Rep. McNally Announces $52,500 in State Grants for Youngstown City Health District

COLUMBUS- State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) is excited to announce the awarding of $52,500 in state funds from the Ohio Commission on Minority Health for the Youngstown City Health District as part of the Commission’s Local Offices of Minority Health grant program. The funding was announced March 31. 

“Reducing infant mortality and supporting our moms and babies is made easier with greater financial investment from the state. The people on the ground, who know our community well and are closest to the problems, are best positioned to do the work that needs to be done,” said Rep. McNally. “We must continue supporting those local efforts.”

The Ohio Local Offices on Minority Health is a grant program dedicated to eliminating health disparities in minority communities through the implementation of four core competences: monitoring and reporting the health status of minority populations, informing, educating, and empowering people, mobilizing community partnerships and actions and developing policies and plans to support health efforts. The fund supports city/county health departments in their goals to meet health department accreditation criteria as well as outreach to racial and ethnic populations to ensure access during a public health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Local Offices of Minority Health are located within urban areas in Ohio including, Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown.

“With this funding the Youngstown City Health District will continue to house the Youngstown Local Office on Minority Health under the guidance of Director Ms. Golie Stennis. The goals for this year will be on reducing infant mortality, educating the community on the importance of healthy lifestyles, addressing the social determinants of health, and focusing on racial disparities and inequities,” said Erin Bishop, Health Commissioner and Local registrar of the Youngstown City Health District.

The Minority Health Division of the Youngstown City Health District’s mission is to:

• Inform community members and leaders of health issues that affect minority and under-served populations.
• Educate community members and leaders about health disparities through events, workshops, and programs.
• Empower community members by providing access to the information and resources needed to improve their health.

This funding level for the Local Offices of Minority Health grant program is contingent upon the passage of the FY24/25 Biennial Budget, which is currently under review in the Ohio Senate. Services supported by these dollars provided to the Minority Health Division will not begin until funding is confirmed on July 1, 2023.