Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Grant
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation provides grant funding for projects that improve the health and wellbeing of underserved and vulnerable communities across New York State. These grants support initiatives that expand access to care, advance health equity, strengthen community-based services, and address the social factors that influence health, ensuring that individuals and families can receive high-quality, compassionate care regardless of their circumstances.
Preparing collaborative professionals while expanding access to care
Iona University received grant funding to launch the Interprofessional Community Wellness Center, an innovative initiative designed to expand access to care for underserved communities while preparing students for excellence in interprofessional collaborative practice.
This grant-supported initiative strengthens Iona’s commitment to improving health and wellbeing across the Bronx, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe, NY, while creating meaningful, real-world learning opportunities for students across health and human service disciplines.
Expanding Access. Strengthening Communities.
The Interprofessional Community Wellness Center provides integrated, reduced-fee and free clinical services to individuals and families facing barriers to care. The Center will also serve as a community resource, offering educational workshops on health and wellness topics responsive to local needs. By aligning education with service, this initiative ensures that communities benefit directly while students gain hands-on experience working in collaborative, team-based care environments.
An Integrated Model of Interprofessional Care
The Interprofessional Community Wellness Center is housed within the NYP Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences and builds on existing student-training clinical infrastructure, including:
- The Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic
- The Iona Family Therapy Center (IFTC)
Through this coordinated model, clients will have access to seamless referrals across disciplines, supporting a holistic approach to care. Services will be delivered by graduate student clinicians under expert supervision in:
- Communication Sciences & Disorders
- Marriage & Family Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
This approach expands real-world interprofessional training while improving continuity and coordination of services for clients.
The Interprofessional Clinic Allows for Enhanced Learning for Students
Grant funding also supports the continued growth of Interprofessional Education (IPE) at Iona. Students benefit from expanded experiential learning opportunities, including:
- Interprofessional clinical simulations
- Community-based clinical experiences
- Collaborative health and wellbeing workshops
- Interprofessional collaborative research projects with students and faculty from at least two different disciplines
These learning experiences are designed through an interprofessional lens, integrating perspectives from health, education and wellness fields, preparing students to work effectively in today’s complex healthcare and community settings.
Community-Centered Health & Wellness Education
Students providing community focused education benefits both those receiving services and the students providing them. By engaging directly with communities, students deepen their understanding of lived experiences, strengthen communication and teaching skills, and learn how to translate professional knowledge into accessible, culturally responsive education.
In partnership with local organizations, the clinic offers a series of health and wellness workshops tailored to community needs. Topics reflect the diverse expertise of Iona’s healthcare educators and address the social, behavioral, and environmental factors that shape health outcomes.
Impact & Outcomes
By integrating interprofessional education with community-based care delivery, this initiative:
- Expands access to speech, language, hearing, and behavioral health services
- Prepares students for collaborative, team-based professional practice
- Strengthens community partnerships and referral networks
- Promotes continuity of care across disciplines
- Creates sustainable, scalable solutions to address healthcare disparities
A Shared Commitment to Health Equity
The Interprofessional Community Wellness Center reflects Iona University’s commitment to equity, access, and collaboration, advancing well-being in our communities while preparing the next generation of professionals to lead with skill, compassion, and purpose.