Dignity Health Gives $741,206 In Grants To Help Thousands In Need

28 local nonprofits receive grants to help fund programs in Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer and Yolo counties.

Dignity Health, which operates the Mercy, Methodist and Woodland affiliate hospitals in the greater Sacramento region, has awarded $741,206 in grant funding to 28 nonprofit organizations in Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer and Yolo Counties.

The grants, from $5,000 to $50,000 will build capacity in the community to offer much needed services ranging from primary care to mental illness to chronic disease management, shelter and various social support programs to underserved and vulnerable populations. This year's recipient organizations reach out to local ethnic communities and provide services to multiple generations from infants to the elderly.

"The Dignity Health Community Grants Program is one of the many ways our hospitals can help other nonprofit organizations deliver primary care, mental health and social services to the communities we serve," said Michael Taylor, Senior Vice President of Operations for the Greater Sacramento - San Joaquin service area. "We are proud to work collaboratively with these organizations to improve the health of people living in our community."

The Dignity Health Community Grants Program is open to all nonprofit community service organizations that share Dignity Health's mission and values and are dedicated to building healthier communities by improving health and living disparities. The program supports organizations that increase access to care for the poor and address the underlying causes of illness - such as physical and substance abuse, neglect, poverty and homelessness - as well as specific health issues. Grants are funded by contributions from Dignity Health's member hospitals. In the Greater Sacramento region, Dignity Health hospitals that contribute to the grants program are Mercy General Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Mercy San Juan Medical Center, Mercy Hospital of Folsom and Woodland Healthcare.

Grant funding is awarded according to specific criteria and restricted to the specific programs proposed. To foster collaboration this year, Dignity Health's four hospitals in Sacramento County asked nonprofit organizations to submit partnership proposals that provide the full continuum of care for specific target populations. Dignity Health also teamed with the California Institute of Mental Health to enable grant recipients to participate in a Learning Collaborative focused on building collaborative practices and developing quality outcome measures.

Grant awards went to the following organizations:

• El Hogar, Midtown Medical Center and Clean and Sober will focus on addressing the behavioral health, primary health, substance abuse and housing needs of the underserved.
• Health and Life Organization, Hmong Women's Heritage Association, Capitol Health Network, Southeast Asian Assistance Center and La Familia Counseling Center will improve culturally appropriate health access for underserved Hmong, Cambodian, Mien, Vietnamese and Latino populations.
• Health for All, Volunteers in Victim Assistance, Health and Life Organization, United Iu-Mien Community and iCAN will provide and coordinate health care and resources for low-income victims of violence and their families.
• Bishop Gallegos Maternity Home, Women's Empowerment and Sacramento District Dental Foundation will meet the physical, dental and psychological needs of homeless women and their children.
• Folsom Cordova Community Partnerships, Alternatives Pregnancy Center and Sacramento Life Center will increase access to vital health and wellness services for pregnant women and families with children.
• Twin Lakes Food Bank, Powerhouse Ministries, The Effort and Orangevale Food Bank will meet the primary and behavioral health needs and provide healthy food and social support to families in low-income neighborhoods.

Grant awards were also made to the following organizations in Yolo County:

• Citizens Who Care for the Elderly - In home respite and friendly visiting program for people over age 60 who require assistance with daily living tasks.
• Northern California Children's Therapy Center - Provides early intervention services, socialization and access to health care and therapy services to uninsured and underinsured children with physical, developmental and mental disabilities.
• Yolo Community Care Continuum - Provides housing support and mental case management services to mentally ill adults to prevent homelessness and psychiatric hospitalization.
• Yolo Family Service Agency - Provides low-income counseling for uninsured children and families.
• Yolo Wayfarer Center - Provides intermediary housing, case management and parenting/life skills classes to homeless families.

Dignity Health has distributed over $6 million to 303 organizations in the Sacramento area and $46.6 million to deserving projects throughout the Dignity Health system. Grant recipients are required to complete a detailed grant proposal outlining the purpose and scope of the project to be funded, as well as the population to be served, the project's outcomes, plans for its long-term operation and measurement of success. Projects must be in the area of health care, and related social services.