March 20, 2002 - Funds Available for Community Health Delivery Systems

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) said today that school-based health centers are among the health services providers that may be included in community coalitions or networks eligible to apply for $20 million in Community Access Programs grants to improve the health care of uninsured and under-insured persons. Deadline for submission of applications by community groups is May 7.

The two-year-old Community Access Program has funded 136 projects to date. HRSA says there is no one successful model for community cooperation to improve health care, but applicants are urged to include in coalitions all the major players in the political and health delivery systems, including existing health centers. Grants to community coalitions are expected to range from $150,000 to $2.1 million for one year, with the possibility of supplemental funding.