New funds available for community health grants
Community organizations that provide health-related services in Santa Clara County are invited to apply for grant support from the El Camino Healthcare District and El Camino Health for the coming year.
“The purpose of the El Camino Healthcare District is to maintain and operate facilities, services and provider groups that improve physical and mental health in the district communities,” said George O. Ting, M.D., chair of the El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors. “One of the district’s most important functions is to assess these healthcare needs and provide taxpayer dollars for community programs that improve healthcare access across age, education and income levels through its Community Benefit Program.”
Applications will be accepted through Feb. 23, 2024. Grantees will be notified in late June for funds to be used from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. During the past decade, the Community Benefit programs of the El Camino Healthcare District and El Camino Health have contributed more than $100 million in community benefit grants.
“Each grant creates a partnership between the recipient organization and us,” said Dan Woods, CEO of El Camino Health. “Through these partnerships we create lasting relationships that improve the overall health of the community by expanding the care we provide beyond the walls of our hospitals and healthcare system.”
In the current funding cycle, the boards of directors for both El Camino Hospital and the El Camino Healthcare District approved funding for 100 grant proposals totaling $11 million. More than $7.7 million of the total came from the El Camino Healthcare District. Funding went to programs and agencies such as school districts, nonprofit organizations, safety-net clinics and community service agencies that help create healthier populations and ensure health equity for community members in Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Mountain View, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale.
For information, visit elcaminohealth.org/about-us/community-benefit.
County experiencing low Covid vaccination rates
Covid vaccination rates are much lower this year compared to previous years, in Santa Clara County and across the country. Only 19% of county residents have received the latest Covid vaccine, as of Dec. 18, according to county officials.
Vaccination rates are even lower amongst Latino and African/African ancestry people in Santa Clara County: only 9% of Latinos and 11% of African/African ancestry individuals are up to date with their Covid vaccination compared to 22% of whites and 19% of Asians.
This is the first time the Covid vaccine is being distributed through the commercial market and not guaranteed at no-cost, officials said.
“One of Public Health’s most important roles is to track systemic factors causing health inequities and to raise the alarm about the impact on Santa Clara County communities. Culturally centered outreach and education must be strengthened, to remove barriers and to connect people to the preventative care they need,” said Dr. Sarah Rudman, Deputy Health Officer for the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department.
Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to receive the updated Covid vaccine released in September.
For those who do not have health insurance or a regular doctor, a community clinic or the County health system can help with health coverage enrollment. Call 1.866.967.4677 or visit the Patient Access Department at 770 South Bascom Ave. in San José between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
For information, visit sccphd.org/ProtectThem.
Los Gatan named to Dean’s List at Belmont University
Sophia Ramacciotti of Los Gatos qualified for Belmont University’s Fall 2023 Dean’s List. About 52% of Belmont’s 7,338 undergraduate students qualified.
Dean’s List eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C.
Located two miles from downtown Nashville, Tenn., Belmont University comprises nearly 9,000 students from every state and 33 countries.
