Speeding aid to COVID-19 responders As soon as COVID-19 emergency orders went into effect in mid-March, our Foundation team contacted our nonprofit partners about emerging needs. Their goals: Identify opportunities for maximum impact and rush financial support to the areas of greatest need. In less than twoweeks, we awarded $1.2million in grants soMinnesota andNebraska community organizations could meet the surging demand for services. Several grant recipients noted that Medica was one of the first foundations to provide assistance — and that our support had spurred other funders to act quickly.
Testing and care OneWorld Health Center is a federally qualified health center that primarily serves Omaha’s Hispanic community. We supported its efforts to provide safe, accessible COVID-19 testing and medical care with a $40,000 grant and a donation of more than 5,000 disposable face masks. Impact: OneWorld Health Center served more than 9,700 people with drive-through testing, virtual visits, and medication delivery. Thirty-four percent of the people it tested during the fall of 2020 were found to be infected with COVID-19. The nonprofit also used our support to deliver groceries, diapers, and other personal care items to patients and families who were isolating at home.
Virtual prenatal care Hennepin Healthcare Foundation supports Hennepin Healthcare, a nonprofit care system that includes primary care clinics, community health services, and Minnesota’s largest safety-net hospital and Level 1 trauma center. Its mission is to ensure access to outstanding care that attracts a culturally and financially diverse patient population. Our $100,000 grant helped with the rapid conversion of its prenatal care services from a series of in-person tests and appointments to telehealth. Impact: Hennepin Healthcare provided blood pressure cuffs and thermometers to 1,800 pregnant women so they could monitor vital signs at home and report their results during virtual prenatal visits. Several patients reported pregnancy-related high blood pressure readings, which can be dangerous. Fortunately, all of the cases were caught early and resolved with good outcomes for the mothers and babies.
Behavioral health services Mental Health Resources Inc. (MHR) is a St. Paul nonprofit that provides adult mental health and substance use disorder services. We granted $100,000 to help MHR transition its substance use disorder counseling and case management services to telehealth delivery platforms. Impact: More than 6,000 clients continued to receive care and support with minimal disruption. Many clients were able to make progress and thrive in recovery throughout the pandemic.
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