Healthy Petaluma Foundation Awards $285,000 in General Operating Support Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PETALUMA, Calif., February 13, 2024 — The Healthy Petaluma Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by southern Sonoma County’s health care district, collectively known as Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation, is bestowing a total of $285,000 in general operating support (GOS) grants to 18 community nonprofit organizations. The grants will fund a range of mission-driven operational needs and initiatives aimed at enhancing mental health services and support, community well-being and resilience across southern Sonoma County. All nonprofits will utilize their funds within six months and the grant amounts for each organization ranged from $5,000-$20,000.

“As a newly formed foundation, we are so excited to support our first cycle of grantees. Nonprofits are the backbone to providing needed services and their funding has decreased, creating gaps in services,” said Ramona Faith, CEO of Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation. “Our focus for this cycle was on mental health – one of the most critical-need areas affecting our community’s well-being. These nonprofits align with our mission to enhance mental health, foster community resilience and address critical social determinants that affect our residents. The programming that will be made possible from these grants are varied to benefit a range of age groups and demographics, as well as expands or strengthens services offered in southern Sonoma County."

Brian Dufour, a Healthy Petaluma Foundation board member who served on the Grant Review Committee, said, “These grants not only reflect Healthy Petaluma's unwavering commitment to our community but also set the stage for transformative change in the health and well-being of local residents. Our board, staff and grant selection committee took great care in selecting this initial wave of GOS grant awardees, a testament to our shared commitment to building a healthier community.”

Healthy Petaluma Foundation’s GOS grants are investing in organizations that prioritize equitable mental health treatment, prevention, education and intervention. The following outlines the organizations and their programs receiving a Healthy Petaluma Foundation grant:

Buckelew Programs – Supporting infrastructure needs for Family Service Coordination and Outreach programs, connecting with targeted audiences and providing training, resources and education about mental health interventions/resources.

Child Parent Institute (CPI) – Funding the CPI Climate Community Resilience Program Manager to integrate climate-informed mental health awareness into parenting education.

Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) – Backing COTS Kids First Family Shelter and the Mary Isaak Emergency Shelter to address funding gaps.

Community Child Care Council (4CS) – Enhancing the knowledge and expertise of teaching staff in mental health, with an emphasis on creating trauma-informed systems of support.

Emergency Prep Help (EPH) – Addressing natural disaster preparedness for seniors, hiring a development consultant, covering personnel expenses and investing in a donor/client database.

Grant Elementary School PTA – Bringing the nationally recognized bullying prevention program, Community Matters, to Grant School and providing training for students, staff and families.

HomeFirst – Investing in comprehensive, industry-standard staff training and professional development for homeless service provisions.

Kid Scoop News – Promoting literacy, a social determinant of health for students and families, through the Kid Scoop newspaper, reaching over 700 elementary school students each month.

Latino Service Providers (LSP) – Providing financial support to advance LSP’s mission of promoting equitable treatment, prevention and early intervention for mental health within the Latino community.

North Bay Children’s Center (NBCC) – Supporting Trauma Informed Care Training for NBCC teaching staff and funding a mental health consultant at each Petaluma site.

Pediatric Dental Initiative (PDI) – Providing funds for dental care for children aged 2-18, treating severe dental decay and offering preventive exams.

Petaluma Blacks for Community Development – Supporting administrative/outreach staff and part-time staff for youth programs, fostering inclusivity and breaking down challenges related to color.

Petaluma Health Center – Providing a housing stipend for 10 Associate Clinical Social Workers within the Behavioral Health Recruitment and Retention program.

Petaluma People Services Center (PPSC) – Expanding behavioral health services on a sliding scale to benefit low-income families, youth and seniors.

Redwood Empire Food Bank – Addressing food insecurity, a social determinant of both physical and mental health for 8,000 individuals monthly within the Healthy Petaluma District service area.

Sonoma County Alano Club – Improving infrastructure to allow continued access to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous services.

SOS Community Counseling – Addressing the need for mental health services in schools by building capacity to fund a therapist full-time in the Cotati Rohnert Park Unified School District.

Village Network of Petaluma (VNP) – Strengthening mental health focus through reviewing protocols, developing In-Touch Program, and training staff and volunteers.

In addition to the grant-giving process, Healthy Petaluma is offering the opportunity for a representative from each organization that submitted a grant proposal to attend a Sonoma State University Grant Writing Workshop at no cost to further foster equity in the grant writing process across the nonprofit community.

About Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation

Formerly the Petaluma Health Care District, Healthy Petaluma District and Foundation is a community-owned and -operated agency comprising a special district and a 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of southern Sonoma County through leadership, advocacy, support, partnerships and education. Its vision is to foster a healthier community and equitable access to comprehensive health and wellness services. The district has ensured access to local acute care and emergency services and has served southern Sonoma County’s health and wellness needs since 1946. For more information, visit healthypetaluma.org.