Santa Cruz Community Health Centers (SCCHC), a nonprofit provider of high quality, affordable and comprehensive health services for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, announced it has raised the funds to match a $100,000 challenge grant from Frank and Lorraine Bien in memory of their daughter Cecilia Rose Bien
The combined total of $200,000 in donations ranging from $10 to $25,000 will support the Center’s growing Pediatric Center of Excellence, serving low-income children of Santa Cruz County.
Frank Bien, CEO of Santa Cruz-based tech company Looker, established the challenge grant in May. Cecilia became a patient at SCCHC when her primary care pediatrician, Salem Magarian, MD, transitioned his entire clinic to the East Cliff Family Health Center in Live Oak in 2014.
At the onset of the challenge grant campaign, Bien said, “Santa Cruz Community Health Centers was instrumental in coordinating care across the health care system for Cecilia, and I’m excited to support their ongoing efforts to improve the lives of children in our community. SCCHC’s vision for an all-encompassing system of pediatric care for low-income children will ensure all kids have a healthy start to life and reach their full potential, building a stronger community for all of us.”
The Pediatric Center of Excellence is part of a comprehensive system of care to improve the lives of the more than 4,000 children served by SCCHC. Currently, 95 percent of the families served live at or below the poverty level and more than 180 of the children served are homeless.
Consisting of three phases, development of a Pediatric Center of Excellence is entering Phase 2, which will increase services for at-risk children. Going forward, plans call for additional integration of specialty care, implementation of evidence-based models for children age birth-to-3, and greater attention on social factors like housing and food insecurity. The SCCHC is also innovating new ways to work with the Live Oak School District to serve shared students and patients.
“We’re so thankful for the combined generosity of our community and the Bien family, which ensures we can serve thousands of beautiful kids as they grow,” said Leslie Conner, executive director of SCCHC. “These funds are an investment in our Pediatric Center of Excellence, so that all children, regardless of income or any other circumstance, have access to the care they need to reach their full potential.”
SCCHC is dedicated to creating a comprehensive system of care based on the pediatric “health home,” which in turn is embedded within a “health neighborhood.” The network consists of a care team including parents, pediatrician, nurse, social worker, case manager and support staff, as well as coordination with school, family and other community organizations, to improve outcomes for each child.
Phase 2 – 2019-2020
- Plan and build new 18,000 square foot facility at 1500 Capitola Road, with Dientes and MidPen
- Evidence-based screenings to identify all needs (physical, emotional, cognitive, social) with associated pathways to address needs
- Implement Healthy Steps program (birth-to-three)
- Scale up: Community Care Team with Live Oak School District
Through the Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center and the East Cliff Family Health Center, Santa Cruz Community Health Centers (a Federally Qualified Health Center) provides comprehensive primary care services in English and Spanish to all ages, genders, ethnicities, abilities and sexual orientations, regardless of their ability to pay.
SCCHC’s clinics offer primary care, pediatrics, prenatal care and education, mental health and substance abuse counseling, chronic disease management, health insurance enrollment, food distribution, and more.
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Learn more at schealthcenters.org facebook.com/schealthcenters