Friday, December 27, 2024
12/27/2024
Project Title: Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (CPF/CDS): Facilities and/or Equipment Projects Applicant: Holyoke Health Center, Inc. Address: 230 Maple St. Holyoke MA 01041-6260 Project Director: Alejandro Esparza Perez, CEO Phone: 413 420 2110 Fax: 413 534 5416 E-Mail: Alejandro.esparza@hhcinc.org Web site www.hhcinc.org Funding requested: $1,000,000.00 Summary of Request: Holyoke Health Center (HHC) is requesting Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending funding for the renovation of the second floor of an existing building to house our newly developed Regional Health Professions Education and Training Center. Background: HHC is the only free-standing comprehensive health center in the greater Holyoke area with an onsite 340B pharmacy, primary medical care, and integrated oral health and behavioral health services. HHC’s service area is one of the most underserved areas in Massachusetts with the second highest percentage of its families living in poverty in the state, was ranked 14th out of 14 counties for health outcomes by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, has among the highest prevalence rates in the state of HIV, asthma, obesity and substance use disorder. Additionally our service area is home to the highest percentage of Latino-identified residents in the state at 48.4% and has one of the highest per capita percentage of Puerto Rican residents in the country, outside of Puerto Rico. Our patient population mirrors our service area population with over 72% of our patients receiving Medicaid and 64% of our patients identifying as Hispanic/Latino. Needs to be addressed: There is a critical need for expanding the pipeline for trained healthcare support staff in order to address the widespread vacancies which have impacted health care professions acutely since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. HHC is expanding our existing training programs and will include Dental Assistants, Med ical Assistants, Pharmacists, Registered Nurses and Family Nurse Practitioners. HHC needs adequate physical space for this enhanced workforce development center and will renovate the second floor of an adjacent building that HHC has acquired. Through the creation of a state of the art training center, HHC will focus on career growth for existing health care staff as well as training for individuals not currently employed in the health care sector. This will result in the availability of well-trained health care professionals to fill open job positions and sustain the healthcare workforce in the service area. Proposed services: HHC will renovate the 10,000 square foot second floor of the Steiger Building and create classrooms, mock exam rooms, lecture halls, a dental operatory for clinical practice, and create a state of the art training center to attract both new and existing healthcare professionals for career development and sustainability of the healthcare workforce in the service area. Objectives: HHC will renovate the second floor of the Steiger building: make necessary energy efficient updates and create three classrooms, two mock exam rooms, one lecture hall, two dental operatories, and nine offices which will house the Regional Health Professions Education and Training Center. Funding requested: $1,000,000.00
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).