Street Medicine Program Receives $50,000 Grant

CSUSB Palm Desert Campus street medicine program receives grant from Desert Healthcare District

PALM DESERT – For the second time in two months the Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus has received a grant to support its Street Medicine program.

In September, the program received a $5,000 grant from the Regional Access Project Foundation (RAP).

Now, The Desert Healthcare District & Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus to support its Street Medicine program.

Grant funds will be used to improve access to healthcare for traditionally underserved populations, increase mobile medical clinics, improve health-related infrastructure in the Coachella Valley and strengthen engagement of nurses and nursing students with the homeless, unsheltered and vulnerable populations in the Coachella Valley.

The Street Medicine program is a collaborative partnership between the CSUSB Department of Nursing at the Palm Desert Campus; the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine; Desert Regional Medical Center; Well in the Desert; and the Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine.

“The funds from the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation will provide support for us to continue our efforts to grow our Street Medicine program,” said Diane Vines, street medicine program coordinator and CSUSB nursing faculty member. “We are providing much-needed healthcare services for homeless and unsheltered people in the Coachella Valley, and preparing our future nurses to understand the needs of this vulnerable population.”

“Through the Street Medicine program, nurses and nursing students provide an invaluable service, taking medical care to Coachella Valley residents who may not receive it any other way,” said Carole Rogers, an RN and Desert Healthcare District and Foundation Board director. “Their work directly supports the District’s mission ‘to achieve optimal health at all stages of life for all District residents,’ and we’re happy to support them.”

Contact Diane Vines at diane.vines@csusb.edu for more information about the Street Medicine program.

Also, visit the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation website by clicking here to learn more about its programs.