Molina Healthcare of Washington has named the 2019 recipients of its community innovation fund, a new program designed to fund programs that reduce access barriers and address the social determinants of health for Medicaid beneficiaries in regions of Washington State that have implemented integrated managed care (IMC).
In this inaugural year, Molina, which has been providing government-funded care for low-income individuals for nearly 20 years, received a total of 152 applications and is distributing nearly $1 million in grants to 16 Washington-based 501(c)(3) organizations. Starting in 2019 and annually for three consecutive years, the Molina fund will award up to $1 million per year to organizations that align with Molina’s mission and goals, according to the organization’s officials.
“We are grateful to the many community organizations across the state that submitted proposals for our debut of the Molina Fund,” Peter Adler, president of Molina Healthcare of Washington, said in a statement. “Molina is honored to support this year’s winners by providing innovation funding to implement and expand community-based initiatives that make whole-person health more accessible. Community-based organizations who are receiving Molina Fund innovation grants share Molina’s goal of improving health outcomes by incorporating social determinants of health and reducing access barriers at the community level.”
Below are a few examples of the many organizations and projects that Molina is supporting through this inaugural year of Molina fund grants:
- Council for the Homeless - Provide housing support through diversion, an effective intervention focused on quickly housing those without homes within the local housing market, for low-income seniors in Clark County.
- Friends in Service to Humanity (FISH) - Collaborate with partners in Kittitas County to improve food security through a comprehensive program inclusive of food insecurity screening, food prescriptions, and nutrition education. For individuals with uncontrolled chronic disease, the program will include referrals for medical nutrition therapy and medically tailored meals.
- Neighborcare Health - Expand access to mental health care, help patients navigate their care, and connect patients to other resources, such as housing or education, at its Youth Clinic – supporting youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in King County.
- CHAS Health - Increase access to non-invasive fibrosis assessment for persons with Hepatitis C and grow the number of patients initiating and completing Hep C treatment in Spokane County.
- Dave Purchase Project/Tacoma Needle Exchange - Co-locate a specialty wound care clinic within the Tacoma Needle Exchange syringe exchange program that provides early intervention, diagnosis, and treatment. Participants will be offered access to substance use disorder treatment, care coordination, and other behavioral and social services.
- Community in Schools of Tacoma - Support the growth of school-based clinics to provide preventive care services, health and safety education, and wellness programs to all district-eligible students.
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho - Integrate behavioral health services into reproductive healthcare delivery in Yakima County.
Nonprofit organizations that are interested in applying for grants through the next round of the Molina Fund can do so by visiting MolinaHealthcare.com/MolinaFund in spring 2020.
