Community health benefits from grants

DAYTON—Columbia, Asotin and Garfield counties will share an award in the amount of $110,000 from Greater Columbia Accountable Communities of Health to be spent on social determinants of need, said Columbia County Public Health Care Director Martha Lanman, last week.

Lanman said Columbia County’s share is $58,763 and the award will be split between the County Health Department and Columbia County Health System (CCHS).

Of that share, $10,013.96 will benefit the public health department’s insurance navigation program, signing people up for Medicaid and the Health Benefits Exchange program, $18,000 will be used to provide mental health services for youth in the Dayton School District, $23,750 will help CCHS purchase a transportation van and $7,000 is available to help people with transportation needs get to their medical appointments.

“It’s a good little bit of money for many medical needs,” Lanman said.

The three counties will also share a $100,000 federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant.

“This is a planning grant assessing available health care resources and defining key telehealth and care coordinating services across health care systems,” Lanman said. “In other words, assessing health care gaps, and writing a plan to fix them.”

Lanman said she has also submitted an application for $5,000 through Columbia REA, for kitchen repairs at the Starbuck school, and she has submitted an application to the Blue Mountain Community Discretionary Fund for a $15,500 award to expand lunches, from two days, to four days a week, during the upcoming school year.

“The kitchen has some needed repairs before it can be certified. I can’t apply to OSPI (Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction) until the kitchen is fixed,” she said.

She also said more community health dollars are coming on July 15.

“We’re working hard for better health care in our community,” said Lanman.

Lanman is Vice-president of the Board of the Greater Columbia Accountable Communities of Health and the administrator for the Southeast Washington Accountable Communities of Health.