Northern Health is offering $120,000 in grants for community organizations to promote health and well being of people in northern B.C. communities through projects and initiatives.
Northern Health's goal is to help find fresh approaches to create healthier northern communities and to acknowledge that communities are the most effective settings for promoting the health and well being of northern residents.
Five types of `Imagine' grants are available:
**HEAL grants (Health Eating, Active Living program) support groups and communities within NH that are looking to encourage sustainable change in their communities. The HEAL grants, which are up to $2,000, will fund prevention-based programs to reduce risks associated with diabetes, cardiac and vascular diseases, obesity and cancer through healthy foods, gardening, cooking, active living and healthy lifestyles all year round.
**Heal Your Heart grants are for communities to provide education and skills to prevent cardiac and vascular diseases and secondary health problems for people already diagnosed with cardiac and vascular conditions. Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded to applicants that demonstrate how education, activity and healthy nutrition choices can work together to prevent childhood obesity and promote healthy blood pressures among adults.
**Injury Prevention grants support activities and initiatives promoting safety and the prevention of injuries. The grants of up to $2,000 each will focus on injury prevention initiatives among children and youth aged zero to 19 years as well as prevention of falls among seniors throughout the community.
**Road Health grants are available to community-based groups for road safety prevention projects that target drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, school children or workers. Grants of up to $5,000 each will support projects and initiatives with a "Fit to Drive" theme which can reduce motor vehicle crashes and increase the health of people who spend a lot of time driving. Education, awareness and the support of behavioral changes may include a focus on healthy eating, activity breaks, support of proper sleeping habits, promotion of screening for health risks common to drivers, defensive driving education and more.
**Healthy Minds, Healthy Youth grants up to $1,000, funded with the Public Health Agency of Canada, are aimed at mental health promotion and addictions prevention among youth ages 12 to 20. Initiatives must use evidence-based approaches with solid partnerships and sustainability potential.
The deadline for applications is Jan. 6 at 4:30 p.m. Successful projects will be notified no later than Feb. 3 and evaluation reports must be submitted no later than Dec. 31, 2011.
Information and grant application forms can be found at www.northernhealth.ca, www.roadhealth.ca, and www.healbc.ca. Information can also be obtained by phone at 250-565-7384 or e-mail: [email protected].
