Founded in 2011, Medavie Foundation provides support and funding of health care centered around communities. They focus on facilitating access to equitable and culturally appropriate health care in 3 key areas. These include promoting healthy lifestyles, dealing with post traumatic stress, and supporting youth mental health initiatives. As well, the Foundation aims to stimulate community empowerment through their innovative programs.
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
Medavie understands how important it is for people to have access to nutritious food and physical activity. This is why the Foundation chooses to focus on strengthening community-centered food systems, and access to physical activity. Projects have included:
- creating accessible outdoor spaces
- developing sports programs
- starting community gardens, urban farms, and community kitchens
Community groups can apply for Healthy Living funding through the Foundation. Their initiatives should:
- improve access to regular physical activity or to healthy food
- bolster community-based food systems
- be inclusive
- open to the public
- accessible throughout the community
- promote community participation
- stimulate improvements in physical health, food literacy, and community belonging.
The North Grove’s Community Food Centre is a great example. Since 2015 they have provided essential resources to those who face food insecurity in Dartmouth North, Nova Scotia. More than 100 volunteers help provide meals, fresh produce markets, and community farming opportunities. In the middle of the pandemic, the Centre solidified its role in the community. They offered support, stability, strengthened community bonds and social connections.
Youth Mental Health
The mental health of children and youth is at a crucial point. The Foundation is working hard to improve access to accredited counseling and therapy. They focus on community-centered care and aim to address the wide range of mental health issues young people face. These efforts target problems like anxiety and depression, and they keep track of how well their services are working to make sure they’re effective.
The Foundation partners with organizations who focus on mental health services for kids and adolescents. Two examples are First Episode Mood & Anxiety Program (FEMAP) in London, ON, and Atlantic Wellness Community Centre in New Brunswick. These programs offer free counseling and therapy. And they are making a big difference for hundreds of youth, improving mental well-being in their communities.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
The Foundation is helping people and their families to deal with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is a condition that affects individuals who have had a traumatic experience. They do this by helping people get access to counseling and therapy quickly from places that are accredited and part of their community. Programs can receive funding if their PTSD initiatives:
- address mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, and
- monitor usage and clinical outcomes so they know if improvements are being made.
One example of their work is a program called PSPNET (Public Safety Personnel Network). It provides online therapy to firefighters, police officers, and other first responders in Atlantic Canada. This program is important because it offers support that’s easy to access and fits the needs of those who often face challenging situations in their jobs.
Medavie Scholarship
The Foundation is also having a positive impact for new college and university students. The Medavie Scholarship is awarded to 5 Canadian youth each year. They must be enrolled in health-related programs and have first-hand experience with mental health issues. The scholarships are $5,000 each, renewable for up to 4 years.
Benefits from the Medavie Foundation
Through Medavie Foundation’s initiatives and funding, many communities and individuals benefit.
Health Care Access: Making it easier to get essential health care services for you and your loved ones.
Support Mental Health: Mental health is a top priority. The Foundation funds programs that aim to improve mental well-being and support those dealing with mental health issues.
Community Programs: Medavie also helps programs in the community. By doing so they create environments that enable people to lead healthier lives.
Innovation: In all their endeavors, the Foundation also focuses on innovative solutions. These can lead to new technologies, treatments, and approaches to health care.
Through their dedication to critical health care needs faced by Canadians, the Medavie Foundation is making an impact. Learn more about the Foundation.
MMHI is a Medavie Blue Cross partner and proudly supports the Medavie Foundation.