Healthy Kids, Healthy Families^®

BCBSTX’s focus in this area will address two disease conditions impacting the health and wellness of millions of Texans: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic kidney disease. Our primary focus is preventing and managing these two disease conditions and their effect on Texas communities. If you have any questions, please see this communication or contact us.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

According to the American Lung Association, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. The disease, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is increasingly common, affecting millions of Americans. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., and an estimated 5.5 percent of Texans suffer from the disease. Many with COPD go undiagnosed and enter the health care system in crisis and at an advanced stage, according to BCBSTX claims data.

To address the prevalence of COPD in Texas, our HKHF grants will support organizations that promote lung health, including smoking cessation.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) also called chronic kidney failure, describes the gradual loss of kidney function. According to the National Institutes of Health, the main risk factors for developing kidney disease are diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and a family history of kidney failure.

The prevalence of diabetes has exploded to epidemic levels in the U.S. with more than 29 million Americans living with the disease. An estimated 11 percent of Texans are diabetic. According to BCBSTX claims data, diabetics are developing chronic complications such as CKD at an alarming rate.

Our HKHF grants support organizations that help detect CKD at an early stage. Early detection can help prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure.

How to Apply for a Grant

In addition to aligning with our Disease Management area, the following criteria are required for review of all grant proposals:

• The community lead organization must be a nonprofit, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organization with expertise in chronic kidney disease (early stages) or Chronic Pulmonary Disease (tobacco related illness and tobacco cessation).
• The community lead organization must have the financial capacity and qualified staff to oversee and manage the project. For this RFP “financial capacity” is defined as organizations operating a current annual budget of $2M or more.
• The community lead organization must collaborate on proposed program with a health system partner – i.e., hospital, clinic, federally qualified health center.
• The community lead organization must collaborate on proposed program outcomes and metrics with an evaluation partner – i.e., academic institution – preferably a school of public health.

This two-step RFP process will help us determine whether your program will align with our investment strategy.

Step 1: Eligible organizations are invited to submit a brief Request for Information. Please expect four weeks for notification of decision.

Step 2: Letters of intent will be reviewed and organizations who propose measurable programs that align with our investment strategy will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Letter of Intent .

For additional support, please see the Frequently Asked Questions . You can also email us. Please allow at least 48 hours for a response.

Our nutrition grant partnership with Feeding America supports local food banks that reach underserved populations to improve access to health food in our communities, schools and food deserts across the state. This funding also helps educate and raise awareness about the importance of a balanced diet to prevent conditions such as childhood obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

In 2017, we partnered with 16 statewide organizations to help meet our goal:

BCBSTX and KaBOOM! believe all kids deserve childhoods filled with active play. KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhoods they deserve through safe places to play. Since 2011, BCBSTX has worked with KaBOOM! to rally more than 6,600 volunteers to help create 37 new play spaces, which give more than 82,500 kids a place to swing, slide, leap and play. Together we lead the all-volunteer planning, design and hands-on construction of new community playgrounds, designed by kids and built with local families.

We’re working to get kids physically active with Imagination Playground, a ground-breaking pop-up playground design with uniquely shaped foam blocks and loose parts that help kids play creatively. With the addition of shade structures to 29 Texas playgrounds, we’re helping kids and families have more sun-safe access to great places to play. Check out one of our recent playground builds here .