Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Foundation for Community Health?

The Foundation for Community Health was formed to maintain and improve the physical and mental health of all the residents of the area historically served by Sharon Hospital, Inc., especially those most vulnerable.

What communities are included in the area served by Sharon Hospital?

Connecticut: Canaan, Cornwall, Warren, Falls Village, Goshen, Kent, Norfolk, Salisbury/Lakeville, and Sharon.

New York: Amenia/Wassaic, Ancram, Copake, Dover/Dover Plains/Wingdale, Millbrook/Washington, Millerton/NorthEast, Pine Plains, Stanfordville.

How was The Foundation for Community Health formed?

The Foundation for Community Health was launched in 2003 with help from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF) as a result of the sale of Sharon Hospital to Essent Healthcare, Inc.

Connecticut law requires that the net proceeds from the sale of a not-for-profit hospital acquired by a for-profit organization, such as Essent, remain in the charitable sector through the creation of a “conversion” foundation. As stated in the statute, the resulting charitable fund will be used for charitable health purposes consistent with the nonprofit hospital’s original purpose. This process was guided by Connecticut’s Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and formalized by a decision of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut.

The Foundation for Community Health is a separate, independent corporation acting as a non-profit public charity (501(c)3) and a Type III supporting organization of BTCF. It is governed by its own 15-member volunteer Board of Directors, each of whom maintains residence in the communities listed above.

How much money does the Foundation for Community Health have?

The Foundation for Community Health has been funded by the net charitable proceeds from the sale of the former not-for-profit Sharon Hospital, to a for-profit corporation, in accordance with the decision of the Litchfield Superior Court. As of June 1, 2005 The Foundation has net assets in excess of $18.9 million in hand. Including assets held in trust by others of $6.4 million, FCH will be able to draw income from a total of $25 million by the end of 2005.

Over $655,000 (as of June 2005) of the proceeds from the sale are in the form of donor restricted funds. This money may only be spent on projects that are consistent with the donor’s wishes. All other monies are considered unrestricted.

How much money can the Foundation spend per year?

Under the terms set forward by the Attorney General, The Foundation for Community Health may not spend or deplete more than 5% of its unrestricted assets in each of the first 5 years of existence. This is to ensure that it has assets to consider buying back the hospital should Essent decide to sell it within that period. (Essent Healthcare, Inc. is the for-profit corporation that purchased Sharon Hospital.)

Can the Foundation for Community Health receive direct contributions?

As a charitable institution, the Foundation can receive new contributions to further its work to improve community health.

What relationship does the Foundation for Community Health have with Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF)?

The Foundation is currently organized as a Type III supporting organization of BTCF. In this relationship, BTCF can nominate 3 persons to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. In addition, the Foundation has contracted with BTCF for financial administration and investment services.

BTCF also acts in an advisory capacity on programmatic, grant-making and administrative topics, while the Foundation provides BTCF with information and assessments of health-related issues in an advisory capacity for their health-related grantmaking.

What is the Foundation’s relationship to the “new” Sharon Hospital?

The Foundation works cooperatively with Sharon Hospital to ensure and augment a network of affordable and accessible health care in the region. The Foundation cannot support programs operated by or for the benefit of any for-profit institution including Sharon Hospital. Nor can the Foundation support services that Sharon Hospital ought to be providing as part of its agreement with the Attorney General of Connecticut.

What has happened before the Foundation for Community Health began distributing the first grants?

Following the advice of other community health foundations around the country, the Foundation for Community Health conducted an assessment of current health needs and the resources that exist in the communities served by the hospital.

The Foundation first collected previous assessments of the health needs of our service areas. The data from those assessments were analyzed for their timeliness, relevancy and thoroughness. We also collected and collated census and health status data and information about funding initiatives being conducted by other institutions.

Secondly, healthcare providers were surveyed and asked to identify and prioritize health needs and access issues. Lastly, local community members were also trained as focus group leaders and four focus groups were conducted with various populations.

After analyzing this information, and combining it with information gathered from interviews with a variety of community leaders and providers, the Foundation gained a much better understanding of how best to support existing agencies, foster new initiatives and distribute funds in order to improve health care and services and make a difference over the long term.

A separate, more in-depth dental assessment will be conducted in 2005, to better understand the local need and how to best address the issue.

How will the public know the outcome of the assessment process?

The Board has prepared a report posted within this website as well as making it available in print format upon request.

What is a grant proposal and why is one necessary?

A grant proposal is a document that an individual or organization submits to a funding entity, in this case the Foundation for Community Health. The proposal identifies and describes who is requesting funding, the reason why funding is requested, the details of the project to be funded, the expected outcomes, the process for evaluating the outcome, and a budget for the project.

A grant proposal is necessary to ensure that funds are used effectively for their stated purpose and that the stated purpose is consistent with identified needs and priorities.

Will the Foundation for Community Health work with the community in ways other than granting money?

The assessment results have indicated issues that need to be addressed by means other than the simple distribution of money. These issues include:

  • advocacy for persons or groups without adequate service;
  • improved communication and coordination of the work of existing agencies or providers;
  • fostering joint ventures;
  • identifying topics for and organizing community, agency or provider education;
  • help in getting funds from sources other than the foundation, especially for specific purposes;
  • acting as a resource on health and/or demographic data; and
  • advocacy for solutions to our health problems at local, state and/or national levels.

How can I make my voice and concerns heard?

The Board is committed to listening to the issues and concerns of the community residents on a continual basis. To accommodate everyone, there are at least 3 ways that the Foundation can receive your comments:

  • Call our toll-free number, 1-800-695-7210,
  • Send your written comments to Public Comment, The Foundation for Community Health, 106B Upper Main Street, Sharon, CT 06069,
  • From the Contact Us page you can email us your comments.

All of these contact points are totally private and anonymous. However, if you wish to leave your name and address to be included in future Foundation mailings, you are welcome to do so with any of these methods.