Grant-making – Page 2 – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Donates $500,000 to San Antonio Food Bank to Support Winter Storm Relief Efforts

DW Admin on March 1, 2021

San Antonio, TX (March 1, 2021) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. – a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has donated $500,000 in emergency funding to the San Antonio Food Bank to support their response and recovery efforts stemming from winter storms that left thousands without power, water and food locally and across the state.

The San Antonio Food Bank has been a vital source of support for San Antonio’s most vulnerable residents, most especially during times of crisis. Methodist Healthcare Ministries has been in partnership with the Food Bank since 2007, supporting its provision of food to those in need and CHIP/Medicaid enrollment for families across the 16 counties the Food Bank serves in South Texas. Last year, Methodist Healthcare Ministries gifted the Food Bank with $250,000 to support its COVID-19 relief efforts which gained national attention. The gift of $500,000 that was presented today, and the nearly $660,000 in annual grant funding Methodist Healthcare Ministries is providing to continue supporting the Food Bank’s Nutrition on Wheels program and social service outreach, brings the total amount awarded to the Food Bank to more than $1.4 million since last year.

“The winter storm that impacted millions of Texans reminds us that when adversity strikes, there are partners we can consistently call on to respond and provide needed comfort and resources to those in need,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “On behalf of our entire team and the board of directors at Methodist Healthcare Ministries, I’d like to thank the San Antonio Food Bank and their entire team of staff and volunteers who have worked so diligently over the past week or so to answer the call for help by so many throughout South Texas.”

“February’s winter storm was especially crippling for those in poverty. We have been seeing an extra 7,000 people a day needing water and food to completely restock their shelves. This support from Methodist Healthcare Ministries will bring much needed supplies, as well as hope, to thousands across South Texas” said Eric S. Cooper, President & CEO, San Antonio Food Bank.

The San Antonio Food Bank responded quickly to the most recent weather crisis by ensuring the most vulnerable families were stocked up with food supplies, providing ready-to-eat meals to various shelters and warming centers set up across the region, delivering homebound meals to seniors in Bexar and Comal County. Once power was restored and the road conditions improved, they established 3 major distribution sites in San Antonio for February 19-21 where they served estimated 75,000 people with groceries and water. Additionally, dozens of trucks traveled throughout South Texas, from Harper down to Crystal City, to ensure rural counties received water and food supplies as well. Overall, their response effort has been heroic and these additional funds will further their efforts even more.

As it moves into 2021, Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to provide safe, affordable health care to San Antonio’s low-income population through virtual medical and behavioral health care—including food and other emergency assistance during these challenging times. The organization’s clinics have opened back up for in-person visits, and also still offers services to its Parenting Program clients via Zoom classes, as well as virtual recreation & enrichment program offerings to patients and clients looking for ways to stay active and healthy in these times where social distancing prevents in person services. Additionally, regional staff, including Wesley Nurses and community-based counseling staff continues to provide services throughout the 74-county service area.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. Guided by its mission of "Serving Humanity to Honor God," Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vision is to be the leader for improving wellness of the least served. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Announces $75,000 Grant to City of Brownsville to Improve Local Broadband Access

DW Admin on January 25, 2021

Brownsville, Texas (January 25, 2021) – Last Friday, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. – a private, faith-based not-for-profit dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured – announced a $75,000 grant award to the City of Brownsville to help improve local broadband access. In a virtual press conference, President & CEO, Jaime Wesolowski joined City of Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez to announce the award, which will support planning for infrastructure improvements of Brownsville’s digital economy.

The event featured a panel discussion on the issues that impact broadband access and discussed how the initiative is a testament to the positive direction Brownsville is taking. In addition to Wesolowski and Mayor Mendez, the panel also also included, Jordana Barton, Vice President of Community Investment, Methodist Healthcare Ministries; Ramiro Gonzalez, Director of Government & Community Affairs, City of Brownsville; Alex Meade, Senior VP of Economic Development and Public Finance for Texas Regional Bank; Susan Schwarz Shepard, Chair of the Valley Zoological Association; Rene Gonzalez of Lit Communities; and Josue Plaza with ConnectBTX.

“Closing the digital divide in communities will play a critical role in our efforts to support resilient families and build thriving communities across South Texas,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. “The long-term impact of having strong access to broadband technology on the health, education and other social determinants of health in Brownsville make this partnership a priority for our organization.”

The announcement comes in response to the City of Brownsville and its community partners' advocacy for reliable and affordable broadband internet service to help close the digital divide and homework gap impacting residents.

Brownsville currently ranks as the worst-connected city in the country with the least access to fixed broadband, according to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). The current COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for improved infrastructure to accommodate the increased need for virtual learning and telehealth opportunities. Additionally, as the Brownsville economy transitioned further into a digital economy, local leaders recognized the need to expand existing broadband infrastructure. Leaders have also realized that, in addition to adequate and strategically placed public fiber, they must create a plan to address and fill the other gaps in access that exist in the community: affordability of subscriptions, devices, and digital skills training and technical assistance.

Through this initiative, the City of Brownsville will receive the necessary support to increase broadband connectivity and thereby greater access to vital community resources that contribute to the health and wellbeing for Brownsville’s most vulnerable populations. Two key components include a telehealth plan to ensure access to quality care for Brownsville’s most disconnected constituents and a partnership with the Gladys Porter Zoo to support educational equity and demonstrate the importance of connectivity in helping Brownsville’s citizens and community thrive.

“In order to secure our future in the global economy we must close the digital divide. Over the past year we’ve been working diligently on understanding the issue and we are in the process of completing the broadband master plan,” said Mayor Mendez. “This could not have been done without the Alliance that we created made of up of BPUB, TSC, UTRGV, Port of Brownsville, BPUB, BCIC, and GBIC. Today we add two additional partners to that alliance in Methodist Health Ministries and Texas Regional Bank. I look forward to see how we can accelerate the adoption of telehealth through deployment of broadband solutions and also look forward to see the transformation of the Gladys Porter Zoo and the services they will be able to provide by having proper connectivity. These projects are two important milestones in our effort but only the beginning. We look forward to continued collaboration with our partners.”

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Awards $199,000 to Fight Food Insecurity as part of Ongoing COVID-19 Relief Efforts

DW Admin on December 23, 2020

San Antonio, TX (December 23, 2020) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. – a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has awarded $199,000 in emergency grant funding support to eight nonprofit agencies in five targeted South Texas counties to support their COVID-19 response and recovery efforts focused on increasing access to food for hard hit communities.

This award brings the total amount Methodist Healthcare Ministries has invested in response to COVID-19 to nearly $4 million for the year 2020. The funding has gone to more than 100 organizations across its 74-county service area to help respond to basic needs in urban and rural communities throughout South Texas, in support of their recovery efforts.

“Methodist Healthcare Ministries recognizes that these communities have been especially hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and we remain committed to helping support resilient families through these challenging times,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “This additional investment will help ensure that partner organizations can continue to support communities with the tools and resources needed to survive.”

The five counties receiving the assistance have the highest rates of unemployment as of September 2020. They include: Starr County (18.5% unemployment), Zavala County (17%), Maverick County (16.5%), Jim Wells County (14.7%) and Duval County (14.3%). These counties are home to a large number of families that are food insecure, making the additional support very timely. The funding will cover food costs, as well as additional support resources such as refrigeration and equipment.

Below is a summary of the funding allocations:

South Texas Food Bank $50,000
- For Starr & Maverick Counties
San Antonio Food Bank $50,000
- For Zavala County
Coastal Bend Food Bank $50,000
- For Jim Wells & Duvall County
Casa de Esperanza $12,500
- For Starr County
Home of Living Faith $20,000
- For Zavala County
Mission Border Hope $16,500
- For Maverick County

Eric Cooper, President & CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank commented, “Wow! Thank you all so very much! Truly humbled, blessed, exhausted, inspired! Thank you for helping us fight hunger and feed hope!”

This funding opportunity is in addition to the $32 million granted this year to over 90 agencies across South Texas which supports access to care, integrated delivery systems, patient-centered health models and other programs and services aimed at addressing the Social Determinants of Health that disproportionately impact the least served.”

Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to provide safe, affordable health care to San Antonio’s low-income population through virtual medical and behavioral health care—including food and other emergency assistance during this pandemic. The organization also still offers services to its Parenting Program clients via Zoom classes, as well as virtual recreation & enrichment program offerings to patients and clients looking for ways to stay active and healthy in these times where social distancing prevents in person services. Additionally, regional staff, including Wesley Nurses and community-based counseling staff continues to provide services throughout the 74-county service area.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Announces New Vice President of Community Investments

DW Admin on November 9, 2020

San Antonio (November 9, 2020) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Jordana Barton as its new vice president of community investment. Barton joins the organization after spending more than 20 years of her career successfully leading community development efforts across South Texas.

As the Vice President of Community Investment, Barton will oversee Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ strategic grant-making and seeking processes to provide strategic leadership, vision, and management in the initiation, execution, and successful completion of mission driven community investments across the 74 counties the organization serves. Also, as a thought leader to the organization, she’ll play an important role in supporting the organization’s mission and vision by aligning the philanthropic strategy with the organization’s overall strategic plan.

Jaime Wesolowski, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries, stated “We are extremely blessed to have Jordana Barton join our team, bringing her wealth of knowledge and experience in community investment to further strengthen our efforts in supporting resilient families and thriving communities across South Texas.”

Before joining Methodist Healthcare Ministries, Barton served as Senior Advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas – San Antonio Branch where she supported the Federal Reserve System’s economic growth objectives by promoting community and economic development. Her focus included digital inclusion, workforce development, healthy communities, financial education, affordable housing, small business development and the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). Barton currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Digital Inclusion Alliance San Antonio and the collective impact project, Digital Opportunity for the Rio Grande Valley. She is also on the Board of Directors of SA2020 and the Advisory Board of the Texas Health Improvement Network of the University of Texas System.

In 2018, she received the “Federal Policy Champion Award” from the Coalition for Local Internet Choice and the “Community Broadband Hero Award” from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors. In 2020, she was named “Salud Hero” (health hero) by Salud America, a program of UT Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame. Barton earned her Masters’ in Public Administration from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is a native South Texan and grew up in the rural South Texas border community of Benavides.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Announces $100,000 in matching funds to kickstart local 2020 “Real Men Wear Pink” Campaign

DW Admin on October 7, 2020

San Antonio, Texas, October 6, 2020 – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. announced a match campaign up to $100,000 in contributions to the American Cancer Society’s 2020 “Real Men Wear Pink” initiative at a press conference this morning. Real Men Wear Pink is an annual campaign that raises awareness and monies to support programming critical to fighting cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), this year, an estimated 19,500 Texans (including 1,200 in Bexar County) will hear the words, ‘You have breast cancer’ and more than 3,000 people will die from the disease. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a significant decrease in the number of people getting screened for breast cancer and one analysis shows there was an 87% decline in Mammograms from February to April 2020. It is estimated that more than seven million women delayed or declined mammograms during the first half of 2020 in the United States. That translates to 36,000 patients delayed in a potential breast cancer diagnosis.

"We know that cancer does not discriminate who it impacts as it hits regardless of a person’s gender, race, location, income level or whether one has insurance or not” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. “The American Cancer Society offers a number of incredible programs to assist those most in need when cancer strikes and we are proud to be able to support them during these challenging times.”

Every dollar raised through the “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign helps the American Cancer Society (ACS) save lives from breast cancer through early detection and prevention, innovative breast cancer research, and patient support. Despite the additional challenges presented by COVID-19, patients and families still need critical resources such as transportation vouchers to treatment appointments, lodging assistance for financially challenged families and other vital support programs that lighten the load for families fighting cancer. ACS provides more than $64 million in breast cancer research grants nationwide. It also provides free resources aimed at helping offset feelings of isolation and provide vital support for families facing cancer in San Antonio.

“The American Cancer Society has partnered with Methodist Healthcare Ministries for many years to reduce the cancer burden in our communities and we can’t thank them enough for this astounding gift,” said Lindsay Maggio McElwee, Executive Director of the American Cancer Society. “One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and COVID-19 has made cancer patients more vulnerable than ever. We help women year-round get tested to find breast cancer earlier and cope with the physical and emotional side effects of the disease. We also fund research to help prevent, find, and treat breast cancer. This generous commitment of $100,000 in matching funds from Methodist Healthcare Ministries will be crucial in helping fuel our continued fight for a world without cancer.”

“With this commitment we are making today to the American Cancer Society, we are pledging our support to help reduce and ease those barriers so that families fighting cancer have the resources they need" added Wesolowski. "We know cancer did not stop impacting people during the pandemic and neither can we. The need for help is too great."

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

About American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of nearly 2 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, free lodging near treatment, a 24/7 live cancer helpline, to free rides for patients, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the American Cancer Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information about cancer and/or other ways you may become involved, call the American Cancer Society’s 24-hour helpline at (800) 227-2345 or visitwww.cancer.org.

Funded Partner Spotlight: Proyecto Desarrollo Humano

DW Admin on July 15, 2020

Miguel is a hard worker. Each morning, he gets up early to try and find some work for the day. He needs to earn enough money to support his wife, Martha, and their two children: Miguel Jr. and Magdalena. They live in a modest structure that can be generously described as a house, but they make it a home. Being together and seeing his family smile puts all the hardships of living in a colonia into perspective. Why does he travel down an unpaved, dirt road to find day work in a neighborhood that lacks potable water and other services and infrastructure people often take for granted? He does it for them. Luckily, he’s not alone. He has help in the form of friends and supportive organizations that exist to make his life, and that of his community better.

For over 25 years, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has dedicated its efforts to increasing access to care for people like Miguel—for the least served. With a service area covering 74 counties across South Texas, there is no shortage of places that need assistance, but none may be more in need than the coloniasalong the Texas-Mexico border. These unincorporated communities often lack the most basic living necessities such as potable water, drivable roads or sewage treatment. In the face of that glaring need, however, what you will find there in abundance is hope and communities filled with people that represent the best of our humanity.

To help Methodist Healthcare Ministries realize its vision in communities like these, it relies on an incredible network of partners who share our vision and commitment to caring for the least served. One such partner is Proyecto Desarrollo Humano (PDH), located in the Deep South Texas town of Pernitas.

In 2004, the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (ICM) and their Mission Partners, founded Proyecto Desarrollo Humano (PDH) to help meet the unanswered needs of Hispanic immigrants in western Hidalgo County, Texas. Their mission statement calls them to: “Help develop human and spiritual potential, strengthen family bonds, build communities of peace, love, justice, and satisfy the needs of the community” through a holistic approach that focuses on health, education and social services. Miguel and his family are emblematic of the type of person who rely on PDH to survive and to access programs and services needed to better their lives.

In the area of health, PDH offers a number of programs and services to the community surrounding it. The Clinica Maria Luisa provides limited medical and dental services for those without access to affordable care or insurance. The clinic is staffed by volunteer physicians and medical professionals at little or no cost.

Additionally, PDH offers a Women’s Wellness program offering Zumba Exercise classes, nutritional education materials, diabetic counseling and education, and mental health services.

The education offerings PDH makes available include English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for adults offered in the mornings and evenings and after school tutoring for children of all ages, as well as summer programming for kids.

Lastly, to provide the community with needed social services, PDH operates a thrift store where the community can find needed essentials, leadership & community-development programming, parenting classes, sewing groups, social work assistance, home and community improvement projects and the Organic Community Garden.

The Organic Community Garden includes hands-on instruction from experts at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and provides participants with information that’s required to help them maintain, plan and cultivate the garden. Participants can grow their own fresh, organic food in a safe space provided by PDH. The program is inspirational and empowering for the participants, who can then profit off the fruit of their own labor.

Miguel and his family are composite characters emblematic of the hundreds of the real people served by PDH. They are primarily new immigrants to the United States. They live in the surrounding colonias and the conditions are often substandard. The people make do with what they have and make the best out of their situation. They are living well below the federal poverty level and their housing consists of small trailers or bare structures which they work on to improve with the help of PDH. The men are often day laborers supporting young families. 54% of the population is under the age of 18 and attending public school. Their parents are doing their best to navigate through a language barrier and an unfamiliar new reality, but they are gracious and grateful for all the assistance provided by PDH.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has been proud to support Proyecto Desarrollo Humano since 2014 by awarding $190,000 in funding for a number of their programs and offerings, such as supplies for the community garden, parenting programs, family support activities, clinical supplies, transportation assistance and funding for staffing. In addition to the funding, Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ community-based counselor, Diana Garza Martinez, provides counseling services twice a week at PDH and Wesley Nurse Veronica Lee is on site three days a week to provide diabetic education and support to patients in need.

Sister Fatima Santiago, executive director of Proyecto Desarrollo Humano, stated that “Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ support and collaboration continue to be invaluable to us. Their financial assistance enables us to expand our service ability to our materially poor people. They also put us in contact with the broader community, enlightening us to contacts and activities. We greatly benefit from the moral support and advice given by our grant officer on her periodic visits.”

It’s incredible to find partners like Proyecto Desarrollo Humano who are dedicated and embedded into the fabric of the communities Methodist Healthcare Ministries serves. By working together, we can address the needs of an area and population that is often overlooked and under-resourced. Being there to lend a helping hand to the Miguels, Marthas and Miguel Jrs. and Magdalenas of the world, helps these organizations build stronger, more resilient families and thriving communities full of opportunity and hope.

To learn more about Proyecto Desarrollo Humano and to find out how you can help, visit www.proyectodhumano.org

Since 1995, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. has provided over $1.06 billion to improve the wellness of the least served through our direct care services, strategic grantmaking and community partnerships. Methodist Healthcare Ministries is proud to partnerwith organizations that share our mission and organizational objectives of increasing access to care to the least served across South Texas.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries awards $32 million in annual health care grants

DW Admin on July 1, 2020

San Antonio (July 1, 2020) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.– a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured – has awarded $32 million in community grant funding to 92 nonprofit agencies across its 74-county service area. This grant funding is part of the organization’s $108.8 million 2020 investment used to support the community through direct services provided through clinical operations and regional staff, as well as the development of community partnerships. View 2020 funded partners.

Given annually, these grants are rooted in partnerships that support access to care, integrated delivery systems and patient-centered models. In partnership with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), safety-net clinics, counseling services and regional community projects, Methodist Healthcare Ministries' goal is to create measurable impact at the community and regional levels to further establish health care networks. Awards are aligned with one of the organization’s strategic objectives: High Functioning Primary Care, Clinical-Community Connections, Access to Health, Families of Solution, Community-Church Hubs and Strategic Cross-Sector Collaboration.

Since April, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has also awarded $1.5 million in emergency funding to support COVID-19 relief efforts by 46 agencies and organizations across South Texas.

“Methodist Healthcare Ministries endeavors to fulfill its mission of ‘Serving Humanity to Honor God’ and our 2020 funding is targeted towards building health equity across South Texas to help the least served obtain access to quality health care,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “The strategic partners we have engaged will further our efforts to support the growth of resilient families and the creation of thriving communities throughout our service region, leading to increasing access to quality care for the least served.”

Funding is allocated to approximately 129 grant programs to deepen collaborative efforts, incentivize quality health outcomes, leverage and strengthen health care delivery systems and promote sustainable systems change.

The single largest area of giving this year is to High Functioning Primary Care, with more than $12.8 million awarded to support community-centered primary care health homes that address physical, mental, social and spiritual needs of patients & engage in improving community health & wellbeing. Funding Access to Care is the second largest area with awards totaling $6.5 million to support improving access to health care for those in need in medically underserved areas.

San Antonio-based CommuniCare Health Centers received two grants totaling just over $2 million in 2020. One grant provides primary and preventive care services in Bexar County, with an emphasis on integrated and preventive care. The second grant supports dental services for the uninsured and to assess the impact it has on outcomes for medical and behavioral health patients. CommuniCare has been a funded partner of Methodist Healthcare Ministries since 1996 and has received over $34.5 million in grant funding over the years.

“CommuniCare Health Centers is proud to be a Methodist Healthcare Ministries grant recipient,” said Paul Nguyen, President & CEO of CommuniCare Health Centers. “Over the past several years, our partnership has allowed us to improve the health of thousands who are less fortunate, and this has helped us achieve a measurably impact on the health and wellness of the communities we serve. The funding that CommuniCare receives gives patients access to the Integrated Health Improvement & Prevention Program, which allows uninsured patients with chronic conditions to utilize our medical and dental services. Our patients are very appreciative of this program and have access to continuity and quality care in Bexar county. As a grantee, CommuniCare is able to improve patient health outcomes and successfully educate the community on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”

Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks partnerships that align with its mission and services and support its objectives. Methodist Healthcare Ministries' board of directors oversees the selection of funded partners and requests are considered on an annual basis by invitation only; unsolicited proposals are not accepted.

The largest award for 2020 is $4.7 million for the South Texas Regional Advisory Council’s (STRAC) South Texas Crisis Collaborative (STCC)’s operations, infrastructure and programming. STCC is a unique and unprecedented partnership between local health systems, mental health care providers, public safety agencies and philanthropy that is improving the continuum of care for the most vulnerable residents – unfunded and underfunded patients experiencing mental illness, homelessness and/or chronic illness.

Since inception, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has invested more than $356 million in grant-making to improve community health care in its 74-county service area – which makes up 29 percent of Texas counties.

In addition to grant-making, Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks to increase access to health care through advocacy and direct services. Methodist Healthcare Ministries operates two San Antonio-based primary health care clinics: Wesley Health & Wellness Center and Dixon Health & Wellness Center, and two School Based Health Centers: School Based Health Center at Krueger Elementary and School Based Health Center at Schertz Elementary. The clinics address the needs of low-income families and the uninsured by providing services at no cost or on a sliding fee scale. The health care services Methodist Healthcare Ministries provides are a cornerstone of its charitable purpose of creating access to care.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries' mission also includes its one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System—the largest healthcare system in South Texas. This creates a unique avenue to ensure the Methodist Healthcare System continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all, and revenue to Methodist Healthcare Ministries for its programs and services.

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Methodist Healthcare Ministries Awards $22,662 in emergency grant funding to UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry

DW Admin on June 25, 2020

San Antonio, TX (June 25, 2020) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.—a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has approved an emergency grant for $22,662 to the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. The School of Dentistry provides dental care to the homeless population at Haven for Hope and COVID-19 has impacted its ability to continue those services.

“Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to supporting partners across South Texas that are on the front lines, providing care to vulnerable populations in need,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “Through this additional support, we are ensuring that our trusted partner, UT Health San Antonio School Of Dentistry can access the critical resources and personal protective equipment they need to care for dental patients at Haven for Hope. In these tough times, we are proud to do all we can to bring more smiles to the world.”

As healthcare organizations continue to provide needed health and dental care to patients in this challenging environment, the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to ensuring the health and safety of both patients and providers. As dental care is delivered in close proximity to patients, COVID-19 clinical guidelines for dentistry include several new protocols to prevent exposure and limit the spread of the virus during dental procedures. This funding will augment the dental engineering and work practice controls needed to prevent cross-contamination from COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the services provided to the homeless residents of Haven for Hope by limiting these assistances to only emergency care,” said Juanita Lozano-Pineda, DDS, MPH, associate dean for external affairs with the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. “Thanks to funds provided by Methodist Healthcare Ministries, the infection-control personal protective items and additional equipment that controls aerosol generation during procedures will all help protect our patients, dental students, residents and faculty from the highly contagious virus. This will allow students and residents to better understand some of the engineering controls needed to practice dentistry safely, as we expand to resume comprehensive care services to a vulnerable population that is in great need of oral health care.”

This award is in addition to the $753,228 grant funding Methodist Healthcare Ministries already provided to the School of Dentistry in 2020. The School of Dentistry has been a funded partner of Methodist Healthcare Ministries since 2002 and has received $8,468,521 to fund a number of its programs. Of that funding, nearly $2.5 million has been awarded specifically for work the School of Dentistry performs at Haven for Hope, including dental equipment, PPE and urgent care.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has awarded over $1.5 million in COVID-19 emergency grant funding to nonprofits and faith-based organizations since the pandemic began. Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to providing safe, affordable health care to San Antonio’s low-income population through virtual medical and behavioral health care—including food and other emergency assistance during this pandemic. Additionally, staff across the organization’s 74-county service area—including Wesley Nurses and community based counseling staff—continue to provide virtual care and resource assistance to the most vulnerable.

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Methodist Healthcare Ministries Awards $1.1 million as part of COVID-19 Relief Efforts

DW Admin on April 27, 2020

San Antonio, TX (April 27, 2020)– Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.–a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has awarded $1,151,443 million in emergency grant funding to 46 nonprofit, health and social service agencies in its 74-county service area for COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

“During these unprecedented times, Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to increasing access to care for the least served across South Texas,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “This investment ensures that our partners have additional support in continuing to provide critical physical and mental health care and essential resources for our friends and neighbors impacted by this pandemic. We are proud to stand with our communities who are hurting and need a little extra help today. We know that they are resilient and that by working together, we can ensure that everyone has access to the care and support they need.”

While $433,409 was awarded to agencies in and around Bexar County, special consideration was given to underserved communities that do not have the same degree of philanthropic support as San Antonio. To ensure there is equity in the accessibility to response and recovery resources in Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ 74-county service area, $718,034 is being awarded to agencies that primarily serve outside Bexar County.

Grants will cover a three-month period beginning April 1 through June 30. Some of the organizations receiving this funding include:

Central Texas Food Bank (multiple counties), $50,000 for food assistance
Christian Assistance Ministries (San Antonio), $35,500 to supply handwashing stations, showers and hygiene supplies for homeless people
Coastal Bend Food Bank (multiple counties), $100,000 for food assistance
Concho Valley Regional Food Bank (multiple counties), $25,000 for food assistance
Food Bank of the Golden Crescent (multiple counties), $50,000 for food assistance
Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley (multiple counties), $100,000 for food assistance
Fuerza Unida (San Antonio), $7,425 for an emergency food pantry
I Care San Antonio, $33,435 to continue operations during the crisis
Jewish Family Service (San Antonio), $32,529 to support a collaborative six-agency mental health response to low-income students and families sheltering in place, through telehealth/mobile mental health resources.
Mission 911 (Corpus Christi), $25,000to help isolate and care for homeless individuals who need to “shelter in place”
Phoenix Center (multiple counties in Marble Falls area), $10,000 for telehealth services to provide trauma-informed care to underserved rural children and families
San Antonio Food Bank (multiple counties), $200,000 for food assistance
South Texas Food Bank (multiple counties), $75,000 for food assistance
Texas Diaper Bank (multiple counties), $50,000 for families in need of diapers and other hygiene supplies
The Children’s Shelter (San Antonio), $15,000 to meet increased demand and additional costs due to sheltering in place

Through this funding, Methodist Healthcare Ministries granted $600,000 to the seven Food Banks covering the 74-county service area, as a strategic emergency response, and $342,554 to 31 churches and church agencies to help respond to basic needs in urban and rural communities throughout South Texas.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to provide safe, affordable health care to San Antonio’s low-income population through virtual medical and behavioral health care—including food and other emergency assistance during this pandemic. The organization also still offers services to its Parenting Program clients via Zoom classes and will begin to offer recreation & enrichment program offerings via Zoom to patients and clients looking for ways to stay active and healthy in these times where social distancing prevents in person services. Additionally, regional staff, including Wesley Nurses and community based counseling staff continues to provide services throughout the 74-county service area.

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Funded Partner Spotlight: Family Service Association

DW Admin on February 18, 2020

Since 1995, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. has provided over $1 billion in healthcare services through our clinics and programs, as well as through our partnerships. Methodist Healthcare Ministries is proud to partner with organizations that share our mission and organizational objectives of increasing access to care to the least served across South Texas.

There are few organizations in San Antonio with a history as storied or impactful as Family Service Association. The nonprofit organization was originally founded in 1903 as the Charity Association of San Antonio.

Over the years the name and programs have evolved, enabling Family Service Association to offer services that address adoptions, youth development, elder care, behavioral health, rural health, and much more. In recent years, Family Service has evolved to better meet the needs of the communities it serves. It has expanded to provide services in 13 counties and its focus has shifted organically towards addressing the social determinants of health. For example, understanding that many of its clients report having experienced a childhood trauma has led them to adopt the practice of trauma-informed care when treating new patients. Family Service has created a scorecard to chart where they want to be in 3-5 years and those decisions are passed down to employees through trainings, so everyone can understand what they are working towards.

Mary Garr, president & CEO of Family Service Association, stated that “If we want San Antonio to improve health, workforce, then it all ties to the social determinants and we've got to have a collective voice and a collective framework to be able to articulate so we can work as a city to be able to address these challenges. Organizations like Methodist Healthcare Ministries, and others, are helping in that framework as well.”

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has been proud to support Family Service Association since 2007 by awarding $ $6,348.810.00 in funding for a number of their programs and offerings. In 2020, Methodist Healthcare Ministries funded three projects by Family Service: a Rural Child Abuse Prevention Program, Early Childhood Wellbeing Program and a Financial Empowerment Program.

Through the Rural Child Abuse Prevention Program, Family Service offers community-based counseling services to individuals coping with difficult daily stressors living in Uvalde, Zavala, Dimmit, Maverick, and Val Verde counties. The services are often provided in a client’s home or at a local United Methodist Church, which often partners with Family Service to provide additional support. The program developed over the years and focuses on people 21 years old, dealing with behavioral health issues. The program serves a population that is very poor with 64% earn less than $10K a year. Their clients are often dealing with behavioral health issues, substance abuse and experience trouble finding work. However, Family Service employs a great staff in the region who have built trust and relationships over the years. Some staff members are even former clients, so they bring a perspective and experience that enables them to relate better with their clients.

The Early Childhood Wellness Program is an early childhood mental health program where Family Service trains teachers how to better manage behavior issues in preschool age children, up to 8 years old, through a positive behavior support models. Through parent-child interactions and the Parenting Wisely program, Family Service provides teachers with the opportunity to better engage and manage young students at a critical time in their development.

The Financial Empowerment Program is offered at six locations across San Antonio, including Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Wesley Health & Wellness Center on the Southwest side and the Dixon Health & Wellness Center on the Southeast side of San Antonio. The patients and families who walk through the door of our clinics often also seek assistance with their finances. The Financial Empowerment Program uses a coaching model to talk patients through their financial situation, help them identify where their money is going to and develop a plan to take care of debt, improve credit and build savings. The hands-on approach teaches the value of saving and building one’s financial health. The program has been very effective at helping people reduce debt and take control of their financial situation.

Since 1903, Family Services has been a tremendous asset to the San Antonio and South Texas communities where their services are offered. They are committed to addressing the social determinants of health in a manner that is early and enables families to live happier and healthier lives. Their innovative and wide-reaching programs are helping families in a myriad of ways and Methodist Healthcare Ministries is proud to continue supporting their efforts. They are a great partner as we strive to increase access to care for the least served and build resilient families in thriving communities.

To learn more, please visit family-service.org.

Hogg Foundation Partners with Methodist Healthcare Ministries for 2020 Census

DW Admin on February 13, 2020

AUSTIN, Texas (February 13, 2020) – The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health is pleased to announce that as part of its $2.1 million Texas Communities Count initiative, it has partnered with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. to co-fund four of the 28 organizations that received funds for the initiative. The funds support these organizations’ complete count efforts in Texas for the 2020 U.S. Census.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries generously gifted the Hogg Foundation a $210,000 grant to support the four grantees. Thanks to their gift, the availability of funds for other worthy projects was significantly expanded.

The primary focus of Texas Communities Count is to aid collaborative approaches that will reach traditionally hard-to-count (HTC) populations, communities and geographic areas throughout the state. The goal is to encourage participation in the 2020 Census so that every person in Texas is counted. The four Methodist Healthcare Ministries-supported grantees cover a wide region of South Texas and their activities in the region help ensure that the initiative has the widest possible impact.

The four grantees are:

Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network: Nuestra Voz Cuenta: Census 2020. Focusing on Hidalgo and Cameron counties with a three-phase plan targeting immigrants, rural communities and colonias.
Rural Economic Assistance League, Inc. (REAL): Cada Persana Cuenta (Each Person Counts & Matters). Program focuses on 12 counties in the Coastal Bend with a four-phased plan targeting the colonias, raising awareness and providing onboard assistance with completing forms for transportation clients.
Southwest Area Regional Transit (SWART): SWART Sees 2020. Program will servie nine rural counties in the middle Rio Grande Valley area and program will feature outreach to transportation clients, as well as in-community locations such as adult day care centers and job fairs.
Texas Association of Community Development Corporations: Rio Grande Valley Census Complete Count. Program will serve eight counties along the Texas-Mexico border, from Brownsville to Laredo, and feature in-person outreach to low-income and vulnerable populations who typically trust the staff at community development corporations (CDCs).

All told, 28 counties in South Texas will be touched in some way by the work of these grantees. In addition to determining political representation and district boundaries for every level of government, an accurate and complete census is necessary to ensure fair allocation of federal dollars for resources, services and infrastructure that support Texans’ everyday quality of life.

“Making sure that all Texans are counted and that the state receives its fair share of federal funding is a large and complex undertaking and we are proud to join the effort alongside great partners such as the Hogg Foundation.” said Jaime Wesolowski, president & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “We know 71 out of the 74 counties we serve in South Texas are medically underserved. A complete count is vital to help families living in these areas access resources that are critically important to their health and wellness, such as healthy foods through the SNAP program, early childhood education opportunities through HEAD Start and other important programs that will help to create resilient families and thriving communities across Texas.

“The Census is a unique opportunity for philanthropy across the state to come together to affirm shared values of equity and inclusiveness.” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the Hogg Foundation and senior associate vice president for diversity and community engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. “We are proud to stand with Methodist Healthcare Ministries in this effort.”

“With their presence in South Texas, Methodist Healthcare Ministries understands the stakes for their communities,” said Crystal Viagran, director of finance and operations for the Hogg Foundation and project lead for the Texas Communities Count initiative. “Their participation is a signal to others that an accurate 2020 Census is critical to the well-being of the people of Texas.”

Map of the counties impacted by the Hogg Foundation-Methodist Healthcare Ministries partnership

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ABOUT METHODIST HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES

ABOUT THE HOGG FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Established in 1940, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health envisions a future in which the people of Texas thrive in communities that support mental health and well-being. Using a variety of approaches, including grantmaking, convening, research and public policy, the foundation works collaboratively to transform how communities promote mental health in everyday life.

Treating physical and mental health together improves chronic conditions

DW Admin on December 12, 2019

San Antonio, TX (Dec. 12, 2019)– A new U.S. – Mexico border study shows that providing physical and mental health care together improves conditions like diabetes and depression in South Texas.

The study focused on improving wellness for low-income, uninsured Hispanic residents who face multiple barriers to accessing health care and are also more likely to have chronic health conditions, like diabetes. And almost 40 percent of Hispanic patients with Type 2 diabetes also have depression, making it even more critical to get the right mix of physical and mental health care.

That care is hard to find: Most counties in the Rio Grande Valley are federally designated as Medically Underserved Areas and Health Professional Shortage Areas. For every 100,000 residents, there are only 15.5 family physicians.

A five-year project called Sí Texas: Social Innovation for a Healthy South Texas, studied the effectiveness of integrating physical and mental health care in a single visit, which enables providers to more effectively coordinate care so that neither physical nor mental health care needs are neglected.

This approach, called Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH), is taking hold in many areas of the country, but until this project, had never been studied in low-income, uninsured, predominantly Hispanic populations.

Connecting communities to care

Sí Texas was developed by San Antonio-based Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. The health care non-profit has focused its services in South Texas for nearly 25 years. Communities near the border and along the coastal bend offered the ideal population and health care access conditions for the study, but an added challenge in that South Texas is often ignored when it comes to grant funding and philanthropy; organizations that might provide individual grants in the region aren’t large enough to fund a project of this scope, and 7 of the 12 counties in the project have no foundations that fund health initiatives.

“We know that physical, mental and spiritual health together are the key to wellness, but for many low-income South Texas residents, realities like lack of transportation, and other social or economic factors get in the way of access to health care, says Jaime Wesolowski, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. “Border communities and people living in rural areas are especially impacted. We work to improve health equity in the region, and we want the partners we work with to have the resources to be community health leaders in their own right. Sí Texas was an opportunity to deliver more effective care and to support sustainable operational growth for providers and clinics in South Texas.”

Methodist Healthcare Ministries created a partnership between a federal agency that provides funding for community initiatives, and regional and local funders – together, the resources added up to $60 million to study the effectiveness of IBH in counties where income and access to health care are among the lowest in the nation and conditions like diabetes and depression are among the highest.

8 clinics, 12 counties in the study

The major funding came from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Methodist Healthcare Ministries and Harlingen-based Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation; several smaller, regional co-investors also contributed. Eight health care organizations in 12 counties were selected to implement IBH programs, study the effectiveness of the approach with patients who had diagnoses for conditions like diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, anxiety and obesity, and evaluate the results and the impact.

“Sí Texas addressed real barriers in South Texas, where working, poor residents face so many obstacles to accessing health care; there’s a tremendous need to find better ways to treat these common chronic conditions,” says Jennifer Knoulton, RN, Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vice president of regional operations. “We’ve been working in South Texas communities for years and we’re familiar with the unique needs of low-income, uninsured people living in this region. Transforming the type of care people have access to can change lives over generations. This project was important to us from a care delivery standpoint, but also because we believe that the best health care treats the body, mind and spirit. Sí Texas was a way for us to introduce IBH and expand whole-person health care in South Texas.”

The eight clinics selected for the project were a diverse group of local mental health authorities, federally qualified health clinics, primary care charity clinics and academic institutions operating clinics in the communities targeted for the project. Each clinic designed its own IBH program for the unique needs of the people it cares for. Altogether, the project spanned 12 counties, chosen for their federal status on poverty rates, health outcomes and access to providers. During the study, Sí Texas provided IBH health care for 51,937 low-income, uninsured patients and clients.

IBH works in South Texas

The results confirm that IBH is effective in treating chronic health and mental health conditions in low-income, uninsured, predominantly Hispanic populations. The success of the study in South Texas has powerful implications for successful health care delivery outcomes in parts of the country facing similar conditions.

Depression and HbA1c (a key diabetes marker) improved for patients who received IBH care across the project, compared to a control group which received regular standard of care services. Also, the effect of Si Texas’ IBH care was stronger among participants with diabetes, depression, or a diagnosis of Severe and Persistent Mental Illness, and among females 49+ years of age.

“What we learned validates that integrating mental, physical and spiritual healthcare improves whole-person wellness,” added Wesolowski of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “We are grateful for the courage and perseverance of the patients, providers and organizations who braved this journey.”

For more information and resources, or to read the full Sí Texas Social Innovation for a Health South Texas report, visit mhm.org/sitexas/.

Si Texas facts

Almost 40 percent of Hispanic patients with Type 2 diabetes also have depression.[i]
In the Sí Texas project area, residents are at a higher rate of getting cancer, diabetes and heart disease than those who live in urban areas, according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
The Rio Grande Valley has a critical health care provider shortage; there are only 15.5 family physicians per 100,000 people.[ii]
Sí Texas was a $60 million health care delivery redesign project, with a unique matching fund structure through the Corporation for National and Community Service, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation and other smaller community co-funders.
Sí Texas marked the first time the Corporation for National and Community Service – a federal agency – provided funds to a faith-based organization like Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
The eight participating clinics: Hope Family Health Center; Nuestra Clinica del Valle; Texas A&M International University; Tropical Texas Behavioral Health; University of Texas School of Public Health – Brownsville; University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; REAL, Inc.; Mercy Ministries of Laredo.
In communities near the U.S. – Mexico border, a health care delivery project of this scale – with an integrated behavioral health approach – had never been studied before.
The results show that IBH is effective in treating chronic health and mental health conditions in low-income, uninsured, predominantly Hispanic populations, with implications for successful outcomes in similar conditions.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

[i]Mier, Nelda, et al. “Health-related quality of life among Mexican Americans living in colonias at the Texas–Mexico border” Social Science & Medicine Volume 8, Issue 66 (2008): Page 1760 – 1771.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027795360700665X