HOPE Buffalo Provides Funding to Innovative Partnerships to Promote Teen Health

BUFFALO, NY (October 1, 2021) – HOPE Buffalo, a project of CAI funded by the Office of Population Affairs, has announced that it has awarded grants for $3,000 to 23 local nonprofit organizations that work with youth to implement innovative programming to optimize teen health in the City of Buffalo, NY.

HOPE Buffalo is a youth- and community-driven initiative that engages community-based organizations and community members, including youth, in designing and implementing strategies to promote optimal teen health and reduce rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Each year, HOPE Buffalo provides funding to select community-based organizations that promote positive youth development, engagement, and adolescent health in the Buffalo community. See a list of the 2020–2021 Innovation Partners on the HOPE Buffalo website.

As of today, HOPE Buffalo has awarded nearly $140,000 to more than 50 traditional and non-traditional youth-serving organizations that promote positive early life development, engagement, and adolescent health in the Buffalo communities with the greatest need.

Louis Dangelo, Project Manager of HOPE Buffalo, said: “The success of HOPE Buffalo and its partners is rooted in innovation. Each year since 2017, we have looked for partnerships with people and organizations that have authentic and trusted relationships with youth and have a shared vision for optimizing teen health in our community. The projects selected this year have a focus on centering youth voice and action, addressing the social determinants of health, providing evidence-informed programming and supportive services, and linking youth to the services and support they need.”

Due to COVID-19, this year’s applicants submitted proposals online. They were then reviewed by CAI’s subject-matter experts. Applicants were encouraged to be creative, think outside the box, and propose activities that promote optimal teen health.

An innovative grant recipient, Girl Gang Entertainment, said: “HOPE Buffalo fulfills their mission by contracting with Girl Gang to implement sexual health related interventions. Girl Gang is able to grow as a Black and woman-led small business with the continued support from HOPE Buffalo. The community is able to receive quality sexual health interventions and education free of charge, which is helping to build healthier communities overall.”

Another innovative grant recipient, Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT), said: “This grant enables BCAT to empower our youth to utilize their perspectives, knowledge, creativity, and voice to provide an educational public service announcement to peers in the community regarding sexual and reproductive health topics.”

HOPE Buffalo values Health, Opportunity, Prevention and Education for teens. They respect their right to grow into the adults they want to be, to make their own decisions and set their own goals about their health and future. To learn more, visit hopebuffalo.org.