New London Nonprofit Receives $10,000 Grant From State

NEW LONDON, CT — A New London organization is one of 24 in the state receiving grants from the Connecticut Health Foundation. Seven hospital systems and community health centers will conduct community listening sessions, establish patient advisory boards, and undertake other activities designed to improve how they collect and analyze data on patients’ race, ethnicity, and preferred language.

Having accurate data on race, ethnicity, and language preference – known as REL data – is critical to identifying and addressing population-level gaps in care and outcomes, according to a statement from the Connecticut Health Foundation. A state law passed in 2021 requires health care providers to collect this data from patients in a standardized way.

The Alliance For Living is the New London organization benefiting from the $10,000 grant. This funding will support anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion work by the organization.

Alliance for Living serves people in New London County facing issues including HIV, homelessness, and substance use disorders. The organization will use this grant to create a racial equity task force to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion programming for employees, volunteers, and board members.

“As health care providers begin asking about race, ethnicity, and language preference on a more regular basis, it’s important that patients are asked the questions in a way they will feel comfortable answering,” Tiffany Donelson, president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation, said in a statement. “It’s critically important for community members to be part of informing how this data is collected and how it’s used. We’re thrilled that so many health care providers are committed to implementing this new requirement in a thoughtful way.”