Boston Public Health Commission Seeking Partners for “Generational Health Scholarship” Program

Scholarships will support learners of color hunting to function in general public wellbeing and STEM 

BOSTON – February 21, 2023 – The Boston Public Health and fitness Fee (BPHC) announced it issued a request for proposal (RFP) to husband or wife with universities, schools, community-centered corporations, and nonprofits to administer the “Generational Well being Scholarship,” a new, wants-based mostly method for Boston-region high school and college or university college students who strategy to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), community well being, well being care and behavioral wellbeing. Bid submissions are owing by 5pm on Friday, March 3. For much more facts about the Generational Well being Scholarship RFP, you should stop by www.boston.gov/bid-listings.    

In response to the Declaration of Racism as a Public Well being Disaster in 2020, BPHC solicited community input on strategies to deal with structural racism in Boston. A single of the key themes that emerged was obstacles in accessing greater training for Black, Latinx, and Indigenous residents.  

Structural racism continues to effect college students of coloration disproportionately prior to and during their educational journey, and numerous fall short to comprehensive their degrees. This contributes to prevalent underrepresentation in STEM and health professions, a pervasive shortage of health care companies and public health specialists of colour, and a absence of culturally responsive services, additional exacerbating racial health disparities and inequities in Boston.  

“Access to academic opportunities increases health and perfectly-staying not only for individuals, but also for communities. This scholarship plan was recognized to assistance address inequity in better training attainment and to boost range among the public overall health and wellness care professionals in Boston,” stated Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Community Wellbeing and Government Director of the Boston Community Health and fitness Fee. “Breaking down limitations to training is essential to each bettering wellness outcomes and to escalating representation. Launching the Generational Well being Scholarship program is an important public overall health-oriented strategy to handle these difficulties.”   

The Generational Health and fitness Scholarship, funded as a result of the Declaration of Racism as a General public Health Crisis, will provide as a focused assist for Boston-region students of colour searching to enter essential roles in general public health and fitness, drugs, engineering, behavioral well being, nursing, social get the job done, and more to meet crucial workforce shortages, raise illustration, produce generational prosperity, make improvements to obtain to well being products and services, and establish a extra equitable and inclusive town.  

The launch of this RFP is a testomony to BPHC’s determination to collaborating with residents to dismantle structural racism and employ public health guidelines that handle our communities’ requirements.  

“The apply of neighborhood engagement is vital in its collaborative strategy to the style and delivery of community solutions. Participating all those closest to community concerns – like individuals encountering structural racism — allows superior comprehension of communities’ wants and how greatest to react to these demands,” stated Triniese Polk, Director of Boston Public Health and fitness Commission’s Business of Racial Fairness and Local community Engagement.  

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