The MolinaCares Accord Announces $1.6 Million California Equity and Accessibility Initiative to Address Health Disparities

10/06/2021

Funds Support High-Risk Pregnancy, Leadership Equity Training, Reentry Support for the Formerly Incarcerated, ECHO Alzheimer’s Clinics, Suicide Prevention, and Programs in Underserved Communities

LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 6, 2021The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of California, today launched its California Equity and Accessibility Initiative with an initial $1.6 million to advance health equity throughout the state.

“This critical initiative works with key partners across the state and reinforces our commitment to improving health outcomes for our most vulnerable populations,” said Abbie Totten, president of Molina Healthcare of California. “MolinaCares will continue to build upon partnerships to support its mission of building stronger communities, one life at a time.”

MolinaCares will support Reach Out’s “Mamás y Bebés” program, which provides new and expecting mothers in the Inland Empire with mental health services and support to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. “Being able to provide support for new moms who may be struggling with depression provides a critical lifeline to ease the isolation and stress of parenting a newborn,” said Diana Fox, executive director of Reach Out. “During the pandemic we found that the classes also work well in a virtual environment, so we will now be able to offer the Mamás y Bebés program both in person and online throughout the Inland Empire.”

MolinaCares is collaborating with the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) to develop and launch the Leadership Equity Program (LEP). “CPCA is committed to creating leadership equity and training the next generation of diverse aspiring executives,” said Buddy Orange, California Primary Care Association’s vice president of human and organizational development. “MolinaCares shares this commitment. We are ecstatic and grateful for their support and critical role as thought partners and trusted advisors in this important work.”

The initiative will support Transitions Clinic Network (TCN) to engage formerly incarcerated individuals as they reenter their communities. MolinaCares will aid in the expansion of the TCN Reentry Healthcare Hub, which will provide additional linkages to care, improve care coordination efforts, and build infrastructure for referrals from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The Alzheimer’s Association of California will receive funding to implement a Southern California Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care ECHO® Program. The program will advance the capacity of providers to respond to the needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. The Project ECHO telementoring program will work with doctors to improve quality of life and outcomes for this vulnerable population.

MolinaCares is also providing the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies with a grant for a suicide and crisis prevention line program. The funds are dedicated to creating training for 13 call centers throughout the state supporting 988 crisis lines.

Finally, MolinaCares continues its support of the American Heart Association in Sacramento to address health equity by tailoring well-being initiatives serving seniors, youth, and the re-entry population in historically under-resourced communities.

About The MolinaCares Accord
Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.

About Molina Healthcare of California
Molina Healthcare of California has been providing government-funded care for over 40 years. The Company serves members through Medi-Cal, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Covered California (Marketplace). Molina’s service areas include Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Orange County, and Imperial counties. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, served approximately 4.7 million members as of June 30, 2021.