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ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000 FROM THE BLUEGREEN ALLIANCE FOUNDATION ON BEHALF OF HEALTHY BABIES BRIGHT FUTURES AND THE MAYORS INNOVATION PROJECT TO BE USED FOR A HEALTHY BABIES INITIATIVE "COMMUNITY ACCESS POP-UP SPOTS (CAPS)" IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CLEVELAND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCY PARTNERS, APPROVAL OF CONTRACT K-2021-32, AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION.
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BACKGROUND: Bright Cities partnered with the Mayor's Innovation Project, an innovative organization that supports mayors through annual meetings, specialized cohorts and networks, technical assistance, publications and more on a small grant program ($5,000 to $10,000 awards) that is open to US city leaders.
Bright Cities has seen particularly in a time of crisis that people can change their behavior in ways that positively impact others and their surroundings. Amidst this incredibly challenging time for everyone, especially local governments and their mayors, Bright Cities was encouraged by the unprecedented amount of change and innovation happening in cities. Bright Cities felt like in the "new normal," cities and states must identify ways to reimagine services, policies and infrastructure that can currently cause harm to babies' brains and improve children's health and reduce health disparities.
To apply for the grant, cities had to propose a project that reduces neurotoxic exposures (exposure to lead, mercury, organophosphate pesticides, phthalates, flame retardants, PAHs, PCBs, arsenic, and/or perchlorate) in pregnant women and children under the age of two. Greater consideration was given to proposals that leverage the grant with local funding to support systematic change, responding specifically to needs highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
DISCUSSION: Mayor Clark received notice of the grant opportunity through Bright Cities' Mayor's Innovation Project and reached out to partner with the Cleveland County Health Department to create a program eli...
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