Health promotion mini-grants: grassroots implementation in New Mexico

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Promotion
• Community Health

Background:

• New Mexico's diverse, geographically dispersed population faces unique health challenges.
• The University of New Mexico established health promotion programs and Wellness Centers using W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant funding.
• Initial programs focused on health science students and campus employees, demonstrating success and institutional support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend health promotion efforts statewide by supporting local initiatives.
• To empower diverse New Mexico agencies to develop and implement health promotion programs tailored to local needs.
• To evaluate the sustainability of community-led health promotion activities funded by mini-grants.

Main Methods:

• A mini-grant program was established to fund local health promotion initiatives.
• Thirteen mini-grants were awarded to diverse agencies across New Mexico.
• The study describes the experience with mini-grants and assesses the long-term sustainability of funded activities.

Main Results:

• Mini-grants successfully supported the creation of diverse health promotion programs.
• Awarded agencies represented various cultural groups and communities throughout New Mexico.
• The report details the use of mini-grants and their ability to sustain activities beyond the grant period.

Conclusions:

• The mini-grant model effectively facilitated the development and implementation of community-specific health promotion programs.
• Local initiatives responding to perceived priorities proved successful in engaging diverse populations.
• The sustainability of these community-led health promotion efforts was a key outcome, with successful use of mini-grants reported in literature.