Carol Thornton Email and Phone Number

Responsibilities:Lead grantmaking, initiatives and policy advocacy to improve the health of the people and communities in the Partnership region (Western and Central Cumberland County, Northern Adams County, Perry County, and greater Shippensburg area).Guide $2 million in annual grant awards to non-profits in South Central PA to address issues such as, but not limited to, health equity, primary care, behavioral health, affordable housing, food security, and opioid overdose prevention.Serve as the administrator for the online grant system (Foundant), including modifying processes and utilizing report features extensively.Manage the foundation's Housing Systems Change initiative, including grassroots advocacy efforts for affordable housing and homelessness prevention. Accomplishments:Led the development of multiple policy agendas, including the topics of raising the minimum wage, economic development, affordable housing, food systems access, substance use, mental health, and comprehensive health access.Created and issued a Request for Applications to drive interest in grants for policy advocacy work, resulting in four new efforts to address sustainable financing for community health workers, improving mental health in our schools, building capacity of mental health community support programs, and formation of a nutrition security coalition.Researched and released a Request for Applications for "Achieving Comprehensive Youth Mental Health Systems in South Central PA", resulting in four grant awards to improve staff capacity, screening, and referrals.Administered a Request for Proposals for COVID-19 Rapid Response Emergency Grants that resulted in 119 grant agreements for over $1.2 million.Organized “Advocacy Works!” training for grantees and stakeholders, delivered by the Alliance for Justice Bolder Advocacy Initiative, to clarify what a 501(c)(3) can and cannot do legally to inform, advocate, and lobby.

Reviewed and analyzed business operations and procedures.Conducted outreach to potential clients to provide grant writing assistance, grant management, strategic planning, action planning, and virtual and in-person meeting facilitation.Certified as WBENC Women's Business Enterprise (WBE).

Assist in the transition of the management of the Violence and Injury Prevention Program, including grant deliverables.Led the compilation of a grant application to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address the issue of Prescription Drug Overdoses with a public health approach.

Provided supervision and oversight as the Section Chief for the Violence and Injury Prevention Program to staff directing statewide injury prevention activities with a budget of about $3 million in 2013 to address motor vehicle safety, fall prevention among older adults, unintentional poisoning prevention, prevention of violence against children, and sexual violence prevention.Represented the PA Department of Health on national, state and regional advisory groups, including the Safe States Alliance, State Coalitions on Fall Prevention Evaluation Workgroup, PennDOT Multi-Agency Safety Team, and the PennDOT Traffic Records Coordinating Committee.Lead the PA Injury Community Planning Group, comprised of over 90 members with a majority of non-governmental entities represented.

Secured for the Department for the first time a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address Injury Surveillance and Prevention.Served as the project officer for the PA Injury Reporting and Intervention System (PIRIS).Led the planning and implementation of the first regional injury prevention symposia in 2006 to conduct outreach to health care organizations.

Served as the project officer for the Safe Kids Pennsylvania Coalition.Provided oversight for six grant agreements with local health departments for injury prevention programs.Assisted in the submission of grant reports to CDC for the Rape Prevention and Education Program and the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.

Managed public relations contract with $2 million budget for Team PA CareerLink.Executed sole source contract for CareerLink eLearning Institute with a $1.59 million budget.Appointed member of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies Communications and Legislative Relations Committee.

Developed and disseminated a cross-information sharing tool for local One-Stop staff in Team PA CareerLink system.Assisted in the development and implementation of two major training initiatives: "Chartering" for Workforce Investment Boards and "Building a Successful Joint Venture Business for One-Stop partners."

Conducted research regarding the prevalence of drowsy driving crashes in Pennsylvania and conducted outreach regarding prevention strategies.Conducted media relations through television, radio, and print.Trained as a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.