22 Recipients of Operation USA's November 1, 2006
3rd Round of Grants For The Gulf Coast    

Awesome Girls Mentoring Program

The Awesome Girls Mentoring Program, part of the St. Mark’s Community Center in New Orleans, LA, was created to improve the lives of community members through programs offering education, child development, guidance and counseling, recreation, vocational training and economic development.  The Awesome Girls Program has a proven track record of providing counseling services especially to at-risk adolescent girls.  Hurricanes Katrina and Rita dramatically increased the need for such programming.  Operation USA was able to provide over $18,000 in funding towards operating costs and development of age- and event-specific mental health programs.

Children’s Bureau of New Orleans

The Children’s Bureau of New Orleans (CBNO) was founded in 1892 to provide specialized programs for children and families in the greater New Orleans area, with an emphasis on mental health, child welfare and advocacy.  The devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was particularly acute for the children of New Orleans. CBNO has been a local leader in providing mental health care for children and families in low socio-economic status with pre-existing problems that were exacerbated by the devastation.  Operation USA provided over $59,000 towards the hiring of certified social worker to meet expanding caseloads as well as supplement the needs of the Awesome Girls Mentoring Program.

David Raines Community Health Centers

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, David Raines Community Health Centers (DRCHC) provided critical health services and aid to large evacuee population.  DRCHC continues to provide services to displaced populations unable to return home.  The area served suffers from shortages of health care providers in general and dental professionals in particular.  Furthermore, the client base is relatively immobile, all of which emphasize the need for improved health care access.  Operation USA was able to provide $50,000 to David Raines Community Health Centers towards the purchased of a mobile dental van that can also be used to provide a host of services during a disaster response.

EXCELth, Inc

The EXCELth Primary Care Network provides community-based primary and preventative health services across all lifestyles to citizens of New Orleans and, since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, of Baton Rouge.  Operation USA provided EXCELth with funds towards the operation of a mobile medical unit that serviced over 2,300 affected individuals in FEMA villages throughout the Baton Rouge area as well as populations in New Orleans. Recently, OpUSA provided $28,000 towards the funding of a much needed clinical staff mental health retreat.

Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center, Inc

Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center (IBCCHC), founded over 21 years ago, was a recipient of Operation USA funding in the immediate aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  New Iberia accepted over 3,000 displaced New Orleans residents, many of whom now rely on IBCCHC for primary health care.  Operation USA is currently funding an expanded disaster mental health and intervention program, focusing on the needs of individuals affected by the recent disasters as well as preparing for the next event.

Jefferson Community Healthcare Centers, Inc

After Katrina, Jefferson Community Healthcare Centers (JCHCC) provided more than 11,601 patient encounters.  Due to JCHCC’s proximity to New Orleans and the closure of the Charity Hospital system, they have seen a large number of evacuees and uninsured patients.  Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana estimates ~200,000 employees lost their private insurance as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Many patients that were serviced adopted the community health center as their primary medical home. JCHCC has absorbed 2 additional sites and will open a new 20,000 sq. ft clinic.  Operation USA has committed $100,000 towards the construction and operation of this new facility. The new clinic has a target population of 7,850 patient encounters annually. 

 Primary Care Providers for a Healthy Feliciana

Primary Care Providers for a Healthy Feliciana, a non-profit clinic providing medical, dental, and mental health services to the underserved, was able to accommodate a surge of patients and server demands immediately after the Hurricanes.  However, PCPHF did not have generators at either of its sites and lost power for prolonged periods of time, forcing it to close its doors and thus unable to provide necessary health services. Operation USA provided $28,000 to the clinic towards the purchase of two emergency generators.  The purchase and installation of emergency generators in clinics that have none ensures healthcare continuity of operations, satisfies a fundamental tenet of emergency management, and fosters the recognition that community clinics are true first responders to disasters.

 St. Charles Community Health Center

St. Charles Community Health Center, located in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area, targets populations that are at or below 200% of the Federal poverty guideline.  During the rebuilding phase following the Hurricanes, the Center has absorbed an estimated 50% increase in the Latino population.  To address the specific needs of women and children, Operation USA has provided St. Charles Community Health Center with $28,000 towards the operation of the Centering Pregnancy Program.  This program, focusing on assessment, education and support, is an evidence based intervention to reduce premature births and low weight babies, particularly in vulnerable populations.  This program will act as an extension of the clinic’s mandate to provide care to Katrina victims and underserved populations of Jefferson and Orleans Parishes.

St. Gabriel Health Clinic

The parishes served by St. Gabriel Health Clinic saw an influx of 2,000 evacuees.  However, only one dental provider currently services the Medicaid eligible population. None provide services to the uninsured or underinsured on a sliding fee or discounted basis.  Available providers are limited and the continued influx of evacuees from surrounding parishes has placed a tremendous burden on the LSU School of Dentistry, with wait times up to 3 ½ months for new appointments. SGHC will reduce the oral health disparity by opening a new dental clinic.  Operation USA provided St. Gabriel with $28,000 towards the purchase and installation of needed dental equipment.

St. Helena Community Health Center

In the weeks following the Hurricanes Katrina St. Helena Community Health Center served a surge of evacuees, not only dispensing medical care but also providing information, agency referrals, relief supplies, and emotional support.  SHCHC did not have a generator at their primary health center during the Hurricane Katrina event and lost power for a prolonged period of time.  To ensure St. Helena remains viable during the next emergency, Operation USA disbursed $28,000 towards the purchase and installation of emergency generators.

 St. Thomas Community Health Center 

St. Thomas is one of the few clinics to have reopened in New Orleans and continues to serve the needs of the Lower 9 th, Algiers-Fischer, and downtown area, all locations of chronically high poverty. Due to closure of the Charity Hospital system, St. Thomas has seen an overwhelming number of evacuees and uninsured patients. Many of the patients that were serviced immediately after Katrina adopted the community health center as their primary medical home. Operation USA is providing St. Thomas with $28,000 towards needed clinical staff salaries.

 Southwest Louisiana Center for Health Services, Inc

Amite County Medical Services, Inc

Amite County Medical Services (ACMS) currently provides the only medical and dental care to under- and uninsured individuals in Liberty and surrounding rural communities – communities that have received a large number of Hurricane evacuees. In an effort to aid ACMS in dealing with surge in patient number and service demands, Operation USA has released over $23,000 to fund nurse salaries.

Coastal Family Health Center

Coastal Family Health Center (CFHC), located in the greater Biloxi area, was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.  In the aftermath, they have served approximately 25,000 patients and evacuees directly impacted by the hurricanes. CFHC has absorbed and continues to provide services to affected communities without other clinic options. CFHC, under the leadership of Joe Dawsey (a recent recipient of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award), is a model program for disaster resilience, continuity of operations, efficient health care delivery, and clinic leadership.  Operation USA disbursed $100,000 towards clinical staff salaries to aid CFHC in meeting ongoing and future patient needs.

 Claiborne County Family Health Center

Claiborne County is one of the most impoverished counties in Mississippi, with approximately 60 percent of the population at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.  Like many clinics in the area, Claiborne County Family Health Center (CCFHC) has seen a dramatic increase in patients displaced by Hurricane Katrina.  To ensure CCFHC can provide critical healthcare services to its population, Operation USA has provided $14,000 towards the purchase of an emergency generator.

Family Health Center (Laurel)

Family Health Center (FHC) provides an array of primary care services, with an emphasis on maternal-child health.  During the Hurricane, FHC not only provided medical care, but also distributed vital relief supplies and served as a shelter for evacuees.  Located only 9 miles from the Gulf Coast was and remains in a high impact area and thus susceptible to prolonged power outages.  Operation USA has provided $18,960 towards the purchase and installation of an emergency power generator to increase FHC’s disaster reliance.

G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center

G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center (Carmichael) has four health centers located in the “GoZone” – an area of Mississippi heavily impacted by Katrina.  In the aftermath of the Hurricane, the clinics lost power for a prolonged period of time and were unable to provide needed services.  Once power was returned, the clinics saw massive surge in evacuees.  The clinics continue to provide medical and dental care displaced individuals.  Operation USA has provided Carmichael with over $23,000 towards the purchase and installation of emergency generators, providing the clinics with the ability to stay online during the inevitable power outages.

Greater Meridian Health Clinics

Greater Meridian Health Clinics (GMHC) are located in medically underserved areas of rural Mississippi, providing a wide variety of medical and social services to a chronically impoverished population. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, (GMHC) absorbed a number of evacuees and continues to provide services to displaced communities without other clinic options. To meet the complex needs of their clients, GMHC has developed a Model of Care for Health Disparities. To ease the strain on staff and resources and establish the Model, Operation USA has provided $48,500 towards clinical staff salaries.

 Greene Area Medical Extenders

Greene Area Medical Extenders (GAME) comprises two clinics and five public school clinics in southern Mississippi.  GAME, has a particular focus on childhood health issues.  Hurricane Katrina has exacerbated such chronic conditions as asthma, and childhood diabetes.  Furthermore, the resultant change in living conditions and loss of geographic and family stability has caused an increase in mental health issues.  Operation USA granted $28,000 to GAME for the hiring of a traveling school nurse to help promote better health care, referral services, prevention, and offer support to students, parents, and school staff.

 Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health (JHCH) remained operational and served as the reference clinic for patients and evacuees. JHCH has absorbed and continues to provide services to affected communities without other clinic options.  Many displaced individuals have now adopted JHCH as their primary source of health care. Expanded staff is needed to meet the overwhelming demand for services.  Operation USA has released over $65,000 towards the hiring of additional medical and mental health staff.

 Jefferson Comprehensive Health Center

Jefferson Comprehensive Health Center (JCHC) serves an area with over half of its population below the 200% federal poverty level.   Hurricane Katrina left the clinic without power, water, or phone service for 4 days, leading to a severe disruption in services provided.  In order to improve JCHC’s disaster resilience and prevent future service disruptions, Operation USA has granted $14,000 towards the purchase of an emergency generator.

 Mississippi Primary Health Care Association