The HealthCare Foundation for Orange County is launching a grant program designed to enhance the well-being of underserved women and children in central Orange County, California. This initiative directly aligns with the foundation's mission to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations, focusing on areas previously served by United Western Medical Center’s (UWMC) hospitals. The foundation's strategic priority is to address health disparities through community-based interventions.
The target beneficiaries of this grant program are underserved women and children residing in central Orange County, particularly within the cities of Santa Ana, Tustin, Orange, and Anaheim, or populations historically served by UWMC. The overarching impact goal is to improve family health by empowering parents and caregivers with essential information and support, and by making healthcare services more accessible and culturally relevant.
The program prioritizes projects, programs, and collaborative initiatives that achieve one or more of the following: empowering families with health information and support; delivering culturally relevant information and services to communities; removing barriers to healthcare access; and addressing identified community health priorities and gaps within the healthcare delivery system. These focuses reflect the foundation's theory of change, which posits that by strengthening community resources and removing systemic obstacles, health outcomes for underserved populations will improve.
Expected outcomes include increased parental and caregiver empowerment in managing family health, greater utilization of culturally appropriate health services, and a reduction in barriers preventing access to necessary care. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided information, successful initiatives would likely demonstrate improvements in health indicators for women and children in the target areas, as well as enhanced community engagement in health-related activities.
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be either a 501(c)(3) community-based organization or a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hospital. The foundation strongly encourages collaborations between qualifying hospitals and community-based organizations, underscoring a belief in the power of partnership to achieve comprehensive and sustainable health improvements.
