Dignity Health Central Coast has awarded $468,000 in funding to six community nonprofit partnerships in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Representatives from each organization were recognized at a breakfast award ceremony March 11 to acknowledge their service in providing critical health and human services to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county residents.

Grants are awarded through a Community Health Improvement Grants Program created by the Dignity Health parent company CommonSpirit Health.

The annual Community Health Improvement Grants program is designed to help nonprofit groups with an interest in building healthier communities by improving health and living conditions.

Criteria for this funding cycle were based on the following priority areas identified in the hospitals 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment: Educational Attainment, Access to Primary Care including Behavioral Health and Dental Health and Health Promotion and Prevention.
 
This year, the Dignity Health Community Grants were awarded to the following local six Accountable Care Communities:
 
Five Cities Meals on Wheels  
This project will address food insecurity among homebound seniors. Five Cities Meals on Wheels has been serving the county since 1975. It has maintained  daily meal preparation and delivery service since 1975.

Five Cities Meals’ focus is on area residents who are homebound and unable to grocery shop or prepare meals leading to food insecurity and malnutrition. Fiscal Agent: Five Cities Meals on Wheels

Recuperative Care Housing Navigation
The Good Samaritan Recuperative Care Program (RCP) Navigation Project will address the critical need for targeted housing navigation support for individuals experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in the Hope Village Recuperative Care project.
Fiscal Agent: Good Samaritan Shelter
 
Hearts Aligned Inc.
Hearts Aligned  will provide comprehensive services to 50 low-income families that have a child classified as critically ill by the referring medical professional. The nonprofit will provide direct financial assistance up to $2,500 which may include rent, utilities, auto expenses, gas and grocery cards, insurance, lodging and other essentials to help families at their most vulnerable time.
Fiscal Agent:Hearts Aligned Inc.
 
POR VIDA!
POR VIDA! is a culturally responsive program designed to offer holistic support to students, emphasizing their well-being, academic achievements, and overall development.

By leveraging evidence-based strategies, the program fosters social-emotional stability among participating students. It also provides targeted educational interventions to prevent student dropouts and actively supports students in their journey toward college and career readiness.
Fiscal Agent: One Community Action
 
School Garden Nutrition Program
The project will address the need for nutrition intervention and hands-on science education in public schools in San Luis Obispo and North Santa Barbara counties, by providing 30 participating schools with a garden educator who will create and maintain school gardens, teach weekly, standards-aligned nutrition lessons to students, and get students outdoors, active, and involved in growing and eating fruits and vegetables.
Fiscal Agent:One Cool Earth
 
The Cecilia Oral Project
The project will provide funding for critical dental treatment (comprehensive evaluation, radiographic images, scanning, extractions, dentures, implants etc.) that is urgently needed and required in order to initiate cancer treatment.
Fiscal Agent: The Cecilia Fund

Dignity Health Central Coast is comprised of seven hospitals: Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo.

Learn more at dignityhealth.org/centralcoast.

For more about CommonSpirit Health, visit commonspirit.org.