A community thrives when everyone has the opportunity for good health and well-being.
While the essential elements for a healthy life are readily available for some, opportunities are significantly limited for many. Through community-informed system changes that reduce barriers in the social determinants of health, we can achieve health equity.
Various populations experience significant disparities across health outcomes. This means that factors outside of individual choice influence one’s well-being.
Social, economic, and environmental conditions determine how long and how well people live.
Our systems consist of policies, practices, and norms that shape people’s access to good health and well-being. Throughout history, these systems have been created to advantage some and disadvantage others.
As a result, there are communities that have historically, and continue to, lack resources and opportunities to achieve strong economic health and well-being. The inability to live healthy lives has multi-generational impacts, causing regional challenges that are costly to address.
Mid-Iowa Health Foundation leads and invests in efforts – and the people who drive them – to ensure central Iowans can access what they need to live healthy lives. We make grants to projects that have these components:
Informed by communities most impacted
Targeting system change
Addressing at least one social determinant of health, with an emphasis on economic health and well-being
Driving toward health equity
Improving community well-being can take different paths. That’s why we support a variety of strategies that connect opportunities in these ways:
The expertise of those directly affected
Decisions that impact their well-being and dignity
Initiatives driven by the community and those most impacted by challenges
Existing assets and resources
Data and research
Meaningful action
System-focused policies and practices
Collaborative and equitable approaches implemented with cultural humility
Strategies
Knowledge that children live in families and families live in communities
Decision-makers
Greater understanding of root causes and solutions
In addition to strategic grantmaking, we learn and work alongside grantees, other funders, and stakeholders with the goal of expanding a network of champions in support of health equity.
How we show up in our community is defined by guiding principles and an unwavering commitment to our mission.