$100,000 Challenge Grant for Pediatrics

$100,000 Challenge Grant for Pediatrics

SANTA CRUZ COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER ANNOUNCES $100K CHALLENGE GRANT TO SUPPORT PEDIATRICS 

PEDIATRIC CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CARE TO AT-RISK CHILDREN, IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR KIDS

Frank Bien, CEO of Looker, announces his $100,000 challenge grant for the Pediatric Center of Excellence

SANTA CRUZ, CA (May 8, 2018) – Santa Cruz Community Health Centers (SCCHC) is excited to announce that we have received a $100,000 challenge grant in memory of Cecilia Rose Bien from her parents, Frank and Lorraine Bien, to support building the Pediatric Center of Excellence to serve children of Santa Cruz County.

Frank Bien, CEO of Santa Cruz-based tech company Looker, made the personal donation during a donor event on Sunday, May 6, at East Cliff Family Health Center. SCCHC hopes to raise matching funds. Donations can be made online at www.schealthcenters.org/donate.

The Pediatric Center of Excellence is part of a comprehensive system of care to improve the lives of the more than 4,000 children served by SCCHC. Currently, 95 percent of the families served live at or below the poverty level and more than 180 of the children are homeless.

Consisting of three phases, development of a Pediatric Center of Excellence is entering Phase 2, which will increase services for at-risk children. Going forward, additional integration of specialty care, implementation of evidence-based models for prenatal care and for children age birth-to-3, and greater attention on social factors like housing and food insecurity are planned. The Health Center is also innovating new ways to work with the Live Oak School District to serve students and patients that are shared.

“Santa Cruz Community Health Center was instrumental in coordinating the complex care for Cecilia, and I’m excited to support their ongoing efforts to improve the lives of children in our community,” said Frank Bien. “SCCHC’s vision for an all-encompassing system of pediatric care for low-income children will ensure all kids have a healthy start to life and reach their full potential, building a stronger community for all of us.”

Executive Director Leslie Conner provides the 3-phase vision for the Pediatric Center of Excellence

“SCCHC is poised to build transformative clinical and social interventions, as well as partnerships that can shield children from trauma or other circumstantial adversity,” said Leslie Conner, executive director of SCCHC. “But it’s a heavy lift. Frank Bien’s support empowers us to engage with a network of donors to improve the health of all kids in our community.”

SCCHC is dedicated to creating a comprehensive system of care based on the pediatric “health home,” which in turn is embedded within a “health neighborhood.” The network consists of a care team including parents, pediatrician, nurse, social worker, case manager and support staff, as well as coordination with school, family and other community organizations, to improve outcomes for each child.

Pediatric Center for Excellence Development Timeline
Phase 1 – 2014 to current

  • Patient-Centered Medical Home (NCQA Level 3 Certified)
  • Integrate Behavioral Health Services into pediatric primary care delivery
  • Implement Team-Based Care
  • Launch Stanford Developmental/Behavioral Health specialty access
  • Help launch Live Oak Cradle to Career
  • Launch pediatric complex care management
  • Develop relationships, funding and community collaboration

Phase 2 – 2019-2020

  • Increase services for high-risk children
  • Universal screenings at all well-checks (physical, emotional, cognitive, social)
  • Maternal depression screenings at all child well-checks
  • Achieve certification for the Centering Pregnancy program
  • Achieve certification for the Healthy Steps program (birth-to-three)
  • Scale up: Community Care Team with Live Oak School District

Phase 3 – 2021-2025

  • Open new facility including a partnership with Dientes
  • Expand pediatric specialties (e.g. occupational, physical and speech therapies)
  • Implement Centering Pregnancy
  • Implement Healthy Steps for birth-to-three
  • Launch Family therapy
  • Solidify relationships, funding, and community collaboration

Dr. Salem Magarian talks about the Community Care Team innovation as a part of the Live Oak Cradle to Career Initiative at the donor event.