Prebys Foundation Announces $10M To Improve Health Care For Underserved Communities

© San Diego Stethoscope and Laptop Times . Photo by National Cancer Institute on Splash

The Conrad Priebis Foundation on Monday launched a $10 million Health Care Access, Resources and Excellence Initiative aimed at providing two-year grants of up to $250,000 annually to health clinics serving low-income communities.

According to the foundation's leadership, the SHARE initiative aims to provide "excellent, culturally appropriate health care" to underserved communities such as indigenous, immigrant and border communities. Grantees can use the funds most effectively for their organizations and the communities they serve

"San Diego is well-known for its excellent health care facilities, but the health of many of our residents is at risk because they lack access to the quality health care they deserve, including a culture and community with responsive care to their needs," said Grant Oliphant, executive director of the Conrad Prebys Foundation." SHARE Through , our mission is to expand the reach of great community clinics and the care they provide to the communities that need them most.

Health status in San Diego varies greatly by income, race, and geographic location. Low-income people are twice as likely to develop an illness, ranging from acute to chronic, than people of higher socioeconomic status, according to the foundation's statement.

"The SHARE initiative will help healthcare professionals who are closely connected to their communities determine how best to use funding to increase access to quality care," said Kaveri Banerjee Murthy, director of impact at the Conrad Prebis Foundation. "We rely on the wisdom of community clinics to make the best decisions to meet the needs of the people they serve."

"The goal is to retain or increase staffing of these local providers, stay open longer, invest in internal infrastructure and establish mobile services or partnerships to improve access and quality of service," he said.

The following types of organizations are encouraged to apply: community health centers or other federal health centers, health center-like organizations, rural health clinics, immigrant health clinics, and those that provide primary health care and/or health services. Care in San Diego County.

For more information or to access the application process, visit www.prebysfdn.org/shareinitiative.

City News Service prepared this article.