St. David's Foundation

Calling Central Texas high school seniors! 📣 We’re now accepting applications for St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship program. This is your opportunity to receive funding and guidance throughout your academic journey. In addition to funding, Neal Kocurek Scholars have access to a range of emotional and educational supports, including free mental health counseling, tutoring options, professional mentorship, and a close–knit community of peers. Learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/gK__vyXQ.

St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship is dedicated to helping Central Texas high school seniors achieve their dreams in the healthcare field. Students from Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties who want to pursue careers in healthcare and plan to attend college in Texas are eligible to apply for up to $60,000 in financial aid over the course of their higher education. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gK__vyXQ. The deadline to apply is January 3, 2025.

Included within the Foundation’s strategic plan, Pathways to Health Equity, is a commitment to invest in operational infrastructure to ensure we’re working toward achieving the greatest impact in the communities we serve. In that spirit of growth, we are excited to welcome Joycelyn Jurado, Michelle Castillo, and Tasha Banks, three new Program Officers to the Community Investments team, who bring dynamic experience and perspectives to their roles. Each Program Officer will manage bodies of work and support grantees across the Foundation’s community impact goal areas: access to care, economic stability, and community driven change. Read more about their vital roles in fostering and supporting relationships with grantees and community partners in Central Texas: https://bit.ly/3ZxLMvv

We believe in the power of building the capacity of organizations to engage community members to foster healthier communities. And through our Libraries for Health pilot project, we have partnered closely with Central Texas-based libraries to reimagine libraries as hubs for health. Recently, Senior Program Officer Abena Asante joined Via Hope and RAND at the Libraries for Health end-of-year gathering in New Braunfels, Texas. Leaders from libraries across Central Texas came together to discuss how they are strengthening and sustaining the mental health and well-being of their communities by providing access to Peer Support Specialists and other vital social support resources. St. David’s Foundation is proud to support the Libraries for Health initiative working to expand mental health resources and services in underserved communities. #TogetherInHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #LibrariesForHealth

We're hiring! 📣 Join the Foundation in our mission to advance health equity in Central Texas. Current job openings include: + Program Director + Program Associate + Dental Assistant + Community Dental Health Coordinator Learn more about working at St. David’s Foundation and apply at https://lnkd.in/gmFHx4NU.

We are committed to increasing access to quality care designed to advance health equity and supporting organizations enrolling eligible Central Texans in health insurance benefits. ACA Open Enrollment is happening now through January 15! Learn more about how to secure affordable health coverage for 2024. Enroll by December 15th for coverage to begin on January 1, 2025. https://bit.ly/4fVInM9

Applications for St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship are now open! 📣 High school seniors in Central Texas interested in pursuing a health profession are encouraged to apply by Friday, January 3, 2025. Scholars receive financial assistance, mentorship, tutoring, and more. Apply today at https://lnkd.in/gK__vyXQ.

Recently, Abena Asante, Senior Program Officer, presented at the American Public Health Association's Annual Meeting alongside Tim Bar of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. and Melodee Toles of Episcopal Health Foundation. Together, they discussed their efforts to address health inequities in Texas by removing barriers and improving systems to enhance community health outcomes. Abena spoke about the power of Network Weaving, a participatory grantmaking strategy that democratizes giving, empowers residents to address their community's needs, and transforms the power dynamics typically present in traditional philanthropy. You can learn more about this powerful community work, here: https://lnkd.in/gRNV62k7 #TogetherInHealth #APHA2024

How can we better understand the challenges facing safety net clinics to increase access to affordable primary care in Central Texas? The primary care safety net is a key resource that supports equitable access to affordable healthcare services for the uninsured and underinsured - yet access to timely, responsive care remains out of reach for many Central Texans. Earlier this year, we partnered with Episcopal Health Foundation to evaluate the the primary care landscape for un-and underinsured residents in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties. Through the Primary Care Capacity Assessment, we studied factors that impact access to primary care, including geography, patient demographics, services offered, and operational challenges facing safety net clinics. The findings from the Primary Care Capacity Assessment are now available and we invite you to explore the research as a resource to inform strategy and decision making in the future. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/grkt_ACJ

There is a connection between voting and community health. Communities with higher voter turnout rates have better health outcomes. Make a plan to vote and find your nearest polling place at votetexas.gov. 📸 Winning design of Williamson County’s 'I Voted' Sticker Contest by Andi Abbot, a 6th-grade student at Round Rock Christian Academy