Through this proposal, Westside Family Healthcare (WFH) is requesting $1,000,000 for the 2022-2023 grant period. Serving more than 247,000 individuals annually, WFH has extensive knowledge and a long history of experience and success in providing primary and preventative care to diverse patient populations, particularly those with low-income. In operation since 1988, WFH's mission is to improve the health of our communities by providing equal access to quality healthcare, regardless of ability to pay. WFH is proud to have been awarded the HHS Navigator grant every cycle since 2015. WFH is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization receiving federally qualified health center (FQHC) status in 1994. WFH receives Section 330(e) and Section 330(g) US Public Health Service funds to provide services in each of Delaware's three counties and the special population of migrant and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs) in Kent and western Sussex Counties. WFH operates five clinical delivery sites and one mobile health unit caring for more than 27,000 patients annually with nearly 30% of patients who are uninsured.
WFH proposes to maintain outreach and enrollment efforts by deploying 12 FTE Navigators statewide. The program team will assist consumers in navigating the Health Insurance Marketplace, support Medicaid/CHIP unwinding, provide education on consumer protections, and help consumers find the most affordable coverage to meet their needs. WFH will employ 12 FTE Navigators in the 2022-2023 grant period under this Cooperative Agreement. The Navigators will provide assistance in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties. Nine full time Navigators will be hired, trained, certified, and meeting deliverables by October 1, 2022. An additional three full time Navigators will be hired, trained, certified, and meeting deliverables after January 16, 2023. WFH will hire Navigator staff members who are proficient in English and a language that best represents the community served. Funding through this application will support outreach and in-reach capacity in the targeted high-need communities of Wilmington, Newark, Bear/New Castle, Middletown in New Castle County; Smyrna, Dover, Milford and Harrington in Kent County; and Milton, Georgetown, Laurel, Frankford, and Seaford in Sussex County. WFH will expand outreach efforts to reach an estimated 30,000 uninsured Delawareans by leveraging partnerships with local hospital systems, trade associations, local government agencies and nonprofit institutions. Grassroots tactics will be utilized to disseminate information across various cost-effective digital mediums. Consumers will have access to in-person and virtual enrollment assistance.