A 2019 decision by the Franklin County Commissioners that the county needed to do more to combat growing societal inequities is continuing to pump general-fund dollars into a locally created program promoting equity in health care.
Late last month the commission announced continuing grants totaling $1.68 million to nine organizations intended to reduce disparities in health outcomes primarily for populations that have been historically underserved by health providers.
The county spent about a year examining what it could do, and “what we learned is that the inequities that exist in health care and wellness were a core part of the central reason that we’re still experiencing these disparities,” Kevin Boyce, president of the three-member board of commissioners, told The Dispatch.
This year’s recipients, a continuation of last year’s funding to provide continuity, are:
- Physicians CareConnection: $500,000 for Helping Our People Everyday (H.O.P.E.), which provides care coordination for vulnerable populations.
- PrimaryOne Health: $500,000 to offer comprehensive, high-quality, affordable health care and supportive services to meet the health needs of women and their families.
- Cancer Support Community of Central Ohio: $150,000 to reduce barriers to cancer care by providing appropriate support, education, programs, and wrap-around services for Black and LGBTQIA+ individuals who are impacted by cancer and experiencing poverty.
- Catholic Social Services Inc.: $50,000 to provide a variety of social services to central Ohio’s Hispanic population.
- Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio: $150,000 to provide affordable and appropriate pharmacy services and coordinate access to health care for vulnerable populations.
- Children’s Hunger Alliance: $150,000 to provide healthy and nutritious meals to children at risk for food insecurity, increase access to nutritious foods, and educate children about healthy eating and physical activity.
- FESTA: $8,000 to highlight the need for fitness and to address physical and mental health among young people.
- Lutheran Social Services: $50,000 to provide medical, dental, behavioral health, and vision care for people who are experiencing homelessness.
- OhioHealth Cooperation: $125,000 to provide comprehensive prenatal, postpartum, and women’s health care to women residing in Franklin County via the Wellness on Wheels mobile health unit.