PEER HEALTH EXCHANGE RECEIVES INNOVATION GRANT FROM THE TOW
Oakland, CA, Sept. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Peer Well being Trade is happy to announce it has been awarded a $198,000 Innovation Grant from The Tow Basis. This grant, given as a part of The Tow Basis’s Innovation Fund, launched in December 2021, will assist Peer Well being Trade’s work to advance well being fairness and enhance well being outcomes for younger folks throughout the nation.
The Tow Basis Innovation Fund helps nonprofit organizations pursuing ingenious approaches to 3 problem areas affecting kids and their households: psychological well being, early intervention efforts in colleges, and public well being approaches to lowering gun violence.
Peer Well being Trade was chosen as considered one of solely 10 Innovation Grant recipients out of a pool of over 400 candidates. For the primary time in its historical past, The Tow Basis assembled a committee of specialists, together with immediately impacted neighborhood members, to evaluate functions and make grant suggestions.
“What drew us to this mission is that it makes use of acquainted expertise to fulfill younger folks the place they’re,” mentioned Frank Tow, chair of the Innovation Fund Committee and vp of The Tow Basis’s Board of Administrators. “We’re excited to assist Peer Well being Trade in its work to broaden psychological well being training and sources past the classroom.”
The Tow Basis grant will assist Peer Well being Trade’s basic operation prices as we intention to achieve extra younger folks with our school-based curriculum and digital merchandise.
Based in 2003, Peer Well being Trade goals to construct more healthy communities with younger folks, by choices inclusive of near-peer fellows, identification affirming curricula, connection to youth experience, and direct-to-youth programming. School-aged fellows leverage their near-peer standing to foster trusting classroom dynamics and facilitate sincere dialogue on well being subjects that have an effect on younger folks and their communities.
“We’re honored to obtain this grant from The Tow Basis, significantly realizing that it was members of the communities we serve that made the advice,” mentioned Louise Langheier, Co-founder and CEO of Peer Well being Trade. “Our mission of constructing more healthy communities with younger folks has meant we’re dramatically shifting the best way we work with them to comply with their lead. They’ve requested us to fulfill them the place they’re—on social media, on our app selfsea, or in class. This assist allows us to proceed displaying up for them and listening to their wants and needs.”
Whereas digital well being areas exist, there’s a hole between what is obtainable and what younger folks have expressed they need and want. Democratized entry to reliable, identity-affirming well being sources are important to younger folks they usually have referred to as on Peer Well being Trade to work with them to make it occur. By means of digital merchandise like selfsea, an internet app created inclusively with and for younger folks, Peer well being Trade supplies neighborhood and a protected house to debate and share information on identification, psychological and sexual well being with assist, sources, and tales from younger individuals who’ve been there.
For extra data on The Tow Basis Innovation Fund, please go to towfoundation.org/innovation.
About Peer Well being Trade
Peer Well being Trade’s mission is to construct more healthy communities with younger folks. Collectively, we create training alternatives for friends to share the instruments and sources younger folks have to make wholesome choices. To study extra about Peer Well being Trade, go to www.peerhealthexchange.org, and to study our new app selfsea, go to www.selfsea.org.
About The Tow Basis
The Tow Basis, established in 1988 by Leonard and Claire Tow, helps visionary leaders and nonprofit organizations that serve traditionally marginalized populations, assist people contribute to their communities, and champion developments and experiences that make it potential for all folks to stay wholesome and joyous lives. We put money into progressive packages and reform in tradition, larger training, journalism, justice and neighborhood wellness, and medication. For extra data, go to www.towfoundation.org or join with us on Fb, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
