Community Health Foundation has selected two of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in our regions - frail elders and children in communities of poverty - as its priority areas of focus for the next three to five years. Both groups are similar in that they are vulnerable and dependent on others for care, sustenance and advocacy. They are also groups who represent a significant part of the at-risk populations in the CHF service areas. Improving their healthcare outcomes is the foundation's commitment.

However, we clearly can't do it alone. Effective, sustained action will require numerous organizations from multiple sectors to address the needs and priorities of each of these populations in cohesive and thoughtful ways. .Historically, insufficient emphasis has been placed on cross-system collaborative planning, program development and project integration. Each system speaks its own language and is burdened with the demands of need within its own organizational boundaries. Little dialogue beyond "message switching" occurs among organizations, much less the longer, more intensive work that must happen in order for truly effective collaboration to take place.

As a foundation, we believe we can make the greatest impact on our regions' overall health and health care by focusing our initiatives on the needs of these two groups for at least the next three to five years. The degree to which we positively (and measurably) improve their health and health care will be a major test of this foundation's effectiveness.