Putting Your Health First
HealthFirst, which grew out of a hospital foundation, is dedicated to promoting the good health of Clinton County residents through education, innovation, and patient care support. We consider ourselves to be a visionary organization that encourages and funds innovative ideas supporting medication assistance, health awareness outreach and communication, health and wellness screenings, vaccination initiatives, and other similar programs.
In our work, HealthFirst encourages alliances, partnerships, and collaboration between providers and organizations. This broadens, deepens, and diversifies participation in the provision of services. These collaborations have intrinsic value and effectiveness in building organizational capacity and expanding the reach of grant funds.
HealthFirst has awarded grants to Clinton County Community Action Program, Clinton County Diabetes and Community Wellness Program, Friends of Clarksville, Hope House, Over the Rhine Music, Art, and Earth Foundation, Sugartree Ministry Center, and the United Way of Clinton County, to name a few.
About Us
HealthFirst of Clinton County is a multi-million-dollar fund of the Clinton County Foundation. It evolved from the former CMH Foundation, an affiliate of Clinton Memorial Hospital until the public hospital was sold to a for-profit entity in December 2010. Since then, HealthFirst has awarded more than $1 million to nonprofits that promote the good health of residents in Clinton County.
Our work is informed by our Community Health Needs Assessment prepared by PRC, a nationally recognized health care consulting firm. Our most recent study was completed in 2020 and is a systematic, data-driven approach to determining the health status, behaviors, and needs of residents in Clinton County, Ohio. We use this information and feedback from community stakeholders to inform decisions and guide efforts to improve our community health and wellness.
Read the full report: 2020 Community Health Needs Assessment for Clinton County.
Patient Medication Assistance Program (PMAP)
This community-based program helps individuals apply for medication assistance programs that can provide free or reduced cost medications. PMAP staff and volunteers will help you identify and then apply to the appropriate programs to obtain the medications you need. If you qualify, you could receive your mediations in as little as three to four weeks. This program is the result of a collaboration between HealthFirst, the Clinton County Health District, and the Clinton County Board of Commissioners.
Here are some of the criteria used to qualify for our medication assistance program:
- Be a Clinton County resident or have a doctor in Clinton County
- Have no health insurance or, if you do, have no prescription coverage
- Cannot afford your medications
- Qualify financially for the individual assistance program
To apply, call or visit the PMAP office and be prepared to provide the following information:
- Income information and documentation
- A list of your medications and name/location of the prescribing physician
PMAP is housed at the offices of the Clinton County Health District and is open Monday and Wednesday from 8am – Noon.
111 South Nelson Ave., Suite 10, Wilmington, OH 45177
Phone: 937-481-2138 or 937-382-7221
Fax: 937-481-2137
Apply for a HealthFirst for Clinton County Grant
HealthFirst for Clinton County operates its grant cycle process on a semi-annual basis. Requests are generally between $2,500 and $25,000. However, we will consider larger requests for projects with significant impact on the community.
Who Can Apply?
Clinton County-based 501(c)3 organizations, government entities, nonprofit organizations, and other tax-exempt groups that work to promote the good health of residents in Clinton County are eligible to apply.
If your organization does not meet the organizational status, you will need a fiscal sponsor.
What Do We Fund?
HealthFirst funds projects that serve or benefit Clinton County. Projects and program proposals should address one or more of the following areas:
- Education: improving individual and community wellness and health awareness through direct outreach and creative communication about nutrition, emergent health issues, disease prevention or management, and similar topics.
- Innovation in Community Health: improving care delivery methods and services, including novel outreach methods for at-risk communities.
- Promotion of Community Health: improving the good health of community members, including medication assistance, health and wellness screenings, and wellness initiatives (including exercise and vaccination initiatives).
What Do We Look for in a Grant Application?
High Priority Projects
- Proposals that are new, unique, pilot, or address unmet needs in Clinton County
- Projects designed to improve equity with a focus on supporting underserved communities
- Projects designed to take a systemic approach to improving outcomes for underserved communities
- Projects that include alliances, partnerships, and collaboration between providers and organizations that broaden, deepen, and diversify participation in the provision of services
Lower Priority Projects
- Projects for remodeling, renovation, maintenance, repairs, and site improvement for existing facilities
- Projects that support or meet the basic educational, health, and safety functions of government agencies and/or schools
Projects Ineligible for grant support
- Debt-reductions, deficits, or previous obligations
- Support of religious activities
- Political campaigns, political projects, or attempts to influence legislation or government actors
- Individuals
- Capital campaigns
What are the Application Deadlines?
First cycle
- Letter of Intent open 3/1 to 4/7
- Notification to participate in the full application process by 5/19
- Full applications due 6/16
- Notification of grant award by 7/15
Second cycle
- Letter of Intent open 7/1 to 8/25
- Notification to participate in the full application process by 9/22
- Full applications due 10/27
- Notification of grant award by 11/30
What is the Application Process?
If you are interested in applying for a HealthFirst grant, begin the process by reviewing our Grantmaking Guidelines & Application Process PDF and then visiting our online Grant Portal.
We also recommend reviewing some of our common documents:
If you have not used the grant portal before, you will need to create an account. If you have previously applied for a grant through the Clinton County Foundation, you may use the same log-in information.
Applicants should visit the Clinton County Foundation’s Grant Portal to set up an account.
If you have any questions about HealthFirst’s grant application process, please contact Alison Belfrage.