Direct Relief, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) and the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) today announced $125,000 in funding for five clinics through the Continuity in Care Grant Program, a three-year initiative, now in its final year, to help NAFC member organizations sustain and expand diabetes care in medically underserved areas.
Free and Charitable Clinics provide care for low-income individuals who often lack insurance, are underinsured or have limited or no other access to health care. These clinics typically receive little or no government funding, rely heavily on volunteer medical staff, and provide services for free, or in some cases for a voluntary donation.
“Free and charitable clinics are a key pillar of the healthcare safety net in the U.S.,” said Damon Taugher, Vice President of Global Programs for Direct Relief. “Direct Relief is grateful for the opportunity to join with NAFC and BD in recognizing the free and charitable clinics and the critical role they play nationwide.”
The five clinics, each of which received $25,000, were selected by Direct Relief from 175 applicants across 38 states for innovative approaches to diabetes care among vulnerable populations.
“On behalf of the medically underserved and our network of charitable health care providers, we thank Direct Relief and BD for their continued support and commitment to bringing needed access to health care in the United States,” said Nicole Lamoureux, President and CEO of the NAFC. “Diabetes is one of the most commonly reported diagnoses among our patient population. This funding will allow grantees to address this chronic disease, focus on improving their patient’s health outcomes and, consequently, improving the health of their communities.”
The 2020 grant recipients are:
- Center for Healing & Hope, Goshen, Indiana
- Delivering Equal Access to Care Clinic, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Hope Clinic of McKinney, McKinney, Texas
- Luke’s House: A Clinic for Healing and Hope, New Orleans, Louisiana
- SLO Noor Foundation, San Luis Obispo, California
Since launching three years ago, the Continuity in Care Grant Program has provided more than $475,000 in cash to more than 30 free and charitable clinics, charitable pharmacies and state associations.
