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PRIORITY POPULATIONS
Improving access to health care for underserved
population groups.
Continuing to help address the persistent access to care problems
in the rural South, the Foundation awarded nearly $6 million to
seven states participating in the implementation phase of our Southern
Rural Access Program. The states are pursuing a variety of strategies,
including efforts to train, recruit, and retain primary care providers,
and create loan funds to help build the health infrastructure in
rural communities.
Safety net providers who care for the bulk
of the uninsured often do not have access to the most effective
care management techniques. To address this, the Foundation provided
a grant to The Lewin Group, Inc., to do case studies of 24 high-quality,
frontline innovators of safety net care to learn how to best design
and implement clinical care management programs for the uninsured.
The Team also supported a set of research projects designed to better
understand factors that influence Latinos’ access to primary
and preventive care.
In seeking to eliminate disparities in care,
the Team plans initially to focus on Latinos, smaller urban communities,
and oral health.
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
Preparing for increased future demand for
long-term care support and services.
As a result of the baby boom generation aging, the number of
older adults in America is projected to grow almost 80 percent over
the next 30 years. Because older age is associated with increased
risk of chronic illness and disability, the Supportive Services
Team is working to help the nation meet the future demand for long-term
care support and services.
The Foundation authorized $28 million in
2000 for a new program, Community Partnerships for Older Adults.
The program is designed to help communities build comprehensive
long-term care systems that include a range of social and health
services to support vulnerable older adults, promote independent
living, and increase access for patients and families to better
long-term care information.
As part of its work to raise the awareness
of the public and opinion leaders about the health, social, and
emotional issues related to the care of people with chronic conditions,
the Foundation provided $1.2 million to Fred Friendly Seminars,
Inc., to produce a television program that explores the effects
of chronic illness. The grant also includes funds to conduct outreach
efforts, including a Web site for the show and town hall meetings.
Faith In Action®,
the Foundation’s effort to encourage organized interfaith volunteer
efforts to help those in need, made grants to 70 projects in 2000,
raising the number of projects funded to 1,161.
Future efforts of the Supportive Services
Team will continue in the area of informal caregiving and expand
to include a focus on work force development.
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