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Advancing Community wellness in the Coachella Valley

Desert Healthcare District (DHCD) Grants Program

2021-2026 Strategic Plan

  • Goal 1: Proactively increase the financial resources DHCD/F can apply to support community health needs

    Goal 1: Proactively increase the financial resources DHCD/F can apply to support community health needs

    • Strategy 1.1 Develop a healthcare delivery system vision for the Coachella Valley 
    • Strategy 1.2 Pursue renegotiation of the Tenet lease 
    • Strategy 1.3 Expand capabilities and activities for obtaining new grant funding 
    • Strategy 1.4 Work with Riverside University Health System to continue/expand funds provided to DHCD/F to meet community needs 
    • Strategy 1.5 Identify opportunities and implement selected joint venture/partnerships with community organizations to jointly support funding of selected community health needs
    • Strategy 1.6 Evaluate the potential to conduct community-based fundraising (foundations, individuals, corporations) 

  • Goal 2: Proactively expand community access to primary and specialty care services

    Goal 2: Proactively expand community access to primary and specialty care services

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    • Strategy 2.1 Increase the number of primary and specialty care professionals to support Coachella Valley residents  (High Priority)
    • Strategy 2.2 Increase the number of clinical sites and the days and hours of operation for primary and specialty care services that support Coachella Valley residents (High Priority)
    • Strategy 2.3 Improve accessibility of primary and specialty care services by increasing available mobile health services in Coachella Valley (High Priority)
    • Strategy 2.4 Improve accessibility of primary and specialty care services by increasing available telehealth services in Coachella Valley (High Priority)
    • Strategy 2.5 Collaborate/Partner with culturally competent training programs to expand primary care residency and nursing programs (High Priority)
    • Strategy 2.6 Increase collaborative efforts with Riverside University Health System to improve accessibility of public health initiatives to Coachella Valley residents (High Priority)
    • Strategy 2.7 Increase equitable access to primary and specialty care services and resources in underserved communities in Coachella Valley (High Priority)

  • Goal 3: Proactively expand community access to behavioral/mental health services

    Goal 3: Proactively expand community access to behavioral/mental health services

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    • Strategy 3.1 Increase the number of behavioral/mental health professionals to support Coachella Valley residents (High Priority)
    • Strategy 3.2 Increase the number of days and hours of operation of behavioral/mental health services to support Coachella Valley residents (High Priority)
    • Strategy 3.3 Improve the quality and accessibility of behavioral/mental health services by increasing the geographic dispersion of sites within Coachella Valley (High Priority)
    • Strategy 3.4 Improve accessibility of behavioral/mental health services by increasing available telehealth services (High Priority)
    • Strategy 3.5 Increase collaborative efforts with new private psychiatric and community hospitals to improve delivery of community-based behavioral/mental health services (payer mix) (High Priority)
    • Strategy 3.6 Increase awareness of behavioral/mental health resources for residents in Coachella Valley (High Priority)
    • Strategy 3.7 is Collaborate/partner with community providers to enhance access to culturally-sensitive behavioral/mental health services. (High Priority)

  • Goal 4: Proactively measure and evaluate the impact of DHCD/F-funded programs and services on the health of community residents

    Goal 4: Proactively measure and evaluate the impact of DHCD/F-funded programs and services on the health of community residents

    • Strategy 4.1 Adopt Clear Impact performance management and Results-Based Accountability platform to track and report impact 
    • Strategy 4.2 Evaluate the potential to offer multi-year grants to organizations 
    • Strategy 4.3 Require, where appropriate, grantees to conduct and report the results of patient satisfaction surveys 
    • Strategy 4.4 Conduct a CHNA in 5 years (2026) 
    • Strategy 4.5 Annually report progress of funded programs/services toward meeting identified community health needs 
    • Strategy 4.6 Support local organizations' capacity building efforts

  • Goal 5: Be responsive to and supportive of selected community initiatives that enhance the economic stability of the District residents (on a situational basis)

    Goal 5: Be responsive to and supportive of selected community initiatives that enhance the economic stability of the District residents (on a situational basis)

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    • Strategy 5.1 Reduce the negative impacts of social determinants of health on homelessness in Coachella Valley
    • Strategy 5.2 Reduce the negative impacts of social determinants of health on affordable housing in Coachella Valley 
    • Strategy 5.3 Reduce the negative impacts of social determinants of health on poverty in Coachella Valley 
    • Strategy 5.4 Expand health action planning on the co-location of healthcare services within affordable housing developments in Coachella Valley 

  • Goal 6: Be responsive to and supportive of selected community initiatives that enhance the environment in the District’s service area

    Goal 6: Be responsive to and supportive of selected community initiatives that enhance the environment in the District’s service area

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    • Strategy 6.1 Increase awareness and address the health impacts of the air quality in Coachella Valley (High Priority)
    • Strategy 6.2 Increase awareness and address the health impacts of the water quality in Coachella Valley (High Priority)
    • Strategy 6.3 Increase collaborative efforts addressing the negative health impacts of social determinants of health related to the environment in Coachella Valley (air quality, water quality and shelter)

  • Goal 7: Be responsive to and supportive of selected community initiatives that enhance the general health education of the District's residents

    Goal 7: Be responsive to and supportive of selected community initiatives that enhance the general health education of the District's residents

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    • Strategy 7.1 Increase awareness of the importance of the impacts of health education on Coachella Valley residents
    • Strategy 7.2 Increase awareness of the importance of the impacts of school resources on Coachella Valley residents

Grant Resources

Desert Healthcare District (DHCD) Grants Program

The Desert Healthcare District's grant program supports collaborative processes and invests in the services and programs of local nonprofits, health service providers, and public agencies that align with and advance the District’s mission, vision, and the implementation of the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan. The District has assigned high-priority status to goals 2, 3 and 6 in the Strategic Plan. 

Please review the following three items before proceeding to the DHCD grantmaking process

Grants Policy: Policy Number: OP-5

In accordance with Desert Healthcare District's mission and strategic plan, it is the policy of the Desert Healthcare District to provide guidelines for grants and mini-grants to support health and wellness programs/projects for the benefit of the District residents and in alignment with the California Health and Safety Code requirements. Each year the Board of Directors will allocate a budget for both grants and mini-grants. Click here to read the complete policy.

Prevailing Wage Law

Under California law (Labor Code sections 1720 et seq. and 1770 et seq.), any work paid for in whole or in part with public funds, including funds from the Desert Healthcare District, may require that workers be paid at the prevailing wage rates. Prevailing wage is essentially a minimum wage for various classifications of construction workers. The rule applies to construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair, or maintenance of property if the total value of the work is $1,000 or more. These rates are often higher than standard wages, and the additional cost should be factored into the project budget. Grant recipients may be liable for back wages and other costs if they fail to inform their contractors of this requirement, and therefore any contracts for such work must state that the prevailing wage rates apply. More information is available from the Department of Industrial Relations. https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/FAQ_PrevailingWage.html

California Assembly Bill 2019 (AB-2019)

California Assembly Bill 2019 (AB 2019) became law as of January 1, 2019. This law, in particular, Section 3 - Section 32139 of the Health and Safety Code 9.5 states: A prohibition against individual meetings regarding grant applications between a grant applicant and a district board member, officer, or staff outside of the district's established grant awards process. A district's established grant awards process may include the provision of technical assistance to grant applicants, upon request, by district grant program staff.

DHCD Grantmaking

The Desert Healthcare District's mission can be achieved in part by providing grant resources to projects and programs which align with our grant guidelines. We respond to grant requests initiated by eligible organizations through our online application process. We occasionally use a Request for Proposal (RFP) to target grants for programs and projects that best support the District’s goals.

The Desert Healthcare District's Board-approved and established grant awards process begins with an initial application. Once the initial application has been submitted, staff, under the law (AB-2019), can provide technical assistance to the grantee.

Who is Eligible?

  • 501(c)(3) Nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, a governmental, tribal, or public entity, including, healthcare service providers such as federally qualified health centers, and local clinics.

Who is not eligible?

  • Individuals
  • Endowment Campaigns
  • Retirement of debt
  • Annual campaigns, fundraising events or expenses related to fundraising
  • Programs that proselytize or promote any religion or sect, or deny services to potential beneficiaries based upon religious beliefs
  • Political campaigns or other partisan political activities, including lobbying public officials
  • Unfunded government mandates
  • Replacement funds to allow funding to be shifted to other programs or budget areas prior to grant approval
  • Organizations that discriminate against certain groups or individuals in the delivery of programs and services based on race, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, or disability

Requirements

  • Organizations must directly serve residents of the Desert Healthcare District
  • Organizations must address goals in the Desert Healthcare District's 2021-2026 Strategic Plan
  • Except for mini grant recipients, organizations must have current audited financial statements