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Foundation Updates
MAY 2021
 

ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS 2020

Our Annual Highlights 2020 is now published, and we invite you to give it a read. Not surprisingly, the key theme is about adapting to a world thrown off kilter by COVID-19. In several featured profiles, we celebrate the creativity and dedication of our grant partners. The design of the Annual Highlights features Liz Tower's art.
Read the 2020 Annual Highlights



MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH PROFILE
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we would like to take an opportunity to spotlight the work of the Children’s Mental Health Campaign (CMHC), a Massachusetts-based initiative.
 
CMHC was created in 2007 as a partnership between the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) and Boston Children’s Hospital. The idea was to create a broad coalition of organizations dedicated to accessible, quality mental health services for children and families. The network both advocates for systems and policy change and supports innovative pilots and scaling solutions that work. Now over 200 members strong, CMHC has built an executive committee that includes the two original founders and leaders from the Parent/Professional Advocacy League, Health Care for All, Health Law Advocates, and Massachusetts Association for Mental Health.
 
To Continue Reading the Blog ...



COVID-19 RESPONSE GRANT OPPORTUNITY
 
This summer, the Tower Foundation is offering an additional opportunity (and hopefully the last one specifically related to COVID-19!) to apply for funding to support organizations that have continued their work in the face of challenges tied to the pandemic. Organizations with existing programming in the Foundation’s funding geography expressly serving young people with intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental illness, and/or substance use disorders and their families are eligible to apply for unrestricted grants of up to $25,000. Applications are due by July 7, 2021.

Please click the button below to access our "Apply for a Grant" page on our website for more information about this grant opportunity.
 
More Info on How to Apply



SURVEYING FAMILIES
In late 2019, Wilder Research conducted another round of surveys as part of the Foundation's TowerDATA Project. Parents of young people living with intellectual and/or learning disabilities were sent surveys to understand how their needs differed from the rest of the community, and how the community can help them. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
 
To understand how the pandemic affected these families, the Tower Foundation surveyed the same parents in the Fall of 2020, well into the social isolation period of the pandemic. Based on the findings of the two surveys, the Tower Foundation learned that young people living with an intellectual or learning disability faced increased barriers to socialization and education services over the course of the pandemic, as well as fewer opportunities for employment.
 
The summary of these findings is now available. Click the button below to access it to learn more.
COVID-19 Survey Summary

PERIODICAL READING
News from our four focus areas

Intellectual Disabilities
Ever wonder which to use, “person-first” (e.g., “person with a disability”) or “identity first” language? Check out this “Ask a Self-Advocate” column on the topic from Massachusetts Advocates for Children.
COLUMN:  Ask a Self-Advocate
 
Learning Disabilities
Curious about what is included in the American Families Plan for Education? This post from the National Center for Learning Disabilities walks through the plan’s benefits to students with learning differences.
POLICY & ADVOCACY POST:  What is Included in President Biden's American Families Plan for Education?

Mental Health
This NY Times article, Psychiatry Confronts Its Racist Past, and Tries to Make Amends, describes elements of psychiatry’s history of racism and the equity challenges the field faces today.
ARTICLE: Psychiatry Confronts Its Racist Past, and Tries to Make Amends
 
Substance Use Disorders
A research scientist and recovery research director remind us that recovery is not only possible from substance use disorder, but common.
ARTICLE From Stat News:  People Recover from Addiction. They Also Go on to Do Good Things

DIVERSITY, EQUITY and INCLUSION

In this space, we will share what we learn, what inspires us, and - in the spirit of transparency - what new actions we take in pursuit of a more equitable approach to community-focused philanthropy.
 

What we are reading: 

This month, Vu Le’s blog post on “12 ways ‘all lives matter’ manifests in nonprofit and philanthropy” is resonating with us. Vu’s often witty and always insightful posts are frequent must-reads shared on our staff Slack channel. 

 

What we are doing: 

We recently introduced questions in our grant application about diversity within applicant organizations and in the populations they serve. Responses from the community alerted us to the fact that our questions failed to represent people of middle eastern descent. We are working to correct this for our next grant cycle.

 
What are we doing that is working?
What should we change?

We are always open to hearing your feedback on Grant Advisor.

    CONTACT US

Do you have a question or want to share an idea? We invite you to reach out.
Click here for our staff directory or click here to schedule a call with a Tower Foundation team member.
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