July 15, 2010

HealthMatters Receives Grant from Rite Aid Foundation

Grant will expand Links 4 Health support services for children and families in Central Oregon

BEND, OR – The Rite Aid Foundation recently awarded a $5,000 grant to HealthMatters of Central Oregon to expand the Links 4 Health: Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs program. With this grant the program will now be able to provide support services to children aged birth to 18 years.  The Links 4 Health program utilizes the Pathways model established by Drs. Mark and Sarah Redding, to emphasize transparency and accountability. The primary goal of the program is to reduce or eliminate barriers to receiving health and human services.  

This grant will allow a Community Links Specialist to provide navigation and support services to children and families through care coordination pathways.  The CLS works with a family to determine their needs and then helps connect them to the services and community resources that may be available. Links 4 Health is a project led by HealthMatters of Central Oregon, a successful healthcare collaborative with a strong track record of community support. The Board of Directors includes health and human service leaders, business leaders, policy makers, community advocates and others. These unlikely allies are working together to coordinate services, improve access and effect health system change within our region.

“The Rite Aid Foundation is pleased to be able to support the Links 4 Health program for children with special needs that live in the Central Oregon community,” said Gayle Rife, manager of The Rite Aid Foundation.  “Improving the lives of our neighbors is a core value of Rite Aid.  Links 4 Health and the other programs offered by HealthMatters enhance the lives of the community they serve”.

ABOUT HEALTHMATTERS OF CENTRAL OREGON
HealthMatters of Central Oregon is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of Central Oregonians through active community participation. It provides Central Oregon with a collective voice on issues including health care integration, access, coverage, prevention, and wellness.  The organization aims to become a premier community model by improving the health of Central Oregonians through innovative strategies that will improve health and create a sustainable future. Links 4 Health is one of HealthMatters of Central Oregon’s four initiatives designed to work in concert to improve health through the active participation of the Central Oregon Community. In addition to Links 4 Health, its programs include SharedCare, Trails to Health, and Living Well – Central Oregon.

ABOUT RITE AID FOUNDATION
The Rite Aid Foundation, founded in July 2001, is a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to helping people in the communities Rite Aid serves. Rite Aid is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,800 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia with fiscal 2010 annual revenues of $25.7 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through Rite Aid’s Web site at www.riteaid.com.

Contacts
HealthMatters of Central Oregon:
Rebekah Favia, Executive & Development Coordinator, (541) 647-1765 rebekah@healthmattersco.org