isolated, lonely and in need of a caring connection. This unique program pairs seniors with Samaritan volunteers who check in through weekly phone calls.” The FY2018 Annual Strategic Grant RFP concentrated on chronic and infectious disease management and disease prevention and wellness - two of the four health priorities and goals identified in the 2017-2019 Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Report and Implementation Plan. The strategic grant cycle is part of the Cape Cod Healthcare Community Benefits Grants Distribution program. In addition to the $250,000 awarded through the Annual Strategic Grant RFP process, an additional $850,000 in grant funding is distributed through special project grants to strengthen community-clinical linkages, mini-grants, and annual grants to federally qualified health centers in the region. Cape Cod Healthcare is the leading provider of healthcare services for residents and visitors of Cape Cod. With more than 450 physicians, 5,300 employees and 790 volunteers, Cape Cod Healthcare has two acute care hospitals, the Cape’s leading provider of homecare and hospice services (VNA), a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, an assisted living facility, and numerous health programs. For more information, visit Cape Cod Healthcare’s web site at www.capecodhealth.org. Cape Cod Healthcare. Visit our health news site www.capecodhealthnews.com for the latest in relevant and credible healthcare news.