Dear Friends of Mt. Sinai:
Over the past twelve months, the Mt. Sinai Health Foundation has both supported grantee partners and continued its transformation from grantmaker to changemaker.™ This transformation has centered largely around using resources beyond Mt. Sinai’s traditional grantmaking activity to drive impact, particularly in the Foundation’s health policy work. Mt. Sinai’s leadership role in lead poisoning prevention and access to reproductive health care are strong examples of how this grantmaker to changemaker strategy manifested itself in calendar year 2023.
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
The work of Mt. Sinai and its long-standing grantee-partners in securing the Right to Reproductive Freedom amendment in November 2023 is a particularly noteworthy victory for improving health and access to health care in our state. Mt. Sinai granted over $1.1 million to support the initiative to protect and expand reproductive health rights in Ohio. Passage of the constitutional amendment protects access to abortion, contraception, and other vital health services for all Ohioans. The initiative stands out for its broad impact throughout the state as well as its connection to each of the Foundation’s grantmaking areas:
1) Health of the Jewish Community; 2) Health of the Urban Community;
3) Academic Medicine & Bioscience; 4) Health Policy
Access to reproductive health care is critical to protecting health and religious freedoms according to Jewish law. It is also central to protecting the health and well-being of women and families in the urban community, especially those from historically marginalized backgrounds who are disproportionately burdened by abortion bans. Securing reproductive freedom has been essential for maintaining a pipeline of physicians and other health care workers in Cleveland and statewide specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. And, of course, the use of ballot initiatives to advance public health only bolsters the unmistakable connection between a healthy democracy and the health of the people governed by it.
By providing essential funding and making Mt. Sinai’s voice heard, the Foundation played a crucial leadership role in safeguarding reproductive freedom, contributing to a healthier future for Ohioans, and reinforcing the organization’s commitment to women’s health.
A SPOTLIGHT ON OUR GRANTEE PARTNERS
While we are proud of all the ways in which Foundation staff engage in community-wide efforts to improve health, we recognize the real heroes of our mission have and always will be our grantee-partners. This year we celebrate the often life-saving work of some of the Foundation’s exemplary grantees. Their efforts are making a demonstrable difference in each of the Foundation’s grantmaking areas of focus. This is why we are thrilled to highlight them on our new website and discuss our partnership here in this stewardship letter
Health of the Jewish Community – Naaleh Cleveland (Video link)
The Mt. Sinai Health Foundation has provided substantial support to Naaleh Cleveland since its founding, most recently in developing and expanding a mental health clinic, Naaleh Counseling Solutions (NCS). NCS offers local, culturally sensitive care and now accepts third-party insurance and Medicaid, ensuring its long-term sustainability. Since its inception in early 2021, NCS has grown to serve more than 400 active clients and parents of children and has billed for 8,500 appointments. NCS recently expanded its services to include case management in local schools. During the past year, Naaleh doubled down on its efforts to serve women and girls, who often face unique barriers to accessing mental health care, by hiring female clinical and outreach specialists and developing an anxiety subspecialty clinic.
Naaleh’s continued success has attracted new donors and has increased third party reimbursem*nt, underscoring the clinic’s positive impact and value to the community. The ongoing partnership with the Mt. Sinai Health Foundation has been instrumental in achieving these milestones, making a significant impact on the mental and emotional well-being of Cleveland’s Jewish community.
Health of the Urban Community – YWCA Greater Cleveland (Video link)
For years, YWCA Greater Cleveland has operated a therapeutic early childhood center for children from disadvantaged neighborhoods, many of whom have been exposed to multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). With a focus on primary prevention and early intervention, the YWCA’s program is designed to enhance parent resiliency and support stable family structures.
By engaging parents in activities and events, such as monthly presentations and community outings, the program fosters social connections, enhances parenting and child development, and provides concrete support in times of need. The success of the YWCA’s most recent Community (Resource) Carnival shows that the need for such intensive support is only growing—in 2023, 528 people attended the carnival, compared to just 332 the previous year.
Providing children and their families with intensive support at the earliest and most critical stages of development is among the most important things we can do to improve long-term community health outcomes. We are proud to see YWCA on the cutting edge of ensuring all children have a fair shot at reaching their fullest potential.
Academic Medicine & Bioscience –
Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine (Video link)
Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine launched the Mt. Sinai - Dr. Edward Reiter Fellowship in craniofacial anomalies in 2013. The program is the first named craniofacial orthodontic fellowship in the United States. The Foundation’s continued investment underscores its dedication to honoring the legacy and donative intent of Dr. Edward F. Reiter and furthering the mission of advancing craniofacial care and education.
Since its inception, the Fellowship has trained twenty fellows, providing them with advanced clinical, didactic, and research training. Each year, the program recruits two highly qualified orthodontists from all over the world, who serve as integral members of interprofessional care teams, providing direct care to the 500 patients served by the School’s Craniofacial Orthodontic Clinic each year. The program’s impact even extends beyond patient care, with fellows engaged in research that has resulted in numerous publications and presentations. The Fellowship has not only elevated the national and international reputation of the School but has also significantly improved overall craniofacial care right here in Cleveland.
Health Policy – The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition (Video link)
The Foundation played a crucial role in the launch of the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition, a public-private partnership aimed at addressing lead poisoning throughout the city. At its inception, an estimated 25 percent of children tested in Cleveland had elevated blood lead levels before entering kindergarten. Lead exposure can result in long-term consequences such as intellectual and developmental delays, reduced academic performance, and increased health risks well into adulthood. The Coalition has made significant progress. With over 500 individual members from more than 150 organizations, the Coalition has led the way in attaining lead-safe certifications for nearly 31,000 rental units or one third of all rental units in the City of Cleveland. The Coalition remains committed to its mission and will continue working tirelessly until lead poisoning is eradicated from Cleveland.
As we advance the Foundation’s mission, we express gratitude to the people and organizations who make it all possible—Mt. Sinai’s grantee-partners who work to give all Clevelanders the opportunity to live healthy and productive lives, and Mt. Sinai donors who entrusted their philanthropic legacy to the Foundation. We are determined to meet the existing and emerging health needs of our community, and as always, we welcome your involvement and support.
