ORANGE, Calif. – St. Joseph Health System (SJHS) Foundation announced that 36 non-profit organizations throughout California received its Wellness and Prevention Initiative grants this year totalling $2 million. Initiatives that promote health and overall well-being in economically vulnerable communities were awarded grants to support proactive programs and community collaborations that focus on improving the quality of life of the residents and the community as a whole.
“As a faith based organization we are committed to being an active partner in the communities that we serve by helping address the unmet health needs of California’s most at risk populations,” said Gabriela Robles, Executive Director, SJHS Foundation. “During these economically troubling times, we are committed to extend our support beyond the walls of our hospitals and help bridge any health disparities that can devastate a family and a community particular those in need. The organizations that receive these grants help us achieve this goal and serve as a catalyst for improving the health status and quality of life of disadvantaged and underserved people.”

The largest total dollar amount awarded to date through the program, the grants each range from $20,000 to $100,000 and focus on initiatives that address medical, tutoring, college prep, mental health, women’s health, homelessness, health care access, children’s health, oral health, chronic disease, job training, vision, emergency assistance, food assistance, legal aid, developmental disabilities and substance abuse. Awards are administered by local non-profit organizations or SJHS hospitals. Selection criteria is based on the scope of wellness or prevention emphasis, the quality of evidence-based approaches or interventions, the capacity for the program to become self-sufficient, the level of collaboration and partnership within existing community initiatives, and tangible, measurable outcomes.
 
In 1986, the St. Joseph Health System, in a core response to a ministry created by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, began an effort to further its commitment to neighbors in need by establishing the St. Joseph Health System Foundation. Through allocating resources for underserved people and responding to the needs of the community, the Foundation facilitates improved health status for the economically poor and strives to create healthy communities. Foundation resources are provided by the SJHS hospitals, which contribute a percentage of their net income to the foundation to support efforts to improve the lives of those who are economically poor.
 
St. Joseph Health System (SJHS) is a $4.7 billion, integrated Catholic healthcare delivery system sponsored by the St. Joseph Health Ministry. We provide a full range of care facilities including acute care hospitals, home health agencies, hospice care, outpatient services, skilled nursing facilities, community clinics, and physician organizations throughout California, Texas and New Mexico. Our 24,000 dedicated employees and more than 6,000 physicians strive daily to provide perfect care while building the healthiest communities and ensuring every encounter is sacred. SJHS is committed to maintaining a continuum of care that matches the diverse needs of the communities we serve. For more information about SJHS, log onto www.stjoe.org.