MPACF Awarded Grant through Michigan Health Endowment Fund to Improve Health and Wellness of Isabella County Residents
Mt. Pleasant, MI – The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation today announced it has been awarded a grant of more than $80,000.00 from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to support initiatives aimed at improving the quality of health for residents of Isabella County.
The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation grant dollars will support the building of an integrated care team to deliver primary medical care at Isabella Citizens for Health, a newly designated Federally Qualified Health Center serving the residents of Isabella County and surrounding communities. This model addresses the needs of an expanding patient population and an increased number of insured people during a primary care physician shortage. Specific outcomes of the project will include better coordination of preventative care, more opportunity for patient education on chronic disease management, and coordination and referral services related to other social determinants of health that contribute to a person’s overall health--all through a single medical home.
“We are thrilled to partner with Isabella Citizens for Health to begin building their integrated care team in 2016 by adding, and co-locating, behavioral health services within the Health Center,” said Amanda Schafer, Executive Director of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation.
More than 30 community foundations across the state applied for funding through the Michigan Health Endowment Fund’s fall 2015 grant application process. Grant requests focused on areas such as: prenatal care and infant mortality; health services to support adopted and fostered children; healthy food access; wellness and fitness programs; access to mental health services; technology enhancements; health related transportation needs; access to care/integrated care; and teen pregnancy prevention.
“The Michigan Health Endowment Fund board is proud to support a variety of very successful programs already positively impacting the health of Michigan’s children and seniors as a result of our first grant funding effort,” said Rob Fowler, board chairman. “We look forward to building additional relationships with Michigan’s community foundations and other non-profit organizations as they continue their focused work to improve the health of Michigan’s most vulnerable residents.”
The mission of the Michigan Health Endowment Fund is to improve the health of Michigan residents and reduce the cost of health care, with special emphasis on the health and wellness of children and seniors. The fund was created as part of 2013 state legislation that allowed Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to become a nonprofit mutual health insurer. Nearly $38 million in grants were awarded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund last year.
“We are excited to collaborate this year with community foundations on projects that seek to enhance the well-being of Michigan’s children and seniors in their local communities,” said Paul Hillegonds, executive director of Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
Additional information can be found at the Michigan Health Endowment Fund website at mhealthfund.com or by visiting the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation website at mpacf.org.