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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Contact: Darryl Rutherford, RSSC, (530) 220-0305, drutherford@rsscoalition.org;
Tammy Shaff, Dignity Health, (209) 467-6534, Tammy.Shaff@dignityhealth.org;
Colleen Flynn, BHPN, (415) 590-3034 ext. 6, cflynn@buildhealthyplaces.org
Stockton, CA – Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center recently announced a $130,000 investment to transform health outcomes and advance equity in a community that is recovering from decades of inequitable resources and health outcomes, including high rates of diabetes, heart disease, and COVID-19 infection, and where more than 40 percent of residents live in poverty. The grant, the first in Stockton for Dignity Health’s Social Innovation Partnership Grant (SIPG) program, will increase access to stable, affordable housing; health care; education; and community-serving facilities in the Fairview Terrace neighborhood of South East Stockton over the next year. This neighborhood-level investment model could then be replicated in other areas of Stockton and elsewhere.
Dignity Health’s SIPG investment in the Transform Fairview Terrace initiative will bring new resources and collaboration to a community of about 2,000 homes where 41 percent of households live in poverty, including more than half the children; 44 percent of residents lack a high school diploma; 68 percent of renters have a high housing cost burden; and 69 percent of residents depend on Medi-Cal for health coverage. Obesity, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions that elevate the severity of risk brought on by COVID-19 are prevalent. The new grant, administered by Reinvent South Stockton Coalition and Build Healthy Places Network, will support nonprofit organizations and their partners as they establish a long-term investment plan for the Fairview Terrace neighborhood that will attract millions of dollars of resources to address these social needs By investing in these “upstream” social determinants of health, individual and population health outcomes and quality of life will improve over time.
Former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs said, “Dignity Health has been a longtime, dedicated partner helping to make Stockton a healthier community both as a medical service provider and as a grantmaker. Their investment in Fairview Terrace is a commitment towards improving our city and supporting a better quality of life for our residents.”
Through the Transform Fairview Terrace initiative, the project partners will engage community residents in developing strategies for affordable housing and other investment in their neighborhoods. Partners will also present these plans to the City of Stockton and private investors to spark interest in bringing more housing and amenities to Fairview Terrace.
“Through the Social Innovation Partnership Grant, Dignity Health is investing in transforming the health of this neighborhood in Stockton, through supporting innovative upstream strategies that advance health equity,” said Tammy Shaff, Director of Community Health at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center. “This is especially important as COVID has exposed enormous health disparities in communities like Fairview Terrace.”
The Reinvent South Stockton Coalition (RSSC) will engage the Fairview Terrace community in shaping the future of their neighborhood. RSSC Executive Director Darryl Rutherford said, “We thank Dignity Health for their investment in the health of this neighborhood. By including residents in an inclusive planning process, we can support them to advocate for the right investments and housing choices for their own community.”
The Build Healthy Places Network (BHPN) will provide guidance and support to bolster existing efforts based on national practices. This includes advancing cross-sector partnerships and curating healthcare, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), investors, and others who can build and sustain neighborhood revitalization efforts that address racial and health equity. “BHPN is thrilled to partner with Dignity Health, RSSC, and a constellation of other partners as we work toward our vision: communities where all people can live prosperous and healthy lives,” said Colleen Flynn, Director of National Program at Build Healthy Places Network.
About
The Reinvent South Stockton Coalition empowers the residents of South Stockton to transform their community through strategic programs and partnerships that improve safety, education, housing, job creation, and health. Over the past six years, RSSC and more than 60 cross-sector partners have built a community-led collective impact project focused on rebuilding trust and creating a continuum of support in the neighborhoods of our city most impacted by historic underinvestment and persistent poverty.
Build Healthy Places Network’s mission is to shift the way organizations work across the health, community development, and finance sectors to collectively advance equity, reduce poverty, and improve health in neighborhoods across the United States.