Lynn Community Health Center (LCHC) is one of eight awardees selected through a highly competitive and rigorous process for a Youth as Heath Care Change Agents grant by the Atrius Health Equity Foundation.
This grant program is a new initiative that funds community organizations in Eastern Massachusetts to support youth in their full potential as health educators, health navigators, future health care professionals, and community health advocates. LCHC will be utilizing the funds to launch a first of its kind Community Health Center Student Fellowship Program for Lynn students ages 14-18, focused on empowering them and their families to monitor hypertension at home; providing them with cultural and age-appropriate health education, training, and advocacy opportunities; and explore healthcare career pathways through direct mentorship and on-the-job shadowing.
In Lynn, health is shaped by social and economic factors such as access to safe housing, healthy and consistent food availability, reliable and affordable public transportation, childcare, and fair wage jobs. Lynn Community Health Center has been actively innovating in the community since our founding in 1971 to remove and reduce all barriers to high-quality, comprehensive healthcare. The Community Health Center Student Fellowship Program is one more way LCHC will work upstream to build strong foundations for the future of Lynn’s youth. LCHC’s key collaborators for this program will include Lynn Public Schools, LEAP for Education, Mass General Brigham, and the Lynn Education District.
“This multi-faceted program will empower Lynn youth to explore dynamic healthcare roles, become patient advocates, and address the biggest health challenges impacting their families and community. We are excited to partner with LPS, LEAP, the Ed District and MGB, and are grateful to the Atrius Health Equity Foundation for recognizing the potential this program has to promote youth as change agents.
Brenda Rodriguez, CEO, Lynn Community Health Center
As part of the application process, LCHC conducted a community design session that engaged youth of Lynn in co-creating the program that will be made possible by this grant. “We’ve seen the positive impact of young people having opportunities to develop skills, experience the benefits of mentorship and feel their future is being invested in,” said Sarah Eilers, LICSW and Director of LCHC’s School Based Health Center Behavioral Health Program. “Students will be able to learn and see behind the scenes of how our organization proactively addresses real needs in our community.”
“The City is thrilled that LCHC has been awarded this grant, which will provide aspiring youth unparalleled opportunities to enter the healthcare field,” said Mayor Jared Nicholson. “Through the new Community Health Center Student Fellowship Program, we aim to empower our students to pursue diverse pathways in health education. This grant will cultivate a new generation of Lynn healthcare professionals who are passionate about making a positive impact in their community.”
“LEAP for Education is excited to bring its expertise in career mentoring to this innovative program led by LCHC,” said Linda Saris, Executive Director. “We look forward to connecting healthcare mentors with Lynn’s talented teens who will become tomorrow’s healthcare workforce and change agents.”
“Providing educational and economic mobility opportunities to our youth is critical to dismantling generational health inequities,” said Elsie Taveras, MD, MPH, Chief Community Health and Health Equity Officer at Mass General Brigham. “We look forward to expanding our long-standing relationship with Lynn Community Health Center through our support of the Community Health Center Student Fellowship Program. We are excited about the tremendous impact this program will have on the Lynn community.”
Established in 2022 as an independent organization, the Atrius Health Equity Foundation carries forward Atrius Health’s historic focus on improving health outcomes for all. The Atrius Health Equity Foundation aims to close life expectancy gaps across Eastern Massachusetts by offering funding responsive to community priorities and that centers community leadership and collaboration.
“The Atrius Health Equity Foundation heard directly from community leaders in 2023 that economic mobility, educational opportunity, and youth as a population of focus are important to close the life expectancy gap. As a result of this community engagement and the Foundation’s belief that we must all come together to ensure everyone in Eastern Massachusetts lives a longer, healthier life, we created the Youth as Health Care Change Agents grant program,” said Dr. Ann Hwang, President of the Atrius Health Equity Foundation. “These efforts recognize organizations for their deep roots in the communities served and collaborative approach and drive forward our vision for youth as powerful agents of change.”
The above press release was submitted to us by the Lynn Community Health Center.
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