Wednesday, May 21, 2025
5/21/2025
Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - ABSTRACT Project Title: FY 2024 RWHAP Part C Capacity Development Program Applicant: Omni Family Health Address: 4900 California Avenue, Suite B, Bakersfield, CA 93309 Phone#: 661-459-1900 Fax#: 661-459-1944 E-mail: grantsdepartment@omnifamilyhealth.org Web Site: www.OmniFamilyHealth.org Summary of Request: Since 1978, Omni Family Health has been serving vulnerable and impoverished communities in the southern end of California’s San Joaquin Valley, improving access to essential healthcare services for thousands of residents who would otherwise be unable to afford care. Omni Family Health (Omni) is a Joint Commission accredited, federally qualified health center (FQHC) organization that provides comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral, and preventative health services through a network of thirty-eight federally funded medical facilities serving residents of Fresno, Kings, Kern, and Tulare Counties. Omni requests funding under the 2) Infrastructure Development category, using the “Dental Equipment for Expanding Dental Service Capacity” activity. Under this Capacity Development Program, Omni will expand dental capacity by purchasing dental equipment for an HIV Dental Center, which will serve PLWH and low-income, underserved residents in the community of East Bakersfield in Kern County. The dental facility has the capacity to support 2 FTE dental providers and support staff and will enable the organization to meet the dental health needs of many more new dental patients annually. The organization is requesting a funding preference based on Qualifications: 1) Rural Areas and 2) Underserved. Target Population and Need: There are approximately 1,088,893 residents, of which more than 43.39% (455,174 residents) are considered low-income. The area suffers from a shortage of dental care providers who serve vulnerable populations, including PLWH, uninsured residents, and residents relying on public insurance such as denti-cal (Medicaid). The proposed site is strategically located in an area that has been designated as a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area in order to ensure access where the need is the greatest. There are an estimated 2,345 Kern County residents living with HIV. Low-income uninsured and underinsured HIV-positive residents are particularly vulnerable and have great difficulty in gaining access to oral health care; access problems are exacerbated by lack of financial resources, lack of health insurance, geographical barriers, and a longstanding stigma attached to HIV-positive status. Proposed Activities and Funding Request: Omni is requesting a maximum amount of $150,000 over the one-year project period. Funds will allow the organization to ensure PLWH and low-income residents in Kern County have access to integrated, high-quality oral health care services delivered by oral health care professionals experienced in the provision of dental services for HIV-positive patients. Omni has self-funded the construction of a state of the art health center in East Bakersfield, which suffers from a significant shortage of dental providers. This project will build on Omni’s previous project funded under this activity category by expanding the reach of the program and adding dental capacity in an additional underserved community. The co-location of a HIV Dental Center with primary care at the health center will help improve access and referrals, helping to maintain good physical, oral, and mental health for people living with aids, improving their quality of life and retention in care.
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).