Orange County’s 34 cities have until Monday to express interest in a new $5.2 million CalOptima Health grant program aimed at funding community health and wellness projects, it was announced Friday.
The City Health Improvement Grant Program, recently approved by the CalOptima Health Board of Directors, will provide funding for projects intended to encourage physical activity, create safer public spaces, expand access to preventive health care and address other community health needs.
Cities must submit a letter of interest by Monday and a full proposal by Oct. 30, according to CalOptima Health.
“We want to give cities across Orange County the resources and opportunity to be active partners in improving the health of our members,” said Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, chairman of the CalOptima Health Board of Directors. “This program supports a wide range of initiatives that can promote health and well-being, from park shade structures and improved recreational spaces to healthy food access, physical activity and other efforts that address community health needs. By working together, we can expand our reach and create healthier communities throughout Orange County.”
Eligible projects fall into four categories: community wellness infrastructure, preventive health access, food and mental health supports, and environmental and climate health.
The program is intended to support projects including recreational spaces and park shade structures, early detection of chronic diseases, access to healthy food and mental health support, and efforts to reduce environmental health risks, officials said.
“Health is shaped by much more than what happens in a doctor’s office,” CalOptima Health Chief Operating Officer Yunkyung Kim said. “The places where people live, work and gather have a significant impact on their well-being. Through this program, we are making upstream investments in cities to strengthen the conditions that support good health — creating safer, healthier environments and expanding community resources that help Medi-Cal members thrive.”
Officials said funding allocations will be based on the number of CalOptima Health Medi-Cal members living in each city and the percentage of each city’s population made up of members.
The program will be funded through previously allocated intergovernmental funds, according to CalOptima Health.
CalOptima Health provides health care coverage to more than 806,000 low-income children, adults, seniors and people with disabilities in Orange County.