No one should be denied the ability to receive the healthcare they need. Despite this, there are many communities in Sonoma County that are underserved in the area of healthcare, lacking the resources necessary to ensure that their residents are able to receive the necessary treatment and care. Fortunately, the existence of this inequity in healthcare has spurred members of the community to work toward a future where such inequity is a thing of the past. The Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County seeks to connect people with the resources they need in order to promote wellness in underserved communities throughout the county.
Founded in 2001, the Healthcare Foundation began as a group of concerned citizens seeking to raise funds to save the Healdsburg District Hospital. Following the capital campaign for the hospital, the Healthcare Foundation started to bring other local medical foundations into its purview, including organizations such as Alliance Medical Center and the Pediatric Dental Initiative. One of the primary ways the Healthcare Foundation provided aid to healthcare organizations during these early years was through grants. Four grants were provided each year to provide organizations in the locations of greatest need with necessary funds. In 2016, however, a change was made in the focus of the Healthcare Foundation. To better provide aid, the Healthcare Foundation now focuses on certain key areas that are most in need: mental health, access to healthcare, and early childhood wellness. By supporting organizations in Sonoma County that work in these fields, the Healthcare Foundation was able to provide key aid in some of the fields that most needed it.
In 2020, a new strategic planning process was put into place for the Healthcare Foundation. The vision for the Healthcare Foundation is to eliminate health inequities in northern Sonoma County, with a focus in supporting equitable access to culturally-sensitive healthcare and mental health services. The three guiding principles in this mission for the Healthcare Foundation are community, compassion, and equity. These three principles ensure that the members of the Healthcare Foundation form real connection with the communities they work in, which allows them to hear the needs of the people.
Other areas the Healthcare Foundation supports include full tuition scholarships for bilingual, bicultural mental health professionals, with fifteen such students receiving aid so far. The Healthcare Foundation is also dedicated to supporting their communities through the discussion of what community wellness centers in areas such as Healdsburg or Cloverdale would look like. More recently, the Healthcare Foundation has had a big focus on vaccine outreach and education. This area was one of the most focused-on areas for the Healthcare Foundation in 2021, and will continue to be a major focus in 2022.
Though the Healthcare Foundation has only four employees, they are all dedicated to the success of their communities and have a passion to see them receive the care they need. For current Executive Director, Kim Bender, combatting the recent COVID-19 pandemic has become a major focus. Kim’s father died in 2021 due to the disease, and Kim is now dedicated to working with organizations such as the Rapid Test Equity Coalition in order to fund vaccine education and rapid testing. On the week of December 15, 2021, the Healthcare Foundation and the Rapid Test Equity Coalition were able to distribute over 128,000 rapid tests throughout Sonoma County before the holidays, giving the community a tool to empower them to keep safe.
All the members of the Healthcare Foundation are dedicated to their mission to provide help for all. In the words of Kim Bender, the biggest inspiration for everyone in the organization is: “Getting to know the community, learning about the community needs, and finding creative ways to meet those needs and promote health – to level the playing field for those who have fewer resources.”
Ultimately, the Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County will continue to do all it can to support the underserved communities of Sonoma County in the areas of wellness and healthcare. For many, the organizations supported by the Healthcare Foundation are critical for maintaining wellness. That is why it is crucial that the work of the Healthcare Foundation must continue. To the communities they serve, Kim and the rest of the Healthcare Foundation say: “Show love to your family and your community by making sure everybody is vaccinated and boosted. Please use rapid tests whenever possible before multi-household gatherings. Let’s make happy memories this holiday season!”
If you would like to learn more about the Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County, please visit their website at www.healthcarefoundation.net
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