Blue Shield of California Foundation Gives an Additional $14.5 million to California's Community Health Centers & Domestic Violence Providers

SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California Foundation announced today $14.5 million in second-quarter grants to improve the quality of healthcare and domestic violence services for the most vulnerable Californians. The awards include core operating grants that offer flexible funds for health centers and domestic violence shelters across California through their Community Health Center Core Support Initiative (CSI) and the Domestic Violence Systems Core Support Initiative (DVCSI).

Through CSI, the Foundation will offer flexible funding to at least 150 community- free- and tribal-health centers to help cover their general operating expenses and reinforce their capacity to provide access to health care for low-income Californians. The DVCSI sustains the organizational capacity of domestic violence service providers to meet the immediate needs of survivors and their families, while retaining the adaptability to respond to local needs, leverage program and/or organizational development, and cover unanticipated expenses.

"Since 2003, the Foundation has provided California's domestic violence agencies and community health centers with more than $89 million in core operating grants," said Peter Long, PhD, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Foundation.  "These funds are essential to ensuring that these frontline providers have the means and flexibility to respond to new challenges, while continuing to guarantee access to critical services and support for individuals and families in need."

The Foundation also awarded a substantial grant to the Center for Care Innovations (CCI) to advance the goals of promoting innovation, patient engagement, and value-based care. Through this grant, CCI will work with California's safety net providers to help physicians communicate more effectively with their patients and spread innovative tools and practices, such as text message reminders to reduce no-show rates for appointments and improve medication adherence among low-income Californians.

A complete list of Q2 awards can be found here. These grants are the latest in the Foundation's total commitment of more than $356 million in philanthropic giving since 2002.

About Blue Shield of California Foundation

Blue Shield of California Foundation is one of the state's largest and most trusted grantmaking organizations. Our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians, particularly the underserved, by making health care accessible, effective, and affordable, and by ending domestic violence. For more information visit:  www.blueshieldcafoundation.org.  

SOURCE Blue Shield of California Foundation

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