News – Page 7 – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Provides Nearly 200 Ready-Made Thanksgiving Meals for Families this Holiday Season

DW Admin on November 29, 2021

SAN ANTONIO, November 24, 2021 – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. provided 192 low-income families with ready-made Thanksgiving meals by distributed by a drive-thru at the organization’s Wesley Health & Wellness Center on the South side of San Antonio. The food was distributed throughout the week from Monday, November 22 through Wednesday, November 25.

"At Methodist Healthcare Ministries, we are blessed beyond measure and honored to continue this annual tradition that brings so much joy to our patients, clients and team members,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “During a year of such challenge and change, we are especially grateful to all our team and board members, partners, patients and clients whose remarkable resilience and sacrifices to give above and beyond themselves have strengthened thriving communities across South Texas.”

Recipients were selected based on need and identified by the organization’s medical, dental, behavioral health, parenting program and recreation & enrichment teams. Each was scheduled for a specific pick-up date & time. The food boxes contained a fully cooked, and deboned turkey, family-sized portions of mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn bread, rolls, a gallon of iced tea and pie for dessert, as well as re-heating instructions.

This year’s food distribution replaced the organization’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for the community, which was cancelled for the second year in a row in an effort to continue practicing social distancing and minimize the spread of COVID-19. The annual tradition began in 2009 and is a further testament to the organization’s commitment to providing a service and meeting a need for the community it serves.

Thanksgiving Holiday Closure

DW Admin on November 22, 2021

November 22, 2021 (San Antonio, Texas): All Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. offices and facilities will close at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24 and remain closed Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26. Operations will resume on Monday, November 29.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries & EnrollSA Mark the Beginning of Open Enrollment for 2022

DW Admin on November 2, 2021

San Antonio, TX (November 2, 2021) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. and EnrollSA hosted a press conference event at the Dixon Health & Wellness Center on Tuesday, November 2 to mark the opening of the ninth Open Enrollment period for health care coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act. The event featured remarks from Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, Methodist Healthcare Ministries' President & CEO, Jaime Wesolowski, Centro Med's Vice President of Development, Ana Maria Garza Cortez, Bexar County Health Collabrorative Program Director Anel Treviño, and Mary Brosius. Brosius is an ACA Consumer and new Navigator who will help consumers enroll for health coverage in Bandera County. To view the press conference, please click here.

The Open Enrollment Period for 2022 health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) began on November 1 and will run through January 15. Participation in the ACA Marketplace continues to grow steadily. Enrollment into Marketplace in 2021 grew by 14.91 percent to 1,284,524, and after the Special Open Enrollment Period between February and August of this year, enrollment in Texas grew by 40 percent. Due to the American Rescue Plan (ARP), ACA plans are now much more affordable and insurance premiums during the Special Open Enrollment Period dropped 46 percent for consumers. Consumers now also have more choices than in previous years as four new health insurance carriers joined the Marketplace for a total of eight covering the San Antonio area.

EnrollSA announced that after three years of not having a federal Navigator grantee in San Antonio, there are now two organizations, CentroMed and The Health Collaborative, that were announced as grant recipients for the new enrollment cycle. This equals a $2.6 million investment in enrollment for the San Antonio area for staffing and marketing to enroll more community members. Navigators will also be able to work with providers who do not currently accept an ACA Marketplace plan to explore how they may be able to cover consumers moving forward.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities across Texas, it is more important than ever that San Antonio area residents know about the health coverage options available to them, including through the health insurance marketplace, CHIP and Medicaid. Financial assistance is still available and EnrollSA enrollment assisters & Navigators are available to provide free application assistance.

Nearly 74,000 individuals in the San Antonio area have come to count on the coverage they've purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Residents can sign up for a free in-person appointment by calling (210) 977-7997 or by visiting EnrollSA.com. Residents can also enroll on their own by visiting www.healthcare.gov or by calling (800) 381-2596.

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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 Receives Groundbreaking Initial Trauma Informed Care Certification

DW Admin on August 25, 2021

San Antonio, TX (August 25, 2021) – 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 – attained its Level 1 Trauma Informed Care Certification through the Ecumenical Center at a special event held Wednesday, August 25.

Reducing trauma and recognizing the influence of childhood trauma on adult violence and health status have been identified by the CDC as crucial strategies for improving the nation's health.

The Ecumenical Center is the certifying entity for the South Texas Trauma Informed Care Crisis Consortium and developed the certifying standards to ensure the highest level of adherence to trauma informed approaches in all interactions with the community. Three pilot organizations, including Methodist Healthcare Ministries, stepped up to help pilot the Level 1 Trauma Informed Certification process. Once the pilot is complete, the Ecumenical Center will begin certifying the 35 organizations on the waiting list to complete Trauma-Informed Care Certification. Methodist Healthcare Ministries was the first of the organizations in the pilot to complete the process and attain the Level 1 certification.

“Methodist Healthcare Ministries has been a longtime supporter of the South Texas Trauma Informed Care Consortium and are honored to be one of the first to sign up for the Level 1 Trauma Informed Care Certification through the Ecumenical Center,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. “By earning this certification, we are enhancing the relationships we build with the patients and clients we see in our own clinics and ultimately, improve their health outcomes, as well as supporting the efforts and well-being of our own team members through a more trauma-informed workplace.”

“As the Trauma Informed Care certifying body in Bexar County, The Ecumenical Center would like to congratulate Methodist Healthcare Ministries on becoming the first San Antonio area organization to receive Level 1 Trauma Informed Certification,” said Mary Beth Fisk, Executive Director/CEO of the Ecumenical Center. Their commitment to training their staff and developing processes utilizing a trauma-informed care approach will enable people who have experienced trauma to feel safe, confident and valued while interacting with their organization. We encourage others – including nonprofits, schools, and businesses across our community- to consider exploring Trauma Informed Certification for their own organizations.”

Trauma Informed Care practices can improve client, patient, and employee relationships, and help organizations avoid retraumatizing of those who have experienced trauma in the past.

Any organization or business, not just those in the health care industry, can become TIC-certified.

For more details on this initiative, please visit the Ecumenical Center’s page at: https://www.ecrh.org/trauma-informed-organizations/ or call (210) 616-0885.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

About the Ecumenical Center

In 1967, The Ecumenical Center was founded by a coalition of religious leaders, from all major denominations, to provide counseling, education and mental health and wellness services to the under-served in San Antonio, Texas. Now, 54 years later, The Center provides evidence-based counseling at 37 locations in South and Central, Texas. In 2020, The Center provided direct and indirect services to 26,000 people (13,000 of them children) with 99% of the client’s needing fee assistance. The Center provides the latest evidence-based counseling services provided by licensed clinicians and certified peer support specialists. Services include: EMDR; Children’s Play/Art Therapy; Individual; Family; Adolescent; Geriatric; Couple’s Marital/Relationship and Substance Abuse counseling. Group Education is offered through Parenting Classes and CEUs for licensed clinicians. Support groups are offered for Bereavement, Addiction Recovery and Suicide losses. Therapy using The Expressive Therapeutic Arts (Art, Music, Neurologic Music, Writing, Therapeutic Rhythms), as well as, Psychological Testing and Neurofeedback services are offered. The Center for Trauma Informed Care Certification and The Center for Young Minds are programs of The Ecumenical Center.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Announces $550,000 grant award to San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative

DW Admin on July 22, 2021

San Antonio, TX (July 22, 2021) – 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 $558,345 grant award to the San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative (MMWC) at a special event on Thursday, July 22 at the Sosa Engagement Center in the Harlandale Independent School District. The funding will help the MMWC further expand its services into more school districts and reach more students in need of critical mental health resources.

The MMWC, comprised of six local nonprofits, provides a holistic approach to mental wellness care of children and their support systems. The need for youth mental health services is particularly acute in Bexar County where approximately 130,000 children have behavioral health needs and over 10,000 children ages 12 to 17 have a substance use disorder (Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, 2019). Schools appear to be well positioned to play a key role in addressing childhood mental health concerns; however, school districts in lower income areas, where student behavioral health needs are greatest, cannot afford to provide this type of support.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ funding will support the MMWC by creating a ‘backbone’ for the collaborative and support its continued growth. In addition to the $4.75 million in funding by Bexar County, the MMWC has secured funding from the City of San Antonio and other foundations, making this a co-investing initiative. The funding provided by Methodist Healthcare Ministries will enable the MMWC to hire dedicated staff for the backbone, ensuring the collaborative has the support it needs to continue to deliver services to community members in need.

“The challenge of addressing the need for increased mental health services for the youth in our community is not one that can be solved alone, but rather takes a collective group working together to have a positive impact,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. “Through this funding and partnership, we are proud to stand alongside the San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative and its partner agencies to further their efforts to increase access to critical mental health resources that can help students and resilient families thrive together.”

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has previously provided funding for each organization in the collaborative: Jewish Family Service of San Antonio (JFS), Clarity Child Guidance Center, Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas, Communities in Schools of San Antonio, Family Service Association, and Rise Recovery. Methodist Healthcare Ministries will also work with MMWC to develop a telehealth mental wellness counseling program. The telehealth component will be an essential part of Methodist Healthcare Ministries ongoing work with the Connecting Beyond the Classroom initiative in Edgewood I.S.D., as well as expanding the collaborative into rural counties that have not had access to mental health services before.

Talli Dolge, CEO of Jewish Family Services of San Antonio, added “Because of Methodist Healthcare Ministries' mission to provide quality healthcare to those who are underserved in our community, all of our organizations are able to continue our own missions, whether that is providing mental health counseling, wrap around family services, healing for grieving families, substance use recovery support, children's psychiatry or student support. Thanks to Methodist Healthcare Ministries, we are now able to bring our missions together to create an opportunity to expand mental healthcare in areas of San Antonio that didn't have enough resources before.”

Through the collaborative, the six organizations offer free services, including counseling for individuals or groups on issues such as anxiety, trauma, grief, anger management, substance abuse, and so much more. The collaborative also provides crisis intervention, parent education, psychological assessment, as well as teacher and administrator consulting and training.

In the upcoming school year, the MMWC will serve five school districts (South San I.S.D., Harlandale I.S.D., Edgewood I.S.D., Southwest I.S.D. and Somerset I.S.D.), supporting over 41,000 students, as well as their families, teachers and administrators.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

About the San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative

The San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative was founded in 2019 by six nonprofits wanting to provide a holistic approach to mental wellness by breaking barriers and bringing services right into the schools. The group currently serves three school districts (South San, Edgewood and Harlandale ISDs) by offering individual and group counseling, psychiatry, education, and more to students, parents, teachers and administrators. Organizations in the Collaborative include Jewish Family Service of San Antonio, Family Service Association, Clarity Child Guidance Council, Rise Recovery, Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas and Communities in School of San Antonio.

Statement on Juneteenth Becoming a Federal Holiday

DW Admin on June 19, 2021

This week, President Joseph Biden signed legislation that establishes June 19, Juneteenth, as a federal holiday. The day commemorates June 19, 1865, the day word of their emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas – more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln and months after the formal conclusion of the Civil War. Even though freedom had been achieved by law first through the Emancipation Proclamation and later with the passage of the 13^th Amendment in January 1865, in practice, many African Americans continued to fight the oppressive hand of slavery and racism to that point. More than 150 years have passed since those consequential events and yet the effects of systemic racism and the push for equality and equity continues to this day.

We at Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. applaud the bipartisan actions taken by the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and President Biden to make this commemoration a reality. This commemoration aligns with our work as an organization guided by a mission of "Serving Humanity to Honor God.”

We believe that to improve the wellness of the least served and fully live out our mission we must recognize the inequities inherent in our communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. Inequities revolving around maternal and infant health, chronic stress, trauma, education, food security, safe housing and financial wealth have resulted in vast differences in life expectancy and quality of life for people living in the 74 counties we serve.

The disenfranchisement of people of color in our community through policies and practices contributing to systemic racial oppression denies individuals the opportunity to reach their full potential for health and life, and does harm to all families, preventing every community from thriving.

This Juneteenth, we will celebrate the progress achieved and, in keeping with our Methodist faith, we will continue to honor the gifts that every racial group and culture bring to our total life. We reaffirm our commitment to lead and to stand with our partners, patients, clients, and community in rejecting all expressions of racism and policies and practices that erode inclusion and diminish health equity for all.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries announces new vice president of clinical operations

DW Admin on May 3, 2021

San Antonio (April 30, 2021) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is pleased to announce Leticia Ortiz-Johnson has been selected to serve as the organization’s new Vice President of Clinical Operations. Ortiz-Johnson first joined the organization early in 2020 as Director of Medical Operations and has served as interim Vice President of Medical Operations since December 2020.

As Vice President of Clinical Operations, Ortiz-Johnson will report to the Chief Operating Officer and oversee the organization’s clinical integrated care programs—ensuring patients are at the center of their care journey, which includes medical, dental, behavioral health and nutrition services.

“Leticia’s impressive depth of clinical experience has positioned her perfectly to continue the high standards our clinical service teams have established for quality care for the least served. Her lived experience, previous role as a multispecialty physician practice administrator in a rural community, and ability to communicate in Spanish will serve as a valuable asset in supporting integrated care for our strategic focus supporting resilient families," said Xochy Hurtado, Chief Operating Officer of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Prior to joining Methodist Healthcare Ministries in 2020, she served as Rural Health Clinic Administrator for Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Del Rio, TX where she managaed and coordinated care for over 5,500 patients each month for Orthopedics, Urology, Surgery, Podiatry, Obstetrics, Family Practice, Cardiology, Psychiatric Telehealth, and Pediatric practices. Ortiz-Johnson has been a registered nurse for the past 28 years and she earned both a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Texas Tech University. Lety is originally from Del Rio, Texas.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Donates $460,000 to Nonprofits in the Coastal Bend to Support Community Disaster Relief Efforts

DW Admin on April 28, 2021

San Antonio, TX (April 28, 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 $463,500 in emergency funding to six nonprofits in the Coastal Bend to support their response and recovery efforts stemming from winter storms that left thousands without power, water and food locally and across South Texas. The organizations receiving funding are the Coastal Bend Food Bank ($250,000), The Coastal Bend Community Foundation ($100,000) Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group ($75,000), Mission 911 ($75,000), St. Luke’s United Methodist Church ($5,000) and Grace United Methodist Church ($3,500).

The funds allocated to these organizations are part of the over $3.2 million donated to nonprofits across Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ 74-county service area who are helping those impacted the most. “The winter storm that impacted millions of Texans hit some South Texas communities especially hard and months later, organizations are still doing incredible work supporting those who were impacted the most,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “In times like these, we know it’s important to support great partners like these organizations, who always respond and provide the needed comfort and resources to those in need. On behalf of our entire team and the board of directors at Methodist Healthcare Ministries, I’d like to thank these key partners, their staff and volunteers, who have worked so diligently over the past several weeks to answer the call for help by so many throughout South Texas.”

Each organization has been responding to the increased need for support in the community that was compounded by the effects of the winter storm. The Coastal Bend Food Bank has been serving 63,022 individuals a month since the winter storm, which translates to an increase of 26.3% over January 2021. Executive Director Bea Hanson said, “We are so grateful to Methodist Healthcare Ministries for their generous donation of $250,000 which translates to 1,000,000 meals for families in need.”

The Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group has been helping survivors of the Winter Storm who received damages as the result of the storm, include plumbing/pipe damage as a result of the freezing weather, interior work associated with the access to plumbing pipes and more. Christopher Brandt, Executive Director of the Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group added “The Grant from Methodist Healthcare Ministries came at perfect timing. We had a group of volunteer plumbers come to the Coastal Bend and with the MHM funding we were able to purchase materials for the plumbers. CBDRG was able to fix and or restore water to the homes of 67 homes to date. “

The Coastal Bend Community Foundation was able to leverage the donation by Methodist Healthcare Ministries to secure matching funding from other area funders, enabling them to provide grant funding to area non-profits both suffering physical damage, as well as assisting low-income populations suffering storm damage. Karen Selim, President & CEO of the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, said “Coastal Bend Community Foundation is honored to partner with Methodist Healthcare Ministries to award winter storm grants to area non-profits both suffering physical damage, as well as assisting low-income populations suffering storm damage. The Ed Rachal Foundation provided a 50% match to MHM’s grant, and all $150,000 is being awarded to 25 area charities. This truly speaks to the power of community and working together to improve lives.”

“Grace United Methodist Church and the Amazing Grace Food Pantry are extremely thankful for the $3,500 donation received from United Healthcare Ministries for Winter Storm Relief,” said Pam Fordtrain, Pantry Director at Amazing Grace Food Pantry. “This will enable us to provide additional food, transportation, utility and minor household repair assistance for residents affected by the Winter Storm.”

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Donates More than $200,000 to San Angelo Area Nonprofits to Support Community Disaster Relief Efforts

DW Admin on April 6, 2021

San Antonio, TX (April 6, 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 $212,500 in emergency funding to three nonprofits serving the San Angelo area 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 Concho Valley Regional Food Bank is receing a $100,000 donation the Grape Creek United Methodist Church is receiving $12,500 and the San Angelo Area Foundation is receiving $100,000.

These funds allocated to San Angelo are a piece of over $2.3 million donated to organizations across Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ 74-county service area who are helping those impacted the most. “The winter storm that impacted millions of Texans reminded 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 Concho Valley Regional Food Bank, the San Angelo Area Foundation, Grape Creek United Methodist Church and their teams of staff and volunteers who have worked so diligently over the past several weeks or so to answer the call for help by so many throughout the Concho Valley.”

The impact of the winter storm was felt directly by the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank and Grape Creek United Methodist Church’s Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry. The need for food assistance was already high as the region was still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, however the winter storm added unexpected financial strain on residents across the region as they suddenly faced higher than usual utility bills and repair costs for damage caused by the storm. The San Angelo Area Foundation operates a number of disaster relief funds that it uses to help the community when responding to critical needs. The funds from Methodist Healthcare Ministries will help support those efforts and ensure the community has the resources available to respond this and future crisis.

“We appreciate the partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries for realizing the long-term effects of not only COVID-19, the recent municipal water restrictions, and winter storm Uri has had on those that are in need here in the Concho Valley,” said Lee Pipkin, Executive Director of the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank. “These three events effected those who may be suffering from other health concerns and when you throw three major events in a row on folks who are in need, it digs a hole that’s hard to dig out of without help like what we are able to provide along with great partners like Methodist Healthcare Ministries. By acknowledging that overall health is dependent on good nutrition, the long-term return on investment is huge for those in need as well as the health care industry. Many thanks go out to our local Wesley Nurses for helping to keep the overall health of the Concho Valley in front of funders like Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “

“In recent years, the Concho Valley region has experienced numerous disasters, placing hardship on many of our community members,” states Matt Lewis, President & CEO of the San Angelo Area Foundation. “With disaster’s ranging from wildfires, flooding, tornados, a pandemic, and most recently the winter weather crisis, these events have further amplified the importance of being nimble in our responsiveness and the critical role we can play in matching the generosity of the Concho Valley with our communities’ greatest needs. Disaster philanthropy is vital for communities when faced with the unexpected and through partnerhisps with organizations such as Methodist Healthcare Minsitires, the San Angelo Area Foundation can continue to be a strong source of support for the community and organizations dedicated to helping neighbors in need.”

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Donates $140,000 to Victoria Nonprofits to Support Community Disaster Relief Efforts

DW Admin on March 25, 2021

San Antonio, TX (March 23, 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 $140,000 in emergency funding to two Victoria nonprofits. The Food Bank of the Golden Crescent is receiving a $100,000 donation and the Christ's Kitchen is receiving $40,000. These funds will support their response and recovery efforts stemming from winter storms that left thousands without power, water and food locally and across the state.

The funds allocated to Victoria are part of a $4.5 million dollar investment Methodist Healthcare Ministries has made to help South Texas recover from the aftermath of the winter storms. To date, over $2.3 million has been donated to organizations across Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ 74-county service area.. “The winter storm 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 Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, Christ Kitchen and community leaders like Pastor Wade of Victoria First United Methodist Church and their entire team of staff and volunteers who have worked so diligently to answer the call for help by so many throughout South Texas.”

Robin Cadle, President and CEO of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent said, “The generosity of Methodist Healthcare Ministries allows the food bank to stay nimble and be there for our neighbors in their moment of need— whether they are asking for help for the first time in their lives, or struggling with perpetual food insecurity that made it difficult to fill their plates even before the Pandemic or Winter Storm events hit. Everyone deserves to have enough to eat and we are so grateful for the partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries in our mission of ‘helping heal the hurt of hunger.’”

The impact of the winter storm was felt directly by the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent and Christ’s Kitchen. The need for food assistance was already high as the region was still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, however the winter storm added unexpected financial strain on residents across the region as they suddenly faced higher than usual utility bills and repair costs for damage caused by the storm. The food bank’s food distribution increased from 2.9 million pounds in 2012 to nearly 8.8 million pounds in 2020, representing a 195% increase in need. Christ’s Kitchen is one of the few places in town where the less fortunate can come find a free, hot meal and they are serving 600-800 people per day.

“On behalf of First United Methodist Church, I am so appreciative of the partnership we have with Methodist Healthcare Ministries. The healthcare programs that we have been able to develop have been lifesaving in this community, and the support we get from Methodist Healthcare Ministries and the Wesley Nurse program is vital to our mission to “be the church,” said Wade Powell, Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church. “Methodist Healthcare Ministries understands the connection between health and faith. We are partners in physical and spiritual health, and I love the fact that Methodist Healthcare Ministries is helping support our Food Bank and Christ’s Kitchen, because good nutrition is so important to overall good health. When Jesus calls on us to help feed the hungry, heal the sick, care for the oppressed; I’m glad that First United Methodist Church has a partnership like Methodist Healthcare Ministries to lean on. They are a blessing, not only to our church, but to the entire community.”

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Stop Kicking Kids off Their Health Insurance

DW Admin on March 23, 2021

Imagine if parents had to sign paperwork every month to renew their declaration of love for their children. The idea sounds a bit ridiculous, but it’s not unlike what the State of Texas currently does for many parents who want to keep their kids healthy and protected through reliable health care coverage.

Nearly one in four uninsured children in the U.S. live here in Texas, and that is unacceptable. We are fortunate inTexas to have Children’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but the hurdles imposed by the Texas legislature weaken the benefits of these safeguards.

To confirm Medicaid eligibility, Texas conducts income checks at least four times over a period of six months rather than only once a year. Under this policy, parents must respond to income checks within 10 days of the request for documentation to confirm a child’s eligibility for Medicaid being initiated, regardless of how long it takes for the notice to actually arrive in their mail. If they miss the deadline, their child loses their health coverage. Of the kids who lose Medicaid coverage due to the monthly income checks, 9 out of 10 do so because of “procedural reasons,” such as errors or delays in the monthly paperwork. Only 1 out of 10 is removed from Medicaid because the household income increased.

Uninsured children are less likely to get preventive care and are more likely to experience delays in health care or receive no care at all. One in five Texas children have special health care needs. Facing any lapse in coverage can have significant negative impacts on children with chronic conditions who need regular and frequent visits with providers.

This barrier to continuous coverage is highlighted by Every Texan in their new report Health Equity for Every Texas Child, published this month through its Texas KIDS COUNT project. Supporting children’s health gives them the best chance of succeeding in school and later in life. Providing health care coverage is one way of providing wide-ranging and long-lasting impacts on health, educational, and financial outcomes for both children and their families. Childrenare far less likely than adults to be uninsured because they have access to Children’s Medicaid and CHIP, yet Texas still has the worst child uninsured rate in the U.S. at 12.7% — more than twice the U.S. average of 5.7%.

By protecting all children’s access to affordable and reliable health care coverage, we invest in the success of future generations and set up more equitable conditions to see children thrive.

And as more students are expected to return to on-campus learning statewide this fall, it is critical that the youngest Texans have health coverage in case they fall ill.

Poor childhood health impacts children’s ability to learn, and children who have health insurance tend to do better inschool. Health insurance is critical in the first years of life, as children experience rapid brain development and growth. In this period, frequent check-ups help ensure that children get care for any health conditions or developmental issues that could hold back their success in school, before those issues become more difficult to address. It can also ensurethat children are receiving critical vaccines at the appropriate age that are vital to protecting their health against harmful diseases.

Racial disparities also play a role in health outcomes, both in the likelihood of having health care coverage, and the effects of racism itself on the body. Many children of color live in neighborhoods that are less developed (such as the colonias along the Texas-Mexico border), have fewer resources, and face the threat of deportation and outright discrimination.

Hispanic workers are overrepresented in seasonal industries (construction; agriculture; forestry, fishing and hunting; and accommodation and food services). Month-to-month eligibility checks can cause children in households with seasonal workers to churn on-and-off coverage multiple times per year, even if their average income is well below the income limit.

The negative health impacts of discrimination make it all the more necessary to ensure equitable health insurance coverage rates across groups. Hispanic children continue to experience a higher uninsured rate, and Texas holds the largest share of the nation’s uninsured Hispanic children, at 36% of the national total. Hispanic children in Texas are almost twice as likely to be uninsured as non-Hispanic children.

As our state lawmakers deliberate over hundreds of bills impacting our children and neediest families, we ask for theirconsideration and support of legislation that streamlines eligibility processes for children’s Medicaid. Our love for our children is unconditional and continuous, and Texas children’s health coverage should follow suit.

Jaime Wesolowski is the President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., a faith-based, not-for-profit organization based in San Antonio dedicated to creating access to care for low-income, uninsured families through services, strategic grant-making and community partnerships in 74 counties across South Texas.

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.