PORTLAND, Ore., (November 18, 2014) — FamilyCare Inc., the first Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties, believes every child and young adult deserves the opportunity to be healthy. To help improve the well-being of our communities, FamilyCare is announcing a grant program to partner with organizations serving the area’s youth populations.
This grant program is a reflection of FamilyCare’s commitment to meet the goals laid out in the 2014 FamilyCare Community Advisory Council’s Community Health Improvement Plan, which identified transition age youth—those between 15 and 25 years old—as a population that struggles to connect to the healthcare system. The Community Advisory Council has recommended that advances are needed to improve the health of this vulnerable population. Suggestions include approaching and collaborating with communities, stronger prevention strategies, improving health literacy, and making care coordination accessible. The hope is that the learnings and interventions from this Community Health Improvement Plan and anticipated grant projects will improve the health and well-being of the whole community.
On October 31, 2014, the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council of the National Academies released a related report, Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults. The report states, “Young adulthood is a critical period for protecting health, not just during the transitional years but over the life course. Despite some positives, however, the dominant pattern among young adults today is declining health.” Further, the report calls for action: “What is needed now is a coordinated effort by the public and private sectors to raise public awareness of the need to improve policies and programs that address the needs of young adults.” The report affirms FamilyCare’s Community Advisory Council Community Health Needs Assessment and its call to action through the Community Health Improvement Plan.
“The Council and the FamilyCare Board of Directors believes a Community Health Improvement Plan focused on the health and wellness of the transition age youth will fulfill the triple aim of improving the patient experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of healthcare,” says Brett Hamilton, FamilyCare Health Policy and Program Manager.
To meet this need, FamilyCare will accept proposals for youth and young adult initiatives from new and established tri-county organizations until December 10, 2014. Existing and new programs will be considered. FamilyCare plans to invest in innovative to serving young people in the Portland area’s
many diverse communities and create long-lasting connections with our community partners. If you or your organization works with 15- to 25-year-olds to improve health and well-being, we invite you to submit a proposal for consideration.
Please see INVITATION/REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL ANNOUNCEMENT to read our official Request for Proposals. Award amounts will be determined based on the proposed size and cost of a project. Award recipients will be notified by December 31, 2014.
If you have any questions regarding this funding opportunity please contact, [email protected], Health Policy and Program Manager.
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FamilyCare, Inc. is a Medicare and Medicaid managed care organization providing patient‐centered healthcare to Oregonians for more than 30 years. FamilyCare was the first health plan in Oregon to integrate models of physical and mental health and was the first Coordinated Care Organization in the tri‐county area certified by the Oregon Health Authority. The health plan serves more than 115,000 members. FamilyCare’s mission is, “Creating healthy individuals through innovative systems.”
