$1.75 million allocated in discretionary funds for local health organizations

Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis announced this week at a press conference that over $1.75 million in discretionary funds have been allocated toward community-based health organizations in her district. 

Five organizations received $250,000 and a sixth received $500,000 to support renovation and construction of the new Baldwin Park Health Center. The East Los Angeles Women’s Health Center is another organization that received funding. 

“This funding will allow us to create pathways for families who have been impacted by trauma, domestic violence [and] sexual violence, at [a] time funding has been drastically cut.” said Barbara Kappos, Executive Director, East Los Angeles Women’s Health Center. 

The full list of recipients include: 

• $250,000 to Chinatown Service Center to expand dental health services in Hacienda Heights.

• $250,000 to East Valley Community Health Center to support school-based health services in Rowland Unified, Hacienda La Puente Unified and Bassett Unified school districts.

• $250,000 to East Los Angeles Women’s Center to support nourishment and healing programs led by promotoras for families impacted by domestic violence.

• $500,000 to El Proyecto del Barrio to support renovation and construction of the new Baldwin Park Health Center.

• $250,000 to JWCH Institute to expand dental health services in Hacienda Heights.

• $250,000 to SPIRITT Family Services to expand mental health services for residents in Avocado Heights, Pellissier Village, Bassett and South Whittier.

Solis said the funds come at a time of uncertainty over massive federal funding cuts and changes to Medicaid, also known as Medi-Cal in California. Those cuts and changesare part of the federal budget bill, H.R. 1, officially known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." 

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, many medical facilities and clinics depend on Medi-Cal as their main source of revenue in order to support doctors, staff and maintain daily operations. 

Approximately 3.2 million Los Angeles County residents rely on Medi-Cal for health coverage, including nearly one-quarter of beneficiaries in the First District.

Other changes, prompted by H.R.1, include coverage losses for vulnerable populations, which greatly impact immigrant communities statewide and across the nation.

County officials estimate approximately 1.5 million residents could lose Medi-Cal coverage by 2027 because of these changes.

“Our community-based providers are often the first and most trusted line of support for families in need, and they are facing increasing pressure as demand rises.” Solis said. “This funding strengthens their ability to deliver critical physical, mental and preventive health services across the First District."