MCF Announces $2 Million in Grants from Sutter Health Access to Care Fund
April 25, 2011
contact: Fred Silverman (415.464.2527 or via email)
Community health clinics and nonprofit health care agencies serving Marin County residents with little or no health insurance will receive $2 million in grants from the Marin Community Foundation’s Sutter Health Access to Care Fund.
The grants, announced today by Foundation President and CEO Dr. Thomas Peters, will fund an array of services that include dental care, day-care services for older adults, breast cancer screenings, adolescent health services, obstetric care, inoculations and other prevention efforts, and behavioral health services for people with multiple medical conditions.
In addition, grants will pay for insurance premiums that enable uninsured children to receive preventive and primary health care services.
These grants represent the second installment of a five-year, $10 million commitment from the Sutter Health network of Northern California doctors and hospitals to support the health needs of uninsured Marin residents through a donor-advised fund at the Marin Community Foundation.
Because of their significant clinical impact, several programs that received funds in 2010 will receive continuing support, such as dental care, behavioral health care, and immunization services.
Other clinical services are new in this round of grants. Peters cited as an example the support for breast cancer screenings, diagnostic services, and case management for uninsured patients. “It’s critically important that uninsured women and men in Marin receive proper and thorough diagnostic services. Early detection and treatment are vital,” he said, “and especially appropriate given the high levels of importance and concern this disease has in Marin.”
The health of teens will be improved as a result of a grant to the Marin Adolescent Health Network, a coalition of public and private partners providing health care and prevention services to youth in Marin County. The network, consisting of agencies such as Huckleberry Youth Programs and the Novato Youth Center, “helps ensure that young people who typically lack services have access to high quality, teen-friendly health education and treatment services,” stated Peters.
Additionally, a $250,000 grant will enable Marin Community Clinics to provide new obstetric services to uninsured pregnant women. “This will help ensure that these women receive the consistent and timely clinical services so essential to healthy birth outcomes,” said Peters.
John Shen, executive director of Marin Community Clinics, stated, “By providing these obstetric services, our clinics will serve patients who already know us and feel welcomed. There is tremendous value in providing comprehensive services to expectant mothers, and Marin Community Clinics is proud to provide those services with this new support from Sutter.”
“This round of grants is addressing many areas of critical need,” said Peters. “By supporting this range of care, we are helping people avoid falling through the health care safety net. In addition, the clinical care provided by many of these services helps improve the quality of health and life for all residents of Marin.”
“We are very gratified that our goals for this fund are being met,” said Martin Brotman, M.D., president of Sutter Health’s West Bay Region. “Besides funding critical services, the Foundation is working closely with the county’s public health officials and local nonprofit health care providers to make this a highly collaborative effort. Everyone is working together to identify needs, deliver services, and measure the results.”
“This has been an ambitious and successful partnership,” added Peters. “Though Marin has a generally high county health ranking, we know that many residents continue to live precariously when it comes to their health and their ability to access appropriate care. The kinds of services we are funding in this round of grants are designed to make Marin a healthy place for everyone. We’re already excited about what lies ahead.”
A summary of grants follows:
Dental care for uninsured patients: $500,000
Behavioral health services for adult and pediatric residents: $450,000
Outpatient health insurance for children: $250,000
Nursing and rehabilitative and social services for seniors and adults with disabilities: $125,000
Immunizations for seniors and other vulnerable populations: $150,000
Breast cancer screenings and clinical case management: $100,000
Health education and services for teens: $175,000
Obstetric services: $250,000
