La Familia Receives Grant from Eden Health District to Develop Primary Healthcare Clinic in Hayward for Unsheltered and Underserved Community Members
HAYWARD, Calif. – La Familia is launching a multi-phase project to establish a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-A-Like (FQHC-LAL) to provide primary and behavioral health care. This effort recently received $420,000 in seed funding from Eden Health District. La Familia’s licensed clinical teams will provide services in a culturally responsive, patient-centered model leveraging their lived experience and La Familia’s reputation as a trusted provider. Services will focus on unhoused populations, formerly incarcerated people, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and those with moderate to severe mental health illness, substance use disorders, drug addiction and co-occurring disorders.
Aaron Ortiz, La Familia’s CEO states, “We are extremely grateful for the continued partnership with Eden Health District. La Familia supports individuals’ healthcare needs with a whole-person approach. The early commitment by EHD acknowledges both the gap in services that exist and the potential of La Familia to serve the community.”
The Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team at La Familia identified this opportunity eight years ago. La Familia has extensive experience serving vulnerable community members, including unsheltered families, those formerly incarcerated, as well as youth and adults with mental and behavioral health issues and co-occurring disorders. Since the start of the pandemic, they have become a leading provider of COVID testing and vaccines within Alameda County, with over 135,000 tests distributed and 33,000 vaccines dispersed. This facility will offer a 5-day a week clinic providing integrated primary care and behavioral health services for our hardest-to-reach residents and all else who seek services.
Our long history of effective collaboration with La Familia inspires our District to make this significant commitment to make sure the clinic is successful. The residents of our District that are the most vulnerable and impacted by Covid and poverty will benefit greatly” said Mark Friedman, CEO of Eden Health District.
The Hayward census tracts within the proposed service area are designated as Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). The shortage of primary and mental health professionals exacerbates health inequities among our focus populations, especially communities of color. Alameda County has launched ambitious initiatives to transform its healthcare system and reduce access gaps among vulnerable and underserved communities for years. Still there continues to be a demand for primary and behavioral care integrated treatment services.
Severe mental illness, opioid overdose, and a lack of access to care continue to claim the lives of community members. According to the 2022 Alameda County Point-in-Time Count, the average life expectancy for a community member living in stable housing is 81 years. In contrast, unhoused individuals average 25 years less. Deaths by opioid overdose are often underreported, particularly among individuals experiencing homelessness. The Alameda County Health Care Services Agency reported 317 overdose deaths in 2020 and among them, 30% were people experiencing homelessness.
Chief Contreras reflects on the expansion, “La Familia is an incredible community based organization. The Hayward Fire Department has partnered with them for over 40 years. From the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen firsthand their robust and effective COVID response. La Familia always shows up for the community! We are excited to see La Familia continue to fill gaps in the healthcare continuum of care.”
La Familia is well positioned to provide integrated and co-located primary and behavioral health care in a culturally-responsive, patient-centered model. This effort will build upon Alameda County and Eden Health District’s commitment to health equity, especially among individuals who are at risk of decreased life-expectancy due to their social determinants of health. La Familia’s continuum of care approach is integral to ensuring individuals and communities that are often unseen receive investment and respect.
La Familia leverages its “for us, by us” model of including qualified staff with lived experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of its services. With the support of Eden Health District, La Familiar is working to ensure that individuals have access to a full range of primary, behavioral and preventive healthcare services that are affordable, comprehensive, and culturally responsive. Community members interested in staying updated on the project can contact Sophia Rodriguez, Partner Relations Manager with La Familia, at Srodriguez@LiveLaFamilia.org.
