Sturdy Health Announces Over $2.6 Million in Community Health Grant Funding
Sturdy Health President and CEO Aimee Brewer (fourth from left) and Chief Medical and Quality Officer Dr. Brian Patel (second from right) with Sturdy Health employees and Community Health grant partners during a program kick-off on Monday, April 20 (photo creds: Sturdy Health).
ATTLEBORO, Mass. (April 20, 2026) – Sturdy Health is making a powerful investment in the health and wellbeing of its communities, announcing more than $2.6 million in community health grants to support innovative, on-the-ground solutions across the region. This funding is part of a broader commitment tied to the expansion of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.
These grants will support a range of impactful projects, including a school-based family stabilization effort, community navigation program, housing support services, and expanded access to nutrition, health benefits, and care coordination.
“We are proud to partner with organizations across our service area that are doing critical and impactful work that addresses the need for a multifaceted approach to improving the physical and mental health of our community,” said Dr. Brian Patel, senior vice president of medical affairs and chief medical and quality officer at Sturdy Health. “These grants make it possible to support these organizations in implementing initiatives that will truly help alleviate the broader conditions and challenges that hinder health and wellbeing.”
The grant awards are as follows:
Attleboro Public Schools - The Attleboro Early Access & Family Stabilization Initiative will strengthen early identification and referral pathways for students and families by connecting schools with community-based behavioral health, social services, and basic needs supports, helping to reduce social isolation and increase participation in supportive community activities.
Hockomock Area YMCA - The Social Action Services Center and Pathways Forward Program will provide a centralized, community-based navigation and prevention model offering screening, health education, and coordinated referrals to address food insecurity, housing stability, behavioral health access, and social isolation.
The CHANCE Project - An innovative collaborative initiative uniting six community partners, including the Literacy Center, Attleboro Norton YMCA, Attleboro Public Schools, Attleboro Interfaith Collaborative, The Arc of Bristol County, and Attleboro Council on Aging, to embed community health workers and peer health navigators across community sites to expand access to screening, navigation, transportation, and early intervention for individuals and families.
NeighborWorks Housing Solutions – The establishment of a “no wrong door” housing access hub in partnership with the City of Attleboro that will provide housing navigation, stabilization services, and financial counseling to reduce housing instability and homelessness risk.
Manet Community Health Center - For the Health Benefits and Enabling Services Program to expand multilingual health insurance navigation and care connection services, in partnership with Community Counseling of Bristol County, ensuring residents can access and maintain continuous primary, specialty, and behavioral health care.
“Collaboration is key to successfully creating meaningful impact that the community can benefit from,” added Dr. Patel. “Each of these projects is emblematic of that approach to providing coordinated support.”
About Sturdy Health
Sturdy Health is an independent, nonprofit health system comprised of the 142-bed acute care Sturdy Memorial Hospital, 25 primary and specialty care medical offices, and an Urgent Care Center dedicated to providing a broad range of health care services to the residents of communities in Southeastern Massachusetts and neighboring Rhode Island. Sturdy’s mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in our communities through kindness, compassion, and convenient access to the highest quality care.
In line with its mission to invest in the health and wellness of the community, Sturdy is currently implementing a multi-year master space plan. The system is renovating and adding facilities that will transform the patient and care team member experience and ensure greater access to care. Construction is underway on a $113 million modernization and expansion of the emergency department, which will increase capacity to 38,000 square feet, including 54 patient exam rooms, a dedicated 12-bed behavioral health unit, covered parking, and a new helipad. Learn more at www.sturdyhealth.org.
