Partnerships to Serve the Most Vulnerable Across California

We can’t change the world by ourselves. Partnering with others who share our mission and values is necessary to bring about real and lasting improvements. Dignity Health’s Community Health Improvement Grants program is one way we are working collaboratively to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable and underserved populations in the communities we serve. 

“While we can’t resolve every problem or unmet need, we can help convene people and organizations committed to health improvement, and contribute resources to support collaborators in delivering valuable services,” said Michael Bilton, system director of Community Health and Community Benefit. “We can be a catalyst for building capacity for more equitable and resilient communities.”

In 2022 and 2023, the Dignity Health Community Health Improvement Grants program awarded nearly $10 million to nonprofit organizations throughout California. Since 1991, the program has awarded $97 million to 3,900 health improvement projects. These community organizations are leading initiatives to address some of the most important challenges facing Californians, including:

• Homelessness: Funding programs such as transitional housing, day programs to provide food and supplies, mental health services, and many others.
• Food Insecurity: Programs addressing nutrition education, micro-farming, family health and wellness, providing food for unhoused individuals and families, obesity prevention, free fruits and vegetables and nutrition programs for seniors, among others.
• Diabetes Prevention: Organizations focused on maintaining healthy lifestyles and physical activity, delivery of nutritious food to vulnerable populations, and programs to address social determinants of health for patients with chronic conditions.
• Mental Health: Programs providing mental health counseling and prevention education curricula for students, bullying prevention, independent life skills mentoring and restorative job training, and culturally competent support for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
• Violence Prevention: Organizations providing child abuse prevention programs, youth mentoring, victim advocates, domestic violence awareness and crisis support, and support for victims of human trafficking.

Learn more about community grants provided by Dignity Health’s California hospitals here:

• Bakersfield
• Central Coast
• Greater Sacramento Area
• Los Angeles
• Oxnard
• Redding/RedBluff/Mt. Shasta
• Santa Cruz County
• Stockton

For more information about the Community Health Improvement Grants program, and other community health initiatives, visit https://www.dignityhealth.org/about-us/community-health.