Mass General Brigham awards nearly $700,000 to Waltham Public Schools

Mass General Brigham has awarded nearly $700,000 for health and wellness programs to the Waltham Public Schools. 

The grant was announced at the Waltham School Committee meeting on May 7.

The three-year $692,595 grant from MGB will pay for activities meant to improve access to Waltham community services that support health and well-being, with the goal being to reduce systemic barriers that can prevent vulnerable populations from receiving the care and services they need.

“We know that improving human health is about more than just medical care,” said CarolAnn Williams, president of MGB’s community division. “By investing in local programs that support families and increase access to critical services, we hope to help strengthen the communities we serve through thoughtful collaboration with valued community partners like the Waltham Public Schools.”

“On behalf of the Waltham Public Schools, we are incredibly honored to be the recipient of a grant from Mass General Brigham,” said Marisa Mendonsa, superintendent of the WPS. “This award will afford us the ability to enhance our family and community partnerships and work towards developing a strong wrap-around services plan for our students and families.”

The grant was awarded under a Determination of Need Community Health Initiative process for Mass General Waltham and Mass General Physician Organization.

The selection committee included representatives of a wide array of sectors in Waltham and identified four barriers that contribute to health inequities. The identified barriers are overly complicated processes to access services; cultural barriers, including language, cultural appropriateness and stigma; technological barriers, including the lack of devices, internet and skills to use technology; and transportation barriers.

WPS will use the funding to revise and expand its Parent Information Center as a central hub of information and resources for students and families. The improved resources will make it easier for families to register for school and access resources and opportunities available to them. 

In addition, the funding will be used to expand and standardize the role of school-based family liaisons in school neighborhoods and strengthen the partnership among schools, families and community partners.

WPS serves more than 5,500 students and their families. More than half (55.3%) of the students speak a language other than English as their first language, and about two-thirds identify as people of color.

WPS will work with a wide range of partners including the Waltham Public Library and the Waltham Partnership for Youth to enhance student and family resources and implement best practices for community collaboration.