By Uvalde Leader-News staff report, September 27, 2020
Community Health Development Inc. has received a $46,479 grant from the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country’s pandemic response fund, “Hill Country Strong.”
The grant will support CHDI’s COVID-19 response in Real County and includes computers and other technology for telemedicine, upgrading internet connectivity, and personal protective equipment for Rolling Hills Health in Leakey and Canyon Health Center in Camp Wood.
“We are exceedingly thankful to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country for their support of our programs in Leakey and Camp Wood,” said Mayela Castañon, CEO for CHDI. “The grant funding to support upgrading internet connectivity at our sites is especially important with the implementation of telemedicine to continue delivering quality health care during the COVID-19 crisis.”
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country is a public charitable foundation that awards academic scholarships to students and makes grants to nonprofit organizations in 10 counties, including Edwards, Real, and Uvalde; its headquarters is in Kerrville.
This year, the Community Foundation has raised approximately $350,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.
“Donors have given generously, which has enabled the foundation to support organizations that are doing critical work,” said Austin Dickson, executive director. “It’s a privilege to support CDHI’s front-line healthcare efforts.”
CHDI is a federally qualified health center established in Uvalde in 1983 with a mission to improve the health and well-being of the community we serve.
CHDI operates four fixed free-standing health care delivery sites – two in Uvalde County and two in Real County – all of which provide services on a sliding fee scale.
Its scope of services include primary and preventive medical and dental care, behavioral health, on-site lab, on-site X-ray in Uvalde, Class A and D pharmacies, immunizations, health education, reproductive health for both sexes, specialty care referrals, disease screening and management, community health education, social services, and outreach/enrollment.
During 2019, CHDI provided services to 10,706 residents of Uvalde, Real, Edwards, Zavala, and other surrounding counties. All three medical sites have been recognized as Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Homes by the National Committee on Quality Assurance.
“This award from the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country provides support where we need it the most, especially their support to upgrade connectivity at our sites in Camp Wood and Leakey,” said Monica Gonzales, CHDI board chairman. “As a resident of Camp Wood, I understand first-hand the challenges experienced due to poor internet connections. Our capacity to provide telemedicine not just during the COVID-19 crisis but into the future is essential to the health of Real County residents, and we thank the foundation for sharing our vision.”
See the original article: https://www.uvaldeleadernews.com/articles/chdi-receives-46479-grant-for-pandemic-response/
