WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that 175 community health centers in California will receive nearly $1 billion to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, provide ongoing testing and treatment, and ensure vulnerable communities have access to the care they need amid the ongoing pandemic. This funding is a result of the American Rescue Plan that Senator Padilla voted to pass in Congress and was signed into law earlier this month, and is part of a $6 billion investment nationwide to help Community Health Centers expand access to vaccines. These health centers serve communities of color, rural areas, low-income populations, and other underserved communities.
“We cannot turn the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic until vaccines are widely distributed and accessible everywhere,” Senator Padilla said.
The Health Resources and Services Administration or HRSA, will provide this funding starting in April to nearly 1,400 centers across the country, including 175 in California.
This funding will:
- expand COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and treatment for vulnerable populations;
- deliver preventive and primary health care services to people at higher risk for COVID-19; and
- expand health centers’ operational capacity during the pandemic and beyond, including modifying and improving physical infrastructure and adding mobile units
Further, as part of the American Rescue Plan, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán announced March 30, community health centers that serve her constituents will receive $90.77 million in American Rescue Plan funds to expand their COVID-19 vaccination and treatment operations. The resources are part of the American Rescue Plan’s investments to expand access to vaccines in underserved communities.
“Our Community Health Centers have been crucial in responding to COVID-19 in my district and have provided critical healthcare services for a long time in our communities,” Congresswoman Barragán said.
The following Federally Qualified Health Centers, which serve the people of California’s 44th Congressional District within Los Angeles County, have received the below funds from the American Rescue Plan:
- The R.O.A.D.S, Foundation, Inc: $2,137,000
- Behavioral Health Services Inc: $1,450,750
- The Children’s Clinic: $7,213,125
- AltaMed Health Services Corporation: $36,263,250
- APLA Health & Wellness: $2,378,000
- Benevolence Industries Incorporated: $2,655,875
- Los Angeles Christian Health Centers: $2,902,875
- St. John’s Well Child and Family Center: $19,994,125
- Watts Healthcare Corporation: $4,271,750
- Harbor Community Clinic: $1,797,250
- South Bay Family Health Care Center: $3,388,875
- Northeast Community Clinic: $3,704,250
- Wilmington Community Clinic: $2,613,750
The health centers can use the funding to expand COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and treatment for vulnerable populations; deliver preventive and primary health care services to people at higher risk for COVID-19; and expand health centers’ operational capacity during the pandemic and beyond, including modifying and improving physical infrastructure and adding mobile vaccination units.
Additional information on funding going to California Community Health Centers available here.