Mass General Brigham awards nearly $700,000 to Waltham Public Schools

NEWTON, MA – The Waltham Public Schools (WPS) have been selected as the recipient of nearly $700,000 in community health impact funding by Mass General Brigham (MGB), building on years of collaboration between the organizations. The grant was announced at the Waltham School Committee meeting May 7.

The three-year, $692,595 grant from MGB will help to improve access to the continuum of Waltham community services that support health and well-being by reducing systemic barriers to care and services commonly experienced by vulnerable populations across the life span.

"On behalf of the Waltham Public Schools, we are incredibly honored to be the recipient of a grant from Mass General Brigham,” says Dr. Marisa Mendonsa, superintendent of the WPS. “This award will afford us the ability to enhance our family and community partnerships and work towards developing a strong wrap-around services plan for our students and families. In doing so, we will be able to break down systemic barriers that many of our community members face in accessing essential services and support. We are grateful to the committee for selecting the Waltham Public Schools to receive these funds and look forward to sharing more information with our school community in the coming weeks."

Community health impact funds in Massachusetts are funding initiatives that support local nonprofit organizations and projects aimed at improving quality of life and addressing community needs. This nearly $700,000 grant is made possible by the approval of a Determination of Need Community Health Initiative process for Mass General Waltham and Mass General Physician Organization. Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH) is facilitating the disbursement of community impact funds associated with the project on behalf of Massachusetts General Hospital.

“We know that improving human health is about more than just medical care,” says CarolAnn Williams, president, Mass General Brigham Community Division. “By investing in local programs that support families and increase access to critical services, we hope to help strengthen the communities we serve through thoughtful collaboration with valued community partners like the Waltham Public Schools.”

The selection committee included representatives of a wide array of sectors in Waltham and identified four barriers that contribute to health inequities, including overly complicated processes to access services; cultural barriers, including language access, cultural appropriateness, and stigma; technological barriers, including the lack of devices, internet, and skills to utilize technology; and transportation barriers.

WPS will use the funding to revise and expand its Parent Information Center as a central hub of information and resources for students and families. The improved resources will make it easier for families to register for school and access the wealth of resources and opportunities available to families in Waltham. In addition, the funding will be used for expanding and standardizing the role of school-based family liaisons directly in school neighborhoods and strengthening the partnership among schools, families, and community partners.

WPS serve more than 5,500 students and provide important services to their families as well. More than half (55.3%) of students speak a language other than English as their first language, and about two thirds identify as people of color.

“Mass General Brigham is committed to supporting our neighbors and strengthening our community through valued partnerships,” says Lauren Lele, NWH senior director of Community Health and Volunteers. “This grant provides an opportunity to address barriers experienced by students and families and enhance services for every member of the Waltham community. We are confident that supporting such an impactful organization as the Waltham Public Schools will lead to success and we are eager to work with the dedicated and skilled WPS team to realize our shared vision.”

As part of the funding plan, WPS will also work with a wide range of partners including the Waltham Public Library and the Waltham Partnership for Youth to enhance student and family resources and implement best practices for community collaboration.