Cedars-Sinai Medical Center receives $300,000 grant for program delivering healthcare to underserved children

Feb 9 2010

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center announced a $300,000 grant from OneWest Foundation to support the Community Outreach Assistance for Children’s Health (COACH) program. The grant will fund the delivery of free, high-quality healthcare in a mobile medical clinic that reaches out to underserved children and their families in Los Angeles.

“Cedars-Sinai values collaborative partnerships with stakeholders who share our commitment for enhancing the lives of children residing in medically underserved communities. We welcome the opportunity to work closely with OneWest Bank in improving access to a regular, sustainable source of quality healthcare.”

Thomas M. Priselac, Cedars-Sinai President and CEO, noted that “Cedars-Sinai values collaborative partnerships with stakeholders who share our commitment for enhancing the lives of children residing in medically underserved communities. We welcome the opportunity to work closely with OneWest Bank in improving access to a regular, sustainable source of quality healthcare.” The OneWest Foundation partnership expands the medical center’s capacity to deliver direct, sustained, coordinated health services in a setting that is both family-centered and culturally sensitive to a diverse community. Steven T. Mnuchin, Chairman of OneWest Foundation and OneWest Bank added “We are proud to support this important program that brings healthcare into the communities.”

Launched in 1994, the COACH mobile medical clinic on wheels has provided more than 250,000 patient visits to over 100,000 children and their families. The program also collaborates with 200 public and private community organizations to help families make long-term lifestyle changes to promote better environments for children to grow and reach their full potential. Counseling, parenting education classes and support groups, mental health and children's groups, and youth services are provided along with referrals for housing and job training and placement.

By eliminating financial and transportation barriers to healthcare for communities with high rates of poverty and poor health conditions, the grant from OneWest Foundation will provide continuity of care for children who might otherwise go without consistent healthcare.