Mercy Care has selected several non-profit organizations across Arizona as recipients of its Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment grant program. This year, $3,573,000 was awarded to support organizations that address Mercy Care’s comprehensive health focus areas, which are: addictions, housing, school-based services, women’s health, and food insecurity.

The grants, ranging this year from $10,000 to $500,000, were presented through the organization’s community reinvestment initiative, Mercy C.A.R.E.S., which stands for Community Action Resources Education and Service.

“We like to say that Mercy Care is a health plan with a heart,” said Trisha Stuart, director of community relations. “Through our Mercy C.A.R.E.S. program we identify projects that address important community needs and ensure support for our most vulnerable citizens. Our grantees partner with us to further our mission to help Arizonans live healthier lives and achieve their full potential.”

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Among the organizations and programs that received direct support:

• ACCEL Transition to Independence, which brings Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to transitioning youth, teens and adults with special needs to help them gain the skills they need to be the most successful they can be in the community

• Activate Food Arizona Farm Express Bus which provides healthy, affordable produce four days per week to residents with little to no access to healthy food in the Maryvale, Central City/South Phoenix and Tempe communities

• American Heart Association blood pressure awareness program, in partnership with COPA Health, to educate and monitor blood pressure for improved outcomes for people living with serious mental illness

• ASA Now’s Healing Garden, a healing space where youth impacted by foster care and their loved ones will be invited and encouraged to find solace, serenity, and reprieve

• Barrow Neurological Institute Domestic Violence Traumatic Brain Injury program, which funds the Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center to provide services at local domestic violence shelters

• Childsplay Creative Self-Care for Teachers Workshop, a digital program in conjunction with Valle del Sol, that addresses the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of teachers

• Cloud Covered Streets, a mobile shower and laundry unit to serve those on the streets that are experiencing homelessness

• Community Bridges, Inc. Community Engagement Project supporting the roll-out of HUD emergency housing vouchers to fill funding gaps and ensure individuals have the supports and services they need to be successful in obtaining and maintaining their housing

• Dignity Health Foundation – East Valley “Let’s Talk: Perinatal Mood Disorders Therapeutic Program,” a series of six-week sessions for mothers and mothers-to-be needing mental and emotional support during pregnancy and postpartum

• Dignity Health Foundation – East Valley Zero Suicide Initiative, a two-day training for hospital staff to implement the Arizona Recovers Peer Support Program

• Dignity Health Foundation – East Valley High Utilization Groups (HUGS) home-based pilot program for low-income uninsured/underinsured cardiac patients to address gaps in care when transitioning from hospital to home

• Home Matters Arizona Permanent Supportive Housing program, funding affordable housing projects across Arizona

• Hushabye Nursery Pathway to Hope, providing services for infants transferring from hospital NICUs to Hushabye Nursery for care

• Jewish Family & Children’s Service Shelter Without Walls, a domestic violence program that addresses the unmet needs of Maricopa County survivors of domestic violence and their children who are residing outside of a shelter setting and are struggling to attain and/or maintain safety and independence

• March of Dimes Supportive Pregnancy Program, an evidence-based prenatal care model that brings individuals who are pregnant together for prenatal care to improve outcomes

• Pinnacle Prevention Double Up Food Bucks Arizona, a SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive program, with a focus on the expansion of small corner stores within Maricopa County

• Scottsdale Community College Community Health Worker Scholarship Program, a new scholarship providing 10 students with $1,000 each toward tuition, fees and course materials during the Spring 2022 semester

• Save the Family Supportive Services for Families, funding services for families to participate in rapid rehousing, transitional housing and step-up to independence housing programs

• Sonoran Prevention Works Harm Reduction Outreach program a Mobile Syringe Service Unit that will provide wrap-around services such as harm reduction supplies, syringes and space for volunteer social workers and medical professionals to provide appropriate consultation and referrals

• Spectrum Healthcare Anywhere Care, a mobile integrated healthcare unit

• Teen Lifeline Teen Suicide Prevention Awareness Campaign, a partnership with 30 Arizona schools and nonprofit partners aimed at preventing teen suicide

• Teen Lifeline Caring Contacts, a Zero Suicide prevention program that is peer-to-peer and enhances support during care transition to improve post-hospitalization outcomes

• The Elliott Foundation Enhancing Maternal Health with Home Delivered Meals, a meal delivery service in partnership with Mom’s Meals for mothers facing social determinants of health barriers

• Valle del Sol Clinical School Liaison Program to provide access to behavioral and physical health services at partner schools and transportation for school break programming