Grant awards millions to twelve community-based organizations

                                                                Better Together funds advance COVID-19 vaccine equity for vulnerable populations 

SANTA FE – The Department of Health (DOH) announces nearly $3.5 million in grant funding has been awarded to twelve community-led organizations through the Better Together Grant Program. 

The Better Together New Mexico program is federally funded by an appropriation to support vaccine equity and inclusion throughout New Mexico. The program advances health equity goals for diverse cultural, economic and social populations through improved access to COVID-19 vaccination and information. Emphasis is placed on reaching defined demographics with low vaccination rates, in an effort to provide long lasting, sustainable impact.

“This critical grant serves some of the most vulnerable New Mexicans by ensuring opportunities for community-led messaging and amplifying ever-important community voices to promote health equity,” said David R. Scrase, M.D. acting cabinet secretary for DOH. “An equitable allotment of resources feeds inclusive communication pathways and celebrates cultural diversity.”

Award amounts support the longevity of the project, having a positive systemic long-term impact in the community. Award recipients, their respective amounts awarded and a brief summary of their efforts include:

• Chainbreaker Collective: $200,000, focused on the essential worker and immigrant population in Santa Fe County.
• Comadre a Comadre, a Program of the University of New Mexico: $199,999, a trusted resource in the Spanish speaking community, ensuring their community gets vaccinated and stays up to date.
• Empowerment Congress, a program of the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico: $200,000, focused on the Colonias in Southern New Mexico.
• New Mexico Community Health Worker Association: $200,000, focused on business owners in Southeast New Mexico, to educate employees about vaccination (specifically dairies and other agricultural businesses).
• Partnership for Community Action: $57,240, partnering with the Mexican Consulate on three vaccine clinics per year with their established clientele.
• Presbyterian Healthcare Services / Community Health: $200,000, creating a program that educates personal service providers (hairdressers, barbers, nail salons, tattoo artists) as educated ambassadors and encourages them to speak with their clients while rendering services.
• Somos Unidos Foundation: $75,000, vaccination campaign with the NM United soccer team.
• Quay County Health Council: $85,000, focused on engaging high school youth and young families in discerning misinformation and disinformation through social media.
• South Valley MainStreet: $100,000, focused on partnerships with small businesses, to educate them about vaccinations and how their workforce is impacted with an outbreak.
• Black Leadership Council: $825,000, a statewide focus on the black population throughout New Mexico, offering technical support for established programs.
• Boys and Girls Club Alliance: $700,000, focused on engaging youth and families at 29 established Clubs statewide.
• Generation Justice: $650,000, working with youth to teach them how to navigate misinformation and disinformation around the topic of the pandemic. 

For more information about the program, visit the BetterTogetherNM.org website or contact audrey@momentumsantafe.com for additional details.

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Subsidio otorgan millones a doce organizaciones comunitarias