Tuesday, May 6, 2025
5/6/2025
Health Center Program - Organization: Vecino Health Centers (Vecino) is a community-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization granted Federally Qualified Health Center status in July 2007. The organization was incorporated in 1999 to improve access to primary care in the Denver Harbor/Port Houston area. In 2008, Vecino expanded its service area and established a new health center site in the Northline area of Houston. In 2017, Vecino further expanded its reach and included six new school-based mental health sites. Community and Target Population: The service area is comprised of 25 ZIP Codes in the northeast of Houston/Harris County (Houston). The target population is defined as all individuals in the service area with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, especially individuals who are uninsured, undocumented, underinsured, and other low-income persons seeking comprehensive health and enabling services. Census data show that among the target area, 70% of those living in poverty are Latino of any race, and 30% are non-Hispanic, mostly African American families living in poverty. This demographic composition mirrors the Vecino patient population where 84% are Latino of any race and 16% are non-Latino, mainly African American patients. While the uninsured rate in the county is 24% there are sectors in the target area with an overall insurance rate of over 30%, residents with insurance are mostly through government-sponsored coverage (Medicaid/Medicare). Among the Vecino adult patient population, the uninsured rate is up to 50%, and among prenatal patients in recent program years have been as high as 90% (although Vecino assists them in obtaining temporary prenatal coverage through Medicaid/CHIP). Health care needs: Affordability has been cited by residents as a top barrier to care. Families in the service area have higher incidences of health disparities relative to regional and national benchmarks that can be addressed through community-based primary care services. Some of these indicators include higher incidence of diabetes, obesity (adults and children), and hypertension, as well as high social vulnerability indexes including risk factors for child maltreatment among school-age children, and low life expectancy (especially among male residents). Poor maternal-infant health outcomes are prevalent in the region among African American and Latino families. Health care services to be provided: Vecino provides integrated health and enabling services, including medical, counseling/mental health, and dental health services for children adults, and seniors. These services include clinical and enabling services to improve maternal-infant health outcomes through a continuum of care (prenatal-postnatal-preconception), support services, and health education. Vecino also provides a growing point-of-care line of services including diagnostic laboratory, and X-rays. Ultrasound, and pharmacy. Enabling services include case management for eligibility, referrals, social services to address non-medical drivers of health such as food insecurity and transportation, health literacy and value-added services such as the Child Passenger Safety program (car seat), and care coordination for chronic disease management (including clinical pharmacy and patient education). SAAT Identification (ID) number: 299 City and state of the proposed service area: Houston, Texas Total unduplicated patients in 2023 (UDS): 12,039 Total unduplicated patients projected: 12,519 by FY 2026 and 12,784 by FY 2028
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).