Grants to local Health Safety-Net Providers and Capacity Building
(SUFFOLK, VA) September 19, 2019 – Obici Healthcare Foundation has announced $3.6 million in grants to help health safety-net providers deliver quality care for all residents of Western Tidewater and creation of a partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Excellence to strengthen local nonprofits.
A strategy of the Foundation’s Access to Healthcare Initiative is to offer support for health safety-net providers who deliver comprehensive care to uninsured and medically underserved populations.
Safety-net providers include emergency rooms, free and charitable clinics, local health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, community health centers and other providers that deliver care to a significant number of uninsured and underinsured patients. In August, the Foundation’s Board of Directors approved support grants to six of these agencies in the region.
“We are excited by the quality of the programs being offered by our safety net partners,” said Foundation CEO Annette Beuchler. “A strong safety net, alongside coordinated wraparound supports, is key to overall community health.”
Operating support grants were awarded to ForKids, Horizon Health Services, The Up Center, Western Tidewater Community Services Board and Western Tidewater Free Clinic over a three-year period, and to the Genieve Shelter over a one-year period.
ForKids Inc. received a $123,000 grant to strengthen healthcare access for families experiencing homelessness. Families living in poverty frequently have underlying medical or mental health needs, are less likely to establish a medical home and often forego treatment in favor of other expenses such as rent and food.
“Obici Healthcare Foundation has been a critical partner of ForKids for over 10 years,” CEO Thaler McCormick said. “Recognizing that health is significantly impacted by homelessness and traumatic events, the Foundation and ForKids partnership ensures that newborn babies have a safe place to sleep, children get critical care during their most important developmental years, and family members receive mental health services to support their long-term wellness and stability.”
Horizon Health Services Inc. was awarded a $510,000 grant to address social determinants of health of its patient population and to build needed infrastructure.
“Obici Healthcare Foundation has remained a strong partner with Horizon Health Services, contributing to improved quality of life in our community,” said CEO Cheryl Ebersole. “They are providing funding in order for Horizon Health Services to build needed infrastructure. This additional staff will enable HHS to develop processes for Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Part of this recognition will include addressing the social determinants of health for our patients and linking them to community resources.”
The Genieve Shelter received a one-year grant worth $50,000 that funds Direct Services for Victims of Violence, a project that aims to serve victims of domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking and stalking in six localities within Virginia. The program offers access to a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy, intensive case management, crisis intervention, children’s advocacy, housing stabilization and individual and group counseling.
“We at The Genieve Shelter are excited to be partnering with the Obici Healthcare Foundation to continue to provide a safe refuge and supportive environment to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking in our community,” said Executive Director Marliesia Montgomery. “With the Foundation’s support, we are able to enhance our direct service staff and services which will allow us to better serve individuals and families who are fleeing violence.”
The Up Center was awarded a $388,050 grant to provide a continuum of individual and group-based mental health and substance abuse counseling services to Western Tidewater residents. The center will provide office-based and community-based counseling that addresses trauma and stress, and recovery and healing. This includes skill-building groups for children diagnosed with autism and, at the same time, a support group for their parents that provide education and strategies for effective parenting.
“The three-year grant received by the Obici Healthcare Foundation will allow us to stabilize and transform lives,” Chief Program Officer Andrea Long. “The Up Center understands that managing mental health and substance use needs can require comprehensive solutions. Individuals and families are not always able to identify those solutions on their own. The Up Center is invested in changing the trajectory of families from crisis to wholeness. We, however, cannot do this alone. Without the support of the Obici Healthcare Foundation, we would not be able to deliver on this promise to families in the Western Tidewater area.”
The Western Tidewater Community Services Board was awarded a $637,068 grant to continue integrated psychiatric services at Western Tidewater Free Clinic and for RN Child Crisis Case Management services.
“Western Tidewater Community Services Board is grateful for the continued support and partnership provided by Obici Healthcare Foundation to continue to expand Behavioral Health Safety Net Services throughout the Western Tidewater Area,” Director of Operations Brandon Rodgers said. “We are especially excited to increase crisis services for children and youth in the City of Franklin and Isle of Wight County as a result of this project.”
Western Tidewater Free Clinic received a $1.4 million grant to provide continued access to comprehensive health care for the uninsured and underinsured. Using its “health home” model of care, WTFC strives to provide a wide variety of on-site services, including specialty and women’s health, dental, mental health and pharmacy services.
“Western Tidewater Free Clinic simply would not exist without Obici Healthcare Foundation. We are honored to serve as the sole free safety net provider of health care services to underserved residents of our community as a result of our long-term partnership with the Foundation, including initial funding to support an expanded model of care.,” Executive Director Chet Hart said. “The breadth and depth of the comprehensive services that our patients need and that we can provide today are thanks to our continued relationship with the Foundation, as demonstrated through our newly approved 3-year grant. On behalf of our patients whose lives are changed at the Clinic, we are truly grateful for our partnership.”
As part of its Capacity Building Initiative, the Foundation awarded a $385,100 grant to the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, a capacity-building organization with a mission of strengthening nonprofits to realize the potential of the community.
The goal of the Capacity Building Initiative is to provide greater opportunities for nonprofit organizations to continuously impact communities. Through its partnership, the Foundation and Center for Nonprofit Excellence will work together to assist organizations in various organizational areas, including strategic planning, fund development, program evaluation, financial management and sustainability.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Obici Health Foundation to bring customized, affordable, high-quality capacity-building support to nonprofits in the Obici Healthcare Foundation service footprint,” said Cindy Colson, Deputy Director of Strategic Partnership for the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. “We look forward to working closely with nonprofits in the region to support their learning and growth with a mutual goal of increasing the positive impact that nonprofits can make on community health and well-being. We’re especially appreciative of the Foundation’s vision of strong nonprofits that lead to strong communities.”
The remainder of the funding was awarded to three additional one-year grantees: Virginia Legal Aid Society received a grant for Medicaid access; Southeast 4-H Educational Center received a grant to fund its Healthy Trails and Happy Campers program; and The Children’s Center was awarded an Early Childhood Education Grant to fund the Early Childhood Education Partnership.
About the Obici Healthcare Foundation: The Obici Healthcare Foundation is a private foundation established in 2006 from the sale of Louise Obici Memorial Hospital to Sentara Healthcare. Since its inception the Foundation has awarded over $52.5 million in grant funding.