CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, announced that it is investing $7.1 million in 30 community-based organizations in the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia to combat diabetes.
“Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, disproportionately affecting underserved communities in our region, so we must address it together,” said Lester Davis, CareFirs vice president and chief of staff, who leads the organization’s community and public health initiatives. “Food security and nutrition education play a critical role in preventing and managing diabetes. This is why CareFirst is investing in local programs that directly address these issues to ensure communities have access to the resources they need to lead healthier lives.”
The investment, part of CareFirst’s Place-Based Grants Initiative, will support community and health collaboratives to address diabetes and diet-related chronic conditions for sustainable improvements in community health.
Targeting priority areas identified as Healthy Food Priority Areas, with a high prevalence of diabetes, the multi-year grants will focus on improving access to healthy, affordable food and promoting well-being in our communities.
CareFirst projects the grants will impact on 1.5 million residents across the region. The funded programs focus on three key areas:
- Expanding local food systems to increase access to healthy, affordable food options in Healthy Food Priority Areas;
- Implementing food-is-medicine programs, including producing prescription programs to support chronic disease management; and
- Providing food literacy, nutrition education, and healthy meal preparation training.
Food insecurity is a significant public health issue that affects overall wellness, according to CareFirst officials. In the District, one in eight residents lack reliable access to nutritious food, and in Wards 7 and 8, one in five children has limited access to grocery stores, according to the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2024 Hunger Report.
One in nine Marylanders, including one in seven children, faces food insecurity, according to a 2023 study by Maryland Hunger Solutions while in Northern Virginia, one in four people experiences food insecurity according to the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2024 Hunger Report.
To alleviate the burden of food insecurity, and the impact it has on overall wellness, CareFirst officials say it is essential to drive investments to generate access to nutritious high-quality food and resources across the region.
CareFirst engages with local communities to understand their most pressing needs, using that feedback to guide its investments. Over the past few years, CareFirst has dedicated $1.7 million to local health improvement coalitions and community-based organizations addressing the factors that contribute to the severity and likelihood of developing diabetes.
This latest $7.1 million investment builds on those efforts, further advancing health equity, nutritional security while enhancing access to quality care across the region.
Local grant recipients include: American Diabetes Association, American University Blossom Education Solutions Inc.; Bread for the City; Brighter Bites; Building Bridges Across the River; DC Central Kitchen, Inc.; Dreaming Out Loud Inc.; Food Research & Action Center DBA Maryland Hunger; FreshFarm*; Future Harvest Inc.; Holy Cross Hospital; Institute for Public Health Innovation*; Martha’s Table; and So, What Else, Inc; among several others.
Kimberly Harris, director of Community Health and Social Impact at CareFirst and 2024-25 Chair for the American Diabetes Association’s State of Diabetes, said “CareFirst’s commitment to place-based solutions aims to create lasting health improvements through access to nutritious food and education.”
“Addressing the root causes of diabetes requires a comprehensive approach that extends beyond clinical care to tackle the underlying social drivers of health,” she continued. “Our investment shifts the focus from treatment to prevention, ensuring everyone – regardless of zip code – has access to fresh, healthy food and essential health resources.”