February 2, 2015 - The Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust recently awarded grants to organizations working to improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents. Three organizations were awarded a total of $284,000 to enhance community wellness and to improve access to behavioral health services.

The three grants awarded are:

• $75,000 to the Alzheimer’s Resource Center of Connecticut, Inc., to support Hope Full Lives, a community and home based program designed to decrease caregiver burden and promote the positive mental health and well-being of dementia care partners in Southington;
• $79,000 to Wheeler Clinic, to support the Southington Health Outreach Project with a full-time health outreach coordinator to enhance access to mental health and substance use prevention and treatment services for Southington residents; and
• $130,000 to the Southington YMCA, to support the purchase and installation of an elevator to transport individuals, especially those with physical limitations, to the basement pool location.         

“We are thrilled to be announcing $284,000 in grants thanks to the generous legacy of Bradley and Leila Barnes,” said Susan Sadecki, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “I think they would be very pleased.”

Additionally, a grant from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust is supporting the Healthy Minds section of the Healthy Family FunFest, which will take place in Southington on Sunday, February 22, 2015. The Healthy Minds section will explore many aspects of mental and behavioral health through screenings, interactive demonstrations, pet therapy, resources and other happenings. The Healthy Family FunFest will be held from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Aqua Turf Club and admission is free.

“A cornerstone to the Healthy Minds section of the Healthy Family FunFest is Dave Caperton, an award-winning educator, writer and comedian, who will provide five lighthearted sessions throughout the day,” said Sadecki. “He blends laughter, research and storytelling to teach everyone how incorporating joy, optimism and laughter into everyday living can bring mental and physical benefits. He is hysterically funny - his sessions are not to be missed!”

Southington health study directed grants
The grants awarded were the result of the Trust’s request for proposals to selected nonprofits that have programs focused on one of the following areas that was identified in A Study of Community Health and Healthcare Needs for Southington:

• Accessibility and affordability of health care
• Services/programs to address substance use prevention and mental health needs
• Supports to meet the health and healthcare needs of an aging population
• Better integrated health care
• More community education about existing services

“For this grant cycle, we focused on capital projects in health care that support existing programs or programs that address the mental health and substance use recovery of Southington residents,” reported William J. Tracy, Jr., chair of the Trust advisory committee and former chair of the Community Foundation board.

In 2013, the Community Foundation commissioned the study to better understand health and healthcare needs in Southington and to identify areas where support from the Trust might address gaps in services and promote the health and well-being of community members. The five abovementioned areas of need were identified by Southington residents. The full report is available on the Community Foundation’s website: www.mainstreetfoundation.org.