Interact for Health awards $350K in final 2024 Rural Changemaker Grants; Highland, Brown County organizations receive funding
Interact for Health has awarded four additional recipients of the Rural Changemaker Grant, the final round of strategic investments in rural communities for 2024.
“As we wrap up our first year of the Rural Investment Strategy, we reflect on our rural communities’ unique needs and talents. The creative solutions in these proposals represent the ongoing work to make our rural region more connected and thriving,” said Interact for Health President and CEO Kate Schroder.
The four organizations selected for this round of funding serve a distinct need in their rural community:
• Hope House Christian Counseling Center, Mental Health Counseling in Rural Appalachia (Ohio), $100,000. Hope House Christian Counseling provides faith-based and traditional counseling and mental health services in Highland County.
According to American Psychiatrist's Association reports, Appalachia has 35-percent fewer mental health professionals per 100,000 residents than the national average. With this funding, Hope House will be able to expand its capacity to move patients off its waiting list and ensure that more rural clients receive critical mental health services in a timely manner.
“This grant will provide us with the opportunity to continue and expand our services and programs to those who are hurting in our rural communities,” said Julie Seaman, Executive Director, Hope House Christian Counseling.
• The House of Hope by The Door of Hope (Ohio),$100,000. The Door of Hope envisions a future where supportive housing is a cornerstone of our healthcare system, not merely an afterthought. A place where individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness can find stability, belonging and the opportunity to thrive.
The House of Hope is a residential program that integrates mental health services, care coordination, and employment services for those experiencing homelessness in Brown County. Door of Hope uses an integrated approach to promote healing, stability and self-sufficiency.
“The House of Hope project is not just about providing shelter — it’s about transforming lives by addressing the root causes of homelessness and health issues that are both a contributor too and a result of it," said Stacey Strasser, Executive Director at The Door of Hope.
• DREAM Grant County Expansion (Kentucky), $50,000. DREAM Grant County initiates employment opportunities for a wide spectrum of ability levels.
With this funding, DREAM Grant County plans to purchase a van to provide transportation for program participants. DREAM employees get the opportunity to experience the dignity of labor, draw a paycheck and be proud of the important work they are doing.
“DREAM Grant County is seeking to provide meaningful employment opportunities to our citizens with special needs. We are excited about becoming more visible in the community and sharing the DREAM of inclusion and opportunity across our community,” said Mona Lazarus, DREAM Grant County Founder.
• Youth Encouragement Services (YES) Home (Indiana), $100,000. The YES Home is a trauma-informed qualified residential treatment program serving youth ages 12-20 in Southeastern Indiana.
At YES Home, youth find healthy ways to cope with trauma, resulting in improved outcomes and behaviors. Over 80 percent of the youth served by YES Home identify as part of the LGBTQ+ Community.
“The Rural Changemaker grant will allow us to provide quality mental health residential services for our youth while expanding services to our families,” Amy Phillips, Executive Director, YES Home, said. “We are excited for this opportunity to continue to grow and serve youth and families in their healing journey.”
With 10 grantees and a total awarded amount of over $900,000, the Rural Changemaker Grant was the signature grant opportunity for Interact for Health’s Rural Investment Strategy. Dedicated grant funding and rural community councils will be available again in 2025.
Interact for Health works to ensure that people in our region have a just opportunity to live their healthiest lives, regardless of who they are or where they live. We advance health justice through grantmaking, collaboration, learning, convening, and engagement. Interact for Health is an independent foundation that works in 20 counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. More information is available at www.interactforhealth.org.
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