Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky offers $20,000 in mini grants to support increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Kentucky counties with low vaccination rates
Keeping Our Communities Healthy grants to provide up to $2K for organizations to create or expand existing approaches to encourage COVID-19 vaccination
LOUISVILLE, KY (September 10, 2021) – The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky is offering $20,000 in Keeping our Communities Healthy mini grants to encourage Kentuckians to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The grants are intended for rapid deployment for organizations to create new or expand on existing COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
“Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect against serious illness or death from the disease,” said Ben Chandler, president and CEO, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “Local organizations are working hard across the bluegrass to get more Kentuckians vaccinated. These grants are intended as a quick infusion to those efforts as we face a surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths.”
The Foundation will award approximately 10 grants of up to $2,000 each. The grants are open to Kentucky-based nonprofit and governmental organizations – such as local health departments, community-based organizations, community health centers, schools, libraries, faith centers, local civic groups and other local organizations – working in Kentucky counties with COVID-19 vaccination rates under 35 percent. Eligible counties include:
Ballard
Carlisle
Casey
Christian
Clay
Clinton
Cumberland
Crittenden
Edmonson
Elliott
Fulton
Hart
Hickman
Jackson
Knox
Lewis
Martin
McCreary
Metcalfe
Owen
Robertson
Rockcastle
Spencer
Todd
Trimble
Union
Some examples of how the mini-grant funds could be used include:
Communicating about vaccine availability and education using local radio stations and media, social media platforms, signs, posters, educational videos, PSAs, etc.
Training to trusted community members to conduct in person outreach to raise awareness about the vaccines and help individuals sign up for appointments.
Support community health workers, Promotores, navigators, FRYSCs, Cooperative Extension agents, social workers and others who can include vaccine education and outreach as part of their work with community members.
Identify people in the community who can perform bilingual health outreach for community members who are non-English speakers so they can get information they need to get a free vaccination.
Schools can inform parents through their communication channels about the dates and places of COVID-19 vaccination events or on-going clinics and help parents register their child and themselves for a vaccination appointment.