Our Changing Region
Jefferson Regional Foundation
Economic Resilience
Jefferson Regional Foundation has provided over $17 million in grant awards to 120 different community organizations in the area since it was founded in March 2013 as part of the affiliation agreement for Jefferson Hospital to become part of the Allegheny Health Network. The Foundation is dedicated to grantmaking in the South Hills and Mon Valley areas of Pittsburgh to address the social determinants of health.
The JRF service territory includes the communities of the South Hills (Rt. 51 corridor) and some of the Mon Valley (Duquesne, McKeesport, Clairton, Homestead, etc.) with a mission of health and wellness for all. These communities encompass a range of conditions (urban, suburban, and rural) that each face unique challenges. These communities are growing, and growing more diverse, which may require a realignment of services and resources within the foundation’s service area.
Our Approach
We developed an analysis framework to classify data and topics for the partners and working groups. The framework looked at 4 key topics: 1) Who lives in the region? 2) Are basic needs being met for all? 3) Does the region support economic mobility? 4) Is the “quality of place” improving? We engaged with the JRF’s robust network of community partners throughout the process to formulate questions and identify resources to support the analysis.
The Results
The Jefferson Regional Foundation partnered with Fourth Economy Consulting and the University of Pittsburgh Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR) to develop an analysis of the Jefferson Regional Foundation service area. Titled Our Changing Communities: A Review of Data Trends in the Jefferson Regional Service Area, the analysis focuses on changing demographics, economic mobility, and community health. The project included the release of data story maps, written reports, and one-page community snapshots for each community and school district in the Jefferson Regional Foundation’s service area.
The Foundation hopes this data and information sparks conversations and strategies which complement community voice to increase health and wellness in the Jefferson Regional service area. We encourage community partners to use these materials when designing programs, conducting outreach, applying for funding, and in planning for future community engagement.
Location
Pittsburgh, PA