Atlanta, GA, Feb 2, 2022— SisterLove, Inc. today announced it is among 49 awardees that received a grant from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity, which mobilizes financial resources for organizations focused on non-clinical interventions that affect a person's health. Commonly known as the social determinants of health, these factors include an individual’s physical, social, political, cultural, and economic environment.
The 49 organizations received funding for a wide range of initiatives, including a campaign to overcome anti-Asian hostility and its effects on wellbeing; an initiative to develop more active lifestyles among members of the Yurok Tribe; a center supporting Black women’s wellness; and an organization focused on improving birth outcomes for refugee populations, primarily from African and Asian countries.
SisterLove, Inc. received $225,000 from the Fund for Health Equity for its work to implement a mobile unit, the Healthy Love Bus, to increase access to HIV and STI testing, sexual health education, and pre-exposure prophylactic (PrEP) medication providers in minority communities throughout Metro Atlanta. “It is extremely important for researchers to find ways to give back to the communities where we carry out our research to build trust and show appreciation,” stated Gaea Daniel, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, who facilitated the funding opportunity and will serve as the Project/Clinical Director. “In addition to helping the community, the Healthy Love Bus will increase exposure to community-based care in underserved populations for Emory nursing, public health, and medical student volunteers who will support the project in mitigating sexual health disparities.”
“This round of funding honors organizations on the front lines of their communities that are already working tirelessly to eliminate health disparities,” said Byron Scott, MD, MBA, co-chair of the Fund for Health Equity and board director of Direct Relief and chair of its Medical Advisory Council. “These funds will allow these exemplary organizations to continue innovation as they improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations across various communities in our country.”
The awardees were selected by the Fund for Health Equity's Advisory Council, which includes the following members:
Co-Chair Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th U.S. Surgeon General of the United States, Founder Bayou Clinic, Inc.
Co-Chair Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Board Director of Direct Relief and Chair of its Medical Advisory Council
Martha Dawson, DNP, MSN, RN, FACHE, President of the National Black Nurses Association, Associate Professor the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Jane Delgado, Ph.D., MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health
Gail Small, JD, Head Chief Woman, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe