Grant Aids DHCD Mitigate COVID-19 Disparities

New $197K grant supports Healthcare District’s 3-pronged approach to mitigating COVID-19 disparities [Sponsored]

The Desert Healthcare District & Foundation recently received a significant grant to continue the outreach it began nearly five years ago to lessen the impact of COVID-19 across the Coachella Valley.

Awarded by United Way with funding support from Riverside University Health System (RUHS), the $197,004 grant funds a multi-pronged approach to mitigating disparities related to the virus. It focuses on three components:

• Testing – Expanded COVID-19 testing to include home test kits, mobile testing sites and referrals to healthcare providers for populations at higher risk and that are underserved;
• Prevention and Mitigation – Efforts to include education and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and sanitization supplies such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes and more;
• Community Education – Through outreach campaigns focused on testing, vaccination and treatment, the aim is to educate populations at higher risk for COVID-19.

COVID-19 tests and PPE will be distributed with the assistance of partner agencies — including El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center, Visión Y Compromiso, TODEC Legal Center and Galilee Center — through events and other forms of outreach. Social media and promotoras, aka community health workers, also will be integral to outreach.

Many of the partner agencies are a part of the Coachella Valley Equity Collaborative, which the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation established with RUHS in 2020 in response to COVID-19. Their contributions have been essential in reaching traditionally underserved residents where they live, work and worship.

“While COVID-19 infections are no longer at peak pandemic levels, we know that the virus continues to be a health risk, especially for those who lack access to traditional healthcare facilities and services,” said Chris Christensen, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation CEO. “We have seen COVID-19 mutate since the first strain affected our community in 2020. This grant supports our efforts to help ensure all residents receive the tools and care they need to continue protecting themselves and their families.”

About the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation

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.