Congresswoman Matsui Announces Over $800,000 to Strengthen School Based Health Centers in Sacramento
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
CONTACT: JONELLE TRIMMER
(202) 225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Announces Over $800,000 to Strengthen School Based Health Centers in Sacramento
Affordable Care Act grants help expand access to health care
Sacramento, CA - Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) today announced the awarding of new federal funding, made possible through the Affordable Care Act, for school-based health centers in the Sacramento region. Midtown Medical Center for Children and Families (MMC) and The Effort, in partnership with local school districts, will use the federal grants to fund the construction and renovation of school-based health centers.
"I am pleased that the federal grants provided to The Effort, MMC and their partnering school districts will allow these organizations to expand our health care safety net and bring accessible health care to our region's children," said Congresswoman Matsui. "Students should have access to health care in their community and on school grounds and these grants bring us closer to this goal. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, we are one step closer to improving access to high quality health care in our region."
Through this grant, The Effort has received $500,000 to partner with Sacramento City Unified School District to improve the student health clinic at Hiram Johnson High School and help ensure the community's children are receiving high quality, accessible health care. MMC received $376,774 to provide a mobile school based health unit that will provide primary care, dental, and mental health services in five schools on the western side of the San Juan Unified School District.
"The Effort is delighted to have this opportunity to deepen and strengthen our health and behavioral health care services in the Sacramento region," said Dr. Jonathan Porteus, CEO of The Effort. "This award helps set the stage for the facilities and infrastructure for sustainable services in a school-based partnership, which is in line with the research and best practice."
"We are very excited about receiving these important funds which will allow us to build a new school-based health center at Hiram Johnson with our community partner, The Effort. Not only will it serve the students at Johnson but this will also reach out to other students in the greater community. The health of students has a direct effect on student achievement which is vital to the success of all our students," stated Jonathan Raymond, Superintendent of Sacramento City Unified School District.
"Midtown Medical Center for Children and Families has a long history of serving the Sacramento community," said Gary Susnara, Board Treasurer for MMC. "These funds allow us to do what we do best; continue to meet the needs of Sacramento."
Congresswoman Matsui, a strong supporter of strengthening the health care safety-net in the Sacramento region, submitted a letter of support for both applications.
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