ALBANY, NY  –  The Albany County Legislature, in conjunction with the Albany County Executive’s Office, and the County Department of Health are honoring women this month by accepting grant applications starting today, March 7, from organizations promoting women’s health through education, service distribution, and promotion of resources, including specific programs such as health screenings, workshops, mental health services, and community outreach. The deadline for submissions is April 4.

Community-based organizations, homeless shelters, women’s shelters, private individuals with demonstrated expertise, non-profit organizations, and other non-public entities providing services to women, trans and non-binary individuals, and all individuals assigned female at birth who face barriers to healthcare access are invited to apply for grant awards of up to $20,000 each from the $150,000 available.

Previously awarded organizations are eligible if new funding expands initially awarded services and outreach. However, preference is given to new applicants.

Successful programs must focus on at least one of the following:

• Education designed for teens, women, trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming individuals;
• Promote health screenings, including those for cancer and chronic illnesses;
• Promote early detection screenings;
• Be grounded in scientific research and have proven effectiveness in addressing health disparities in marginalized communities; or
• Eliminate health disparities among segments of the population that have higher than average health disparities.

Funding cannot be used to offset salary increases, new personnel expenses, or purchase standard office supplies that are not directly tied to the execution of a proposed program(s), but instead must be used to:

• Provide pregnancy and family planning education to teens, women, trans, gender non-conforming individuals;
• Launch public health education campaigns;
• Provide services and implement evidence-based interventions that strengthen perinatal and postnatal support structures;
• Launch public awareness education on the importance of pre-screenings;
• Create social media awareness campaigns that can reach teens, women, trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals; and
• Create a program to tackle barriers to healthcare access, including cultural stigma, financial limitations, lack of transportation, and poor health literacy.

The application process is multi-step:

1. Proposal Submission (applications must include)
• An executive summary
• Anticipated expenses
• A benefits statement
• Overview of the need for assistance.
• Statement on how the program promotes and provides resources aimed at reducing barriers
2. Review and Scoring
3. Funding Recommendations
4. Funding Disbursement

Applications must be submitted to the Albany County Legislature via email to Elena Cenko, Director of Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs, at Elena.Cenko@albanycountyny.gov.

More information is available at www.albanycountyny.gov/womensed

Albany County Legislature Chairwoman Joanne Cunningham said: “This is a fantastic opportunity that we are excited to offer again this year. If you know of any person, organization, or any group that is passionate about supporting women, we want to hear from you. We want to create new partnerships. There is a huge spectrum of women in need. We want to put dollars in the hands of innovate and creative people and organizations who help those women.”

Albany County Legislature Deputy Chairwoman Wanda Willingham said: “There has been so much neglect and hand waving about women’s health, especially about the health of women of color and from other marginalized communities, for decades. That attitude has returned. Perhaps not as overtly, but through funding decisions that take away support for women across the spectrum. We are doing the opposite. We are doing everything in our power to support organizations that support women.”

Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy said: “During Women’s History Month, it’s important that we recognize the health disparities faced by women and continue to support efforts to increase health literacy and education. That is why I am proud to partner with the Albany County Legislature and the Albany County Department of Health to once again provide $150,000 of grants through the women’s health initiative. These funds will not only improve health outcomes among women, trans, and non-binary individuals in our community, but will also help remove systematic barriers preventing access to healthcare.”