Community groups get more time to apply for $500m C.A.R.E. Fund

WESTERN BUREAU:

Community-based organisations, churches and other civil-society groups have been given an additional three weeks to apply for a share of the Government’s $500-million Community Arranged Response Efforts (C.A.R.E.) Fund, after the Ministry of Health and Wellness extended the deadline to August 21.

The extension gives registered organisations more time to submit proposals for projects aimed at improving health outcomes in communities across the island.

Eligible initiatives include programmes focused on mental health, substance abuse, obesity prevention, healthy ageing, menopause and andropause support, home-care training for older persons and people with disabilities, responsible parenting, fertility, period poverty, adolescent health, the impact of social media on children, and Jamaica Moves community integration.

The C.A.R.E. Fund was announced by Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton during a health town-hall meeting at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James in June. At the launch, he emphasised the importance of empowering communities to play a greater role in improving the nation’s health.

The initiative, he said, reflects a shift towards community-driven public-health interventions.

“This initiative represents much more than a funding mechanism. It is a recognition that good health is not created only in hospitals or health centres. Good health is shaped long before illness occurs. It is shaped in homes, in schools, in churches, in community centres, on playing fields, and through the relationships that bind people together,” the minister said.

He stressed that the fund was intended to support organisations already making a difference in their communities.

“This is not a handout to organisations. It is an intentional investment into developing and improving community involvement in public health. We are saying to communities, ‘We believe in your ideas, we trust your leadership and we want to partner with you in building a healthier Jamaica’,” Tufton added.

Speaking at the Montego Bay town hall, the minister noted that while Jamaica had made significant gains in healthcare infrastructure and access to medical services, many of the country’s leading health challenges required stronger action at the community level.

The ministry said the C.A.R.E. Fund would support initiatives that encourage health-seeking behaviour, strengthen families and caregivers, promote healthy lifestyles, foster community engagement and build networks that contribute to better physical, mental and emotional health outcomes.

Applicants must submit proof of registration, valid government-issued identification for principal signatories, the organisation’s Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN), a Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) or Tax Compliance Letter (TCL), and a Letter of Good Standing from the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies.

Applications must be submitted online by August 21, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness’s C.A.R.E. Fund portal.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com