The Humana Foundation Invests More Than $2.5 Million in Baton Rouge and San Antonio Initiatives
The Humana Foundation is investing more than $2.5 million on initiatives in Baton Rouge, La., and San Antonio, Texas, to address social determinants of health. These investments are part of the Humana Foundation’s new Strategic Community Investment work, in which it will invest $7 million in 2018 in seven of Humana’s Bold Goal communities across the United States.
In Baton Rouge, the Humana Foundation is investing $720,000 in the Geaux Get Healthy program and partnering with Healthy BR to fight food insecurity and social isolation.
The Geaux Get Healthy project will make the greatest impact in Baton Rouge zip codes with high rates of food insecurity and social isolation by offering:
- Numerous access points for purchasing fresh food at an affordable price
- Mechanisms for sustaining that access through urban agriculture
- Education and hands-on demonstrations and tastings to increase consumption of fresh food
- Opportunities to connect with other members of the community in a way that is meaningful and supportive
In total, Geaux Get Healthy will receive more than 1 million dollars to address Baton Rouge food deserts, thanks to funding from the Humana Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation.
In San Antonio, the Humana Foundation is investing more than $1.8 million in two San Antonio projects. The Humana Foundation will invest $1,020,000 and partner with OATS to bring the Senior Planet program to San Antonio and change the way people age by giving seniors free access to internet-connected technology. Courses are delivered in a group setting by professional instructors in Spanish and English in a flagship Senior Planet San Antonio Exploration Center and at least 6 local partner organizations across the city.
Additionally, the Humana Foundation will invest $833,000 in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank creating the Senior Wellness Intervention Model (SWIM). The SWIM program will provide seniors who screen positive for food insecurity with comprehensive services that stabilize their household and address prevalent health issues. Clinics and other health partners will make referrals to the Food Bank, which will pair the participant with a personal Nutrition Navigator who will provide locally sourced produce and supplemental food boxes to address the immediate needs of food insecurity. The Nutrition Navigators will also help address social connection by connecting seniors with federal programs, nutrition education and wrap around services for their long-term needs, including transportation to Saturday Senior's Day, an expansion of the monthly farmer’s market at the San Antonio Food Bank.
The investments are part of the Foundation’s new Strategic Community Investments work. Through the program, the Foundation will invest $7 million in 2018 in nonprofit organizations operating in seven communities: San Antonio, Texas; Louisville, Ky., Baton Rouge, La.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Tampa Bay, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Broward County, Fla.
In each of these communities, Humana is pursuing its “Bold Goal” to improve the health of the communities Humana serves 20 percent by 2020.The Humana Foundation is investing in nonprofit organizations that address food security, social connection, post-secondary success (sustained employment), and asset security, four social determinants of health that significantly impact people’s overall health and well-being. Social determinants are the conditions under which people are born, grow, live, work and age that impact overall health and well-being.
