The Rogosin Institute

The Dreyfus Health Foundation is a division of Rogosin that focuses on programs to promote better health worldwide -- programs to empower individuals and communities to change themselves and their environments.

In the United States, the Mississippi Delta is a region struggling with chronic disease, limited availability to health services and economic hardships. Over the years, the Health Foundation has provided 80 quality of life economic, health and educaitonl projects in the Delta region. Through this effort, The health Foundaiton has developed partnerships with hospitals, clinics, local government agencies, and individuals who are committed to promote health and economic development in this region.

The centerpiece of these programs in the Delta is the New Delta Rising Initiative. This Initiative is an anti-poverty initiative sponsored by the Health Foundation of The Rogosin Institute and the Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) at Delta State University. On September 12, 2009, the Delta Initiative and CCED held a rally at Delta State with 150 organizers from various Delta counties. They came together to develop county-wide, grassroots, economic development projects based on the Health Foundation Probelm Solving for Better Health Method (PSBH). The rally was aptly themed “Change Begins With You”.

After the opening session that included an exciting presentation by Dr. Barry Smith, the organizers went into breakout sessions to go through the PSBH method for the projects they want implemented in their counties. These projects will get seed funding from Rogosin’s Health Foundation. The projects range from developing community food systems, to after-school mentoring projects. Everyone enjoyed a full-course barbeque meal and blues and gospel entertainment by local Delta blues artists Kerry “Big T” Williams and Bill Able and the student choir of Delta State.