The Desert Healthcare District and Foundation Board of Directors approved grant awards at its monthly meeting Sept. 26 that will fund support for Coachella Valley residents affected by intellectual and developmental disabilities, homelessness, and for children with special needs.
The grant awards total $761,889. An additional $17,000 was allocated by the Board to Partners in Medical Education Inc., to lead a feasibility study on graduate medical education opportunities in the Coachella Valley. The allocation aligns with the District’s strategic plan goal 2.5 which specifies collaborating with culturally competent training programs to expand primary care residency and nursing programs with required retention initiatives.
September grant awards:
- Grant #1400, $271,370 – Desert Arc will receive a year of salary support for an LVN, AEDS for buses and vehicles, and a contracted behavior health analyst 2 – all in service to residents affected by intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Grant #1404, $369,730 – The grant covers two years of staffing costs for outreach and wraparound services in Indio and four targeted cities. These include employment specialists, a case manager, and other operating costs, printing, and mileage for Martha’s Village and Kitchen to support individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Grant #1405, $120,852 – Variety Children’s Charities of the Desert will receive grant support to hire two bilingual full-time program specialists to expand an existing program that benefits children with special needs and their families.
Learn more about the District’s grants program.
The Board also approved signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Coachella Valley Resource Conservation District, which is providing a $140,000 grant to acquire and operate a second mobile medical clinic. The action followed a robust discussion about whether “fulfilling medical prescriptions” may be too specific. The Board approved the MOU and accepting the grant.
About the Desert Healthcare District and Foundatiaon
The Desert Healthcare District is a local government agency formed in 1948. Its mission is to achieve optimal health at all stages of life for all District residents. The District includes more than 400,000 residents and encompasses the entire Coachella Valley. The District and Desert Healthcare Foundation, together, are one of the largest funders in the valley. These funds are used to assist residents — especially the underserved — in accessing vitally needed resources, such as primary and behavioral healthcare. Learn more at dhcd.org.
