(San Fernando, Calif. – September 8, 2023) – San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC) proudly announces two grants totaling $275,000 from the L.A. Care Health Plan, an organization dedicated to providing the most vulnerable residents and communities of Los Angeles County access to quality health coverage.
The L.A. Care Health Plan has selected SFCHC as one of 15 community health facilities to receive a $100,000 grant to help increase access to dental care in underserved communities. SFCHC will use the funding to provide kindergarten students with important oral health screenings, as well as to educate them on the importance of oral hygiene and good nutrition. A key goal is to establish a relationship of trust among the children and the dental professionals who care for them.
“At San Fernando Community Health Center, our model of care holds the well-being of the whole person at its center,” said SFCHC Chief Executive Officer Audrey Simons. “A growing body of research shows a direct link between poor oral health and many chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. This funding will help ensure children receive dental screenings, begin a lifetime of oral healthcare management, and find a dental home at an early age. “
The L.A. Care Health Plan also has awarded SFCHC a Robert E. Tranquada Safety Net Initiative grant in the amount of $175,000 to provide persons dealing with health inequities access to weight management programs, as well as screenings for chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases. The funding will support the recruitment, hiring, and retention of culturally congruent and diverse medical staff.
“The funding will allow SFCHC to hire a registered nurse and a certified community health worker to further strengthen our primary care team,” said Simons. “The focus of our project is to increase the percentage of patients achieving blood pressure control, increase screening for chronic kidney disease, and reduce obesity among patients, particularly those with underlying medical conditions. Integrating both a dedicated RN and CCHW into the team will allow better communication with patients and even higher quality care.”
SFCHC has been a trusted, patient-centered medical home for the community since 1924. SFCHC’s designation as a federally qualified health center allows it to provide state-of-the art health care services, prevention, and education regardless of an individual’s income, insurance status or ability to pay. Dedicated to providing quality care to every person, particularly the most vulnerable and underserved, SFCHC operates at two locations. Its main 17,100-square-foot facility in San Fernando provides primary, dental and behavioral health care, as well as case management and health education. Its additional 1,500-square-foot facility in Mission Hills is co-located with Harbor Recuperative Care Center (HRCC) which provides housing for homeless community members recently released from local acute care hospitals. For more information, visit www.sfchealthcenter.org.
L.A. Care Health Plan serves more than 2.9 million members in Los Angeles County, making it the largest publicly operated health plan in the country. L.A. Care offers four health coverage plans including Medi-Cal, L.A. Care Covered™, L.A. Care Medicare Plus and the PASC-SEIU Homecare Workers Health Care Plan, all dedicated to being accountable and responsive to members. As a public entity, L.A. Care’s mission is to provide access to quality health care for L.A. County's low-income communities, and to support the safety net required to achieve that purpose. L.A. Care prioritizes quality, access and inclusion, elevating health care for all of L.A. County For more information, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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