CMH distributes $194K in grants through state pilot program

Citizens Memorial Hospital has awarded more than $194,000 in grants as part of its participation in a state pilot program designed to address the needs of Medicaid recipients.

Ten recipients were selected to receive a total of $194,147, with the focus area in Polk County, according to a news release issued yesterday. The funding became available through CMH's role in Missouri HealthNet's five-year pilot project called the Transformation of Rural Community Health, or ToRCH.

A local ToRCH leadership board, made up of members from CMH, health care leaders and advocates, and community and advocacy groups, selected the funding recipients.

They are as follows:
• Bolivar R-1 School District, $20,000 to offer counseling and behavioral health therapy services for uninsured and underinsured youth through a partnership with CMH behavioral health staff
• Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation, $20,000 to conduct kitchen renovations at its administrative center to assist individuals with food and transportation insecurity
• Community Outreach Ministries, $20,000 to add staff and equipment that would assist in efforts to connect unsheltered residents with housing resources
• Polk County Community Connections, $17,884 to expand its summer lunch program for children in rural areas
• Empower: Abilities, $20,000 to expand the organization's ability to provide home modifications for people with disabilities in Polk County
• Polk County KLIFE, $20,000 to increase access for children with transportation insecurity
• Polk County Health Center, $16,263 to expand capacity for nutrition counseling and classes
• Polk County Cares, $20,000 to expand capacity for a warming shelter
• Refuge Apostolic Church, $20,000 to renovate its space for a recovery group setting
• Sling N Stones Ministries, $20,000 to fund two additional cabins to be used for sober living facilities and recovery support

“Research shows that many factors influence a person’s health. Housing, transportation and food insecurity are just a few,” said Jenna Hicks, director of quality and population health at CMH, in the release. “We know that improving these health factors will improve health and wellness in our community. Ultimately, we can reduce avoidable emergency room visits and improve population health for Medicaid patients, which is the ToRCH program’s goal.”

CMH is one of six rural Missouri hospitals participating in the ToRCH pilot project. Hicks added in the release that grant funds are available for three more years.