Health Foundation accepting applications for eighth class of Health Leadership Fellows

The Health Foundation for Western & Central New York is accepting applications for the eighth class of its Health Leadership Fellows program.

The Buffalo–based organization has an office at the CNY Philanthropy Center at 431 E. Fayette St. in Syracuse.

The deadline to apply is Dec. 1, 2016, for the program that will begin in September 2017, the Health Foundation said in a news release issued Sept. 20.

Eligible applicants include professionals in “decision-making positions of influence” in health-related or safety-net organizations that serve “vulnerable” older adults or poverty-impacted children from birth to age five in Western and Central New York.

Independent consultants are not eligible to apply for the program, the Health Foundation said.

For those interested in learning more, the Health Foundation will hold an information session on Oct. 20 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the CNY Philanthropy Center. To register or to download an application form, visit www.hfwcny.org, the organization’s website.

About the program
The goal of the Health Leadership Fellows program is to expand a network of skilled leaders that will “learn to lead collaboratively” from both within and outside of their organizations and become advocates for improved health-care delivery, particularly for the older adults and children impacted by poverty.

The 18-month program includes sessions on personal leadership, leading change, communicating as a leader, results-based leadership, and collaboration, the Health Foundation said.

In addition to four retreats (each spanning two to three days), fellows will meet monthly and develop a collaborative, inter-organizational project in small teams.

The program also provides each fellow with executive coaching and access to the fellows’ website and learning materials.

More than 175 Health Leadership Fellows (in six distinct cohorts) have graduated from the program, which dates back to 2005, the Health Foundation said.

These fellows, leading “collaboratively” to improve the health and well-being of children and older adults, have made “significant” contributions throughout Western and Central New York, the Health Foundation contended.

As graduates of the Health Leadership Fellows program, they continue their work as members of the Fellows Action Network.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com