FROM THE DESK OF KELLY BRUNO NELSON
Greetings!
Another pandemic summer is officially behind us, but we are not slowing down here at National Health Foundation. With the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant, we are adapting to the evolving needs of our community — working closely with community health partners to administer food assistance and COVID vaccination clinics at our Pico-Union recuperative care site (CD1/SD1).
We're excited to share news about our work and collaboration to strengthen health equity systems in under-resourced communities in this month's edition. We encourage you to follow you our social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for additional updates and resources.
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Board Member, David Garetto-Barnett raises $1K for NHF!
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NHF thanks its Board Member, David Garetto-Barnett (right) for organizing a Facebook and birthday fundraiser that raised $1,000 in individual donations for National Health Foundation! This is the first peer-to-peer and Facebook fundraiser that has been held for NHF!
Thanks to the generosity of David and many others, vulnerable communities in Southern California can access vital recuperative care services and community programs to achieve their highest level of health. To give to NHF, visit our website. |
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Delivering Health Equity through Vaccination Drives and Back-to-School Support |
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On August 13, NHF hosted a Children's Health Day and Back-to-School Giveaway in partnership with Clinica Romero, Supervisor Hilda Solis, and Councilmember Gil Cedillo. Located at NHF’s recuperative care center in Pico-Union, the event provided all three COVID-19 vaccines, school supplies, food boxes, CalFresh information and immigration services, reaching nearly 1,500 Pico-Union residents. In a community wher vaccination hesitancy and exclusion remain key barriers to health equity, Clínica Romero provided COVID-19 vaccinations, education, and outreach. To date, Clínica Romero and NHF’s vaccination drives have provided 306 vaccines to the Pico-Union community. Watch a recap of the event on LA This Week.
As families grapple with the challenges of today’s public health crisis, NHF remains committed to directly responding to their needs and integrating lessons learned in future community events. Read more NHF insights on our blog! |
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NHF's Recuperative Care Model Recognized by The Commonwealth Fund |
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NHF is thrilled to see its recuperative care program recognized by The Commonwealth Fund as a model in their latest case study. The report, “ How a Medical Care Program Offers a Pathway to Health and Housing for People Experiencing Homelessness” by Douglas McCarthy and Lisa Waugh, illustrates how medical respite programs, like NHF’s, can help people experiencing homelessness recuperate after a hospital stay and find a path to stable housing.
We invite you to read the report that includes key statistics, success stories, and insights that can inform policymakers, payers, health and homelessness advocates, and other stakeholders about the importance of recuperative care's cost-effective intervention.
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You may have seen this familiar face in NHF's recent Impact Report. For a brief period last year, Curtis Mayfield (61) was one of Los Angeles County’s 66,000 homeless individuals. Curtis was living on the streets for three weeks and suffered from pneumonia and an infection in his foot. He spent months bouncing around from hospital to convalescent home to the streets, until he was finally referred to National Health Foundation's recuperative care program in Pico-Union. Over the next several weeks, NHF's Nursing and Social Services team supported Curtis with his recovery. The team connected him with a primary care doctor, replaced his ID card, and worked with Curtis to increase his income and prepare for his transition to stable housing.
September 1st marked the 4-month anniversary of Curtis being permanently housed! He stopped by NHF's Pico-Union facility where he happily shared with staff that he is still permanently housed and maintaining his health during the pandemic through biking and gardening! We're incredibly proud to be a part of Curtis's journey to housing and healing.
Curtis's story was covered earlier this year by Spectrum1 News. Click here to read the story. To learn more about NHF's recuperative care programs, visit our website.
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NHF's Ventura Recuperative Care Program Featured in the Ventura County Star |
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Earlier this month, NHF co-hosted an open house with the Salvation Army in its Ventura recuperative care center and received media coverage of the event and our program:
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In Closing...
National Health Foundation continues to grow in its service to Southern California and we thank you for your enduring support. For opportunities to sustain NHF's mission, please contact Danielle Cameron, Chief Strategy Officer at dcameron@nhfca.org.
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National Health Foundation’s mission is to improve the health of under-resourced communities.
Our vision is that all people, regardless of who they are or where they live, can achieve their highest level of health.
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