Buckeye Partnership Grants Support Community Access to Healthy Food and Financial Needs

Date: 02/19/21

Buckeye Health Plan Awards Three Community Partners with Funds to Aid Social Determinants of Health Efforts

Where you live can drive as much as 80 percent of health outcomes.^¹ The COVID-19 pandemic has closed business and service providers – adding to challenges such as access to healthy food, affordable housing, child care, education and living wage jobs for many Ohioans. In February, Buckeye Health Plan announced grants to three Ohio organizations that help disadvantaged residents overcome economic and social challenges.

“Our commitment to good health goes beyond healthcare,” said Buckeye President and CEO Steve Province. “Through partnerships with local organizations we can help families overcome food, social and economic challenges.”

Supporting Families

In Springfield, Ohio, more than 23 percent of residents live in poverty.^² Studies show that a family’s economic instability can negatively impact a child’s social-emotional, cognitive and academic outcomes.^³ Buckeye is partnering with Springfield-based, Encompass Connection to launch a Safe Parenting Alternatives Program to improve family stability, safety and financial self-sufficiency. The program will provide six to eight families with access to one-on-one virtual or in-person coaching and online learning to support family communication, conflict resolution skills, parenting confidence and financial literacy.

Addressing Hunger and Health

Buckeye is partnering with The United Way of Cleveland and Franklinton-based Lower Lights Christian Health Center to increase access to healthy food that can have lifelong health benefits.

In Cuyahoga County, 16 percent of residents are food insecure.^⁴ In Franklin County, 17 percent struggle with hunger.^⁵ However, in some Franklin County neighborhoods like Franklinton, nearly twice as many households struggle to get enough food.^⁶

Buckeye’s United Way of Cleveland grant will help more than 400 seniors in Cuyahoga County maintain a healthy diet, reduce social isolation and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations by providing medically tailored, home-delivered meals. Buckeye’s partnership with the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging’s Nutrition Solution Program will provide seniors with 10 medically tailored meals a week for 26 weeks as well as weekly calls to reduce isolation and support overall health.

Buckeye awarded Lower Lights Christian Health Center a grant to continue their Healthy Food Rx program to support more than 150 members in 2021. The program provides Buckeye members with health challenges (like hypertension, obesity and diabetes) pregnant women and children with six months of curriculum, provider visits and healthy food. Each month, participants receive a $60 grocery prescription card to use at Lower Lights’ Jubilee Market and Cafe for fresh produce, grains, legumes and other healthy foods. In addition, they get access to a dietitian for education and encouragement along with $15 monthly meal kits with easy-to-prepare recipes.

“In 2020, Buckeye partnered with Lower Lights for a six-month pilot program supporting more than 20 Buckeye members,” said Tracy Cloud, CEO of Lower Lights. “Buckeye members achieved many health successes, including lowering their blood pressure and A1C. Lower Lights is excited to continue our partnership with Buckeye to support more of our patients in 2021.”

Buckeye’s grant program creates strategic partnerships, innovative programs and personalized patient care to fulfill their vision of transforming the health of the community one person at a time. Grants are awarded quarterly to Ohio non-profit organizations that are working to build healthier communities and are addressing social determinants of health. For more information about the Buckeye Grant Program, visit Buckeye's Community Outreach page.

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