Areas of Impact
Access to Care

Improving access to care for EVERYONE

Accessibility is critical to improving health outcomes.

Historically disadvantaged and medically under-resourced communities face a number of challenges when trying to access primary and behavioral health care.

They may encounter a deficiency of nearby providers, a lack of transportation for regular visits, financial challenges, language or cultural barriers, and more.

The Foundation strives to break down these barriers with thoughtful, collaborative solutions, tailored to the specific needs of the most vulnerable populations. Because everyone deserves access to affordable, quality care and preventive services that shape healthier futures.

Strengthening Health Centers

Blue Safety Net Grants

Since 2011, the Blue Safety Net program awarded more than $30 million to more than 70 private, nonprofit community health centers across Southeastern Pennsylvania. These low or no-cost health centers work to increase access to care in medically under-resourced communities, improve patient coordination and communication, innovate more sustainable approaches to care, and promote projects and initiatives addressing health care disparities and barriers to care.

Open Grant Opportunities

NCQA Health Equity Accreditation

For the first time ever, private, non-profit health centers are pursuing the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Health Equity Accreditation with the Foundation's support. This accreditation provides a framework to advance equity in organizational culture, operational process, and the delivery of care. The Foundation's investment and leadership in this initiative benefits socioeconomically and gender diverse populations who rely on these health centers — starting in Philadelphia, with the potential to expand to nearly 1,500 health centers nationally.

Expanding Mental Health Resources

School-Based Mental Health

In collaboration with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the Foundation is supporting an integrated tele-behavioral health model for students in Philadelphia schools. The program was piloted at Girard College, a private residential school for 1st-12th grade students — 80% of whom have experienced some form of trauma. In the initiative's first year, more than 300 individual counseling sessions were conducted and more than 200 students with untreated behavioral health needs were referred to care.

Mental Health Support For Nurses

Nurses and other frontline workers are dealing with stresses and challenges unlike any time in recent history, and need additional mental health resources and support. The Foundation collaborated with Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic on a program with NeuroFlow, a mental health software company based in Philadelphia. The program provides access to on-demand tools as well as care coordination for more than 2,700 nurses and frontline healthcare workers. When the healthcare workforce takes care of their own needs, they can provide an even greater quality of care to others.

Addressing the Opioid Crisis

STOP Program

The Supporting Treatment and Overdose Prevention (STOP) initiative seeks to end the stigma of addiction and increase equitable access to community-based treatment and recovery resources. The Foundation's funding spans across a range of partners and programs — like studying the efficacy of immediately connecting overdose survivors with treatment programs, promoting prescription drug takeback programs, and expanding access to treatment and recovery resources.

Collegiate Recovery Support

The Foundation committed $1 million to establish and expand recovery support on college campuses. As a result, Pennsylvania is now the fastest growing and leading the nation in the number of Collegiate Recovery Programs.

Check out the Collegiate Recovery Program Best Practices Guide to help colleges and universities get started in the planning process of establishing or expanding a recovery program on campus.

Someone You Know® Podcast

Stigma often discourages people from seeking help. The Foundation is working to reduce the stigma surrounding Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) by highlighting diverse and inspiring stories of recovery. The Someone You Know® podcast is hosted by our executive director, Heather Major, and reaches listeners across all 50 U.S. states and in 57 countries.

Research & Reports

B-CARES Warm Handoff Program Evaluation

Identifies the process and outcomes associated with connecting Emergency Room overdose survivors with immediate treatment, facilitated by the Bucks-County-Connect-Assess-Refer-Engage-Support (B-CARES) program.

Introduction to Compassion Fatigue and OUD

A study examining compassion fatigue emergency department nurses may experience while caring for patients with OUD.

Blue Safety Net Needs Assessment

A study examining the impact of Blue Safety Net grants and how the program can potentially expand.

Blue Safety Net Snapshot

Provides data illustrating the impact of the network of Foundation-supported health centers bridging gaps in services, embracing community-based care, and caring for those who may otherwise use the emergency room or delay seeking treatment.

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