Purpose: Address barriers to health care

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Four organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties will receive up to $7,500 each from The HealthPath Foundation of Ohio for projects that will increase access to health care, including primary, oral, specialty and behavioral health care.

These grants are part of HPF-Ohio’s Community Connections initiative, which awarded grants to nonprofit organizations in 36 Ohio counties. HPF has headquarters in Cincinnati.

Grantees will address barriers to health care, such as lack of insurance, lack of providers, language and cultural issues and transportation.

Organizations were each awarded regular grants of $5,000 and additional challenge grants of up to $2,500. In the challenge grants, HealthPath will match money raised dollar-for-dollar up to $2,500.

Grant recipients are:

Catholic Charities Regional Agencies serving Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties: The organization will receive up to $7,500 to link homeless, low-income and underserved populations to a medical home and other health care services.

Help Hotline Crisis Center-Trumbull County: The organization will receive up to $7,500 to provide access to medical and dental care for indigent Trumbull County homeless people with behavioral-health issues.

Homes for Kids/Child and Family Solutions (Mahoning and Trumbull counties: The organizations will receive up to $7,500 to provide community mental-health services to 57 low-income families at home, schools and other locations.

Kent State University Columbiana County Campus: The organization will receive up to $7,500 to train gatekeepers and educate students on the value of mental health, with a goal of 10 percent of students using campus behavioral or mental-health services.