Director of Policy, Connecticut Health Foundation

Director of Policy, Connecticut Health Foundation Organization Overview The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) is a nonpartisan independent foundation created in 1999. The foundation focuses on achieving health equity for people of color by changing the systems that influence people’s ability to be as healthy as possible.Connecticut is the nation’s wealthiest state with some of the best health outcomes in the country. However, not everyone has the opportunity to live their healthiest lives, and there are significant racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes in the state.The foundation’s work is guided by a five-year strategic plan. The current plan, which began in 2024, identifies four focus areas : Expanding health care coverage : Good health requires having access to care. CT Health’s vision is that everyone in Connecticut will have health care coverage, and its five-year goal is to expand options for those who do not currently have any.Sustainable funding for community health workers : CT Health’s long-term vision is for community health worker services to be widely available to state residents, integrated into the health care and social service systems, and supported by sustainable payment. The five-year goal focuses on securing sustainable funding through Medicaid and other payors.Maternal health equity for people of color : CT Health’s vision is for all pregnant people of color to have the opportunity for a healthy pregnancy, birth, and start to parenthood.Fostering the infrastructure for health equity : Advancing health equity requires a strong field of advocates, reliable information, and the ability to analyze data on patients’ race, ethnicity, and language preference. CT Health refers to these things as the infrastructure needed to achieve health equity.The foundation uses several tools to achieve its goals, including grantmaking, policy advocacy, research, strategic communications, and convening. Staff work closely to ensure that each of these areas is aligned.The foundation’s work is based on the premise that it will have the greatest impact by focusing on systems – policies, practices, and rules – that influence people’s ability to be healthy. As a result, most of the foundation’s grantmaking is related to policy and advocacy.As a private foundation, CT Health does not lobby. The foundation’s work with policymakers is focused on providing information and education. Most of the foundation’s policy work is focused on state-level decision-making.The Connecticut Health Foundation was created in 1999 following the conversion of a local insurance company, ConnectiCare, from a nonprofit to for-profit company. CT Health is independent of the insurance company. The foundation is fully endowed and does not raise money.Job Description The Connecticut Health Foundation is focused on health equity for people of color, and the policy director is the point person in determining how to best use policy to achieve the foundation’s goals. This individual plays a leading role in building strong relationships with those working on health policy at the state level, including policymakers and advocates, to advance the foundation’s strategic goals and policy objectives.Responsibilities Day-to-day responsibilities include developing, implementing, and monitoring strategy; formulating policy initiatives that advance the foundation’s mission; maintaining strong relationships with policymakers, advocacy grantees, and other constituents; and monitoring and formulating responses to relevant public policy issues.Qualifications The director of policy is a member of the program team and collaborates closely with the chief of staff and director of communications and the director of grantmaking to assure that policy activities are coordinated with the communications and research strategy and grantmaking. As a nonpartisan, private foundation, the Connecticut Health Foundation does not lobby and is committed to working with policymakers of all political affiliations.Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and health equitySeven or more years of experience in public policy, advocacy, government, or a related field; background in policy or advocacy desirableExperience working with a broad group of stakeholders, including public officials, health care, public health, nonprofit, advocacy, and funder communitiesExpertise in health care or public health and an understanding of the changing landscape of Medicaid, health care coverage, and health equity. Connecticut experience is a plus.Expertise in building capacity and training partners and grantees in policy and advocacySelf-motivated and able to work independently, and comfortable working in a collaborative environmentExcellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to talk about complex ideas with a wide variety of audiencesAble to manage multiple priorities simultaneouslyUnderstanding of and commitment to systems change, equity, and diversityExcellent interpersonal skills : a leader, a team player, and listener#J-18808-Ljbffr