Mendocino Community Health Clinic, Inc. (MCHC) has been awarded $498,333 in Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funds. The grant is earmarked to expand safety-net health services at its Lakeport facility, Lakeside Health Center.

HRSA, a bureau of the federal Health and Human Services Department, will support MCHC's efforts to add three medical providers, expand its ag worker health outreach program, increase crucial transportation services and expand Lakeside's psychotherapy department, affording an estimated 3,440 new patients increased access to much needed health care. As part of the total award, the grant provides $150,000 for capital improvements that will be used to build new exam rooms, a separate behavioral health unit, expand Lakeside's parking lot and revamp Lakeside's existing facility to accommodate more patients.

In a press release announcing the more than $19 million dollars in HRSA expansion grants awarded this August, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said, "These awards build on our (the government's) efforts to expand the safety net to more Americans who otherwise might not have access to care."

Lin Hunter, MCHC's President, said, "These funds are crucial to those Lake County residents who cannot find the health care they require. The health status of Lake County residents is deteriorating when compared with other California counties, and children especially have an especially difficult time accessing appropriate and timely health care. Transportation has been a significant barrier to accessing care in Lake County, and we are very pleased that the grant also gives us the opportunity to purchase a new van and offer expanded transportation services. It will have a significant and positive impact for our Lake County patients."

Building on the new project will begin almost immediately, and is scheduled for completion by late 2005. For more information about MCHC services, please call 468-1010.

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