REACH Awards $580,000 to Support Health Care Connections

The REACH Foundation awarded Building Connections to Coverage and Care grants totaling $580,000 to support health care connector and health navigation services and enrollment assistance.

Fourteen grants were awarded through a request for proposal (RFP) process within the foundation’s Bridge the Coverage Divide outcome area and the strategy to connect health care consumers to culturally appropriate providers, health insurance and other public benefits.

The grants will support outreach and enrollment assistance with healthcare.gov, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and enrollment in household assistance programs, such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

The foundation prioritized organizations that demonstrated understanding of systemic and structural barriers that affect health coverage, and access to public benefits and health services. In keeping with the recently adopted strategic plan, REACH placed particular emphasis on programs working with Black, Latinx, immigrant, refugee, and low-income and rural populations.

Carla Gibson, Vice President of Programs, said the RFP was designed to identify existing and new programs that have tailored their efforts and service delivery to meet the particular needs of the community members they are serving.

“We’re excited about the cross-section of organizations that have adapted their approaches, cultural and language capacities, and service locations and hours to meet the needs of their clients,” said Carla Gibson, Vice President of Programs.

The following organizations will receive 12-month grants:

KANSAS

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Inc.: Connections to Coverage and Care, $45,000

Community Health Council of Wyandotte County: Kansas Assistance Network and Community Health Worker Bridges to Health, $45,000

Cross-Lines Community Outreach Inc.: Health and Benefits Navigator Services, $20,000

El Centro, Inc.: Health Navigation Program, $45,000

Johnson County Mental Health Center: Front Door Access; Connecting Individuals with Behavioral Health Conditions to Public Benefits and Bridging Health Care Gaps, $45,000

MISSOURI

Altruism Media Inc.: The MaIH Project: Building Connections to Coverage and Care, $30,000

Budget and Financial Management Assistance: Enrollment First Program, $35,000

Health Care Coalition of Lafayette County: HCC Network Outreach and Enrollment, $45,000

Jewish Vocational Service Bureau of Kansas City: JVS Social Work Adult & Family, $45,000

KC CARE Health Center: KC CARE Coverage, Support and Connection, $45,000

Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund: Healthcare and Support for Farmworkers and Families, $45,000

Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, Inc.: Enrollment Assistance, $45,000

Sisters in Christ: Raytown Safe Zone Neighborhood Hub, $45,000

University Health Charitable Foundation: Benefits Enrollment Expansion, $45,000

The REACH Foundation uses a community investment framework centered on three outcome areas – Bridge the Coverage Divide, Close the Health Equity Gap and Strengthen the Safety Net – that help guide grantmaking aimed at improving equitable health outcomes.

To learn about the REACH Foundation’s Community Investment Framework and priority funding areas, visit the Focus area section of the website.