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(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – County of Santa Barbara Health Department (County Health) has been awarded a California Community Reinvestment Grant (CalCRG) in the amount of $2.9M. The grant is funded through the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to help communities who have been disproportionately impacted by past government drug policies—also known as “The War on Drugs.”
Specifically, areas in Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Guadalupe have all been identified by the State CalCRG Program as areas that have been disproportionately impacted by the WOD. Santa Barbara County recently conducted two community health needs assessments (a regional assessment and a farmworker needs assessment) that revealed that 31% of regional participants did not have health insurance and 52% of farmworkers did not have health insurance. The grant funding will be utilized to focus on connecting priority populations with the healthcare and resources that they need. Identified priority populations include monolingual Latino communities, farmworkers, low income families and individuals, and people experiencing homelessness in Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Guadalupe.
Grant funds will be available throughout the funding period which starts in fiscal year 2025 and ends on May 31, 2028. County Health will use these funds toward efforts to increase treatment for substance use disorder, system navigation services, and linkages to medical care for community members in need in the North and Central County regions.
Specific deliverables for the grant include:
• Increasing the number of clients with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) who receive treatment for addiction through the Medication Assisted Treatment Program (MAT)
• Connecting clients to services that advance their economic, social, physical and emotional wellbeing
• Assisting clients with health care enrollment and access to primary care and wellness services
Additionally, County Health will launch a new initiative called “The Care Hub”, a gateway to identifying clients, assessing their need for services, and ensuring that the appropriate referrals are made for those services. The Care Hub will focus on connecting Santa Barbara County residents with the care and resources that they need. This includes assistance with health insurance, resources for children, finances, substance use treatment, food, housing, mental health, and system navigation.
If you or someone you know needs help with any of the above, please fill out the intake form through FindHelp: Care Hub Intake Form
About County Health
The County of Santa Barbara County Health Department (CHD), now celebrating 100 years of service to our community, is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of our community through education, prevention, and accessible healthcare services. Through a wide range of programs and services including disease control, maternal and child health, emergency preparedness, and clinical care, the department partners with individuals, families, and organizations to support wellness and prevent illness. Guided by our vision of Healthy People, Healthy Community, Healthy Environment, CHD strives to make the County of Santa Barbara a healthier and more resilient place for all residents.
CalCRG acknowledgement:
Activities described in this press release were supported in whole or part by the California Community Reinvestment Grants program within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
