Dignity Health’s Greater Sacramento Market Awards $1.3M in Community Health Grants to Local Non-Profit Organizations

Sacramento, Calif., June 22, 2026 – Dignity Health’s Greater Sacramento Market, encompassing Mercy Hospital Folsom, Mercy General Hospital, Mercy San Juan Medical Center, Methodist Hospital of Sacramento and Woodland Memorial Hospital, is proud to announce it has awarded $1,338,675 in funding to 14 unique community nonprofit partnerships serving Sacramento and Yolo counties.

These grants, part of the CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants program, are specifically designed to address pressing health disparities and significantly enhance the health and well-being of vulnerable and underserved populations in our community. Funding priorities for this cycle were identified in the hospitals' 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment and include: Access to Resources, Access to Care, Behavioral Health, and Chronic Disease Prevention and Management.

“These investments reflect our continued commitment to building healthier communities across the Greater Sacramento region,” said Dr. Tina Johnson, Sacramento Market President for Dignity Health. “We know that health is shaped by more than clinical care and by partnering with local organizations, we are helping expand access to essential services and address the underlying factors that impact the well-being of our neighbors."

The Community Health Improvement Grant program is an integral part of Dignity Health's broader commitment to investing in our communities. In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, Dignity Health contributed an impressive $263 million to cultivate healthier and more equitable societies across the entire Greater Sacramento market.

Partner Perspectives on Impact

• “We’re proud to partner with Dignity Health to bring the Health Hive’s preventive care and wellness services directly into underserved communities across the region,” said Sacramento State College of Health and Human Services Associate Dean Robert Pieretti. “This work not only expands access to care, but also provides hands-on experience for our students, helping prepare the next generation of health professionals to better understand and address barriers to care.”

• “Students in western Yolo County face significant barriers to accessing mental health care, particularly in Latino farmworker communities,” said Laura Guevara of Rural Innovations in Social Economics, Inc. “With Dignity Health’s support, we’re bringing culturally responsive, bilingual, and trauma-informed services directly into schools, helping to reduce disparities and support students and families.” 

This year, the Dignity Health Community Health Improvement grants were awarded to the following 14 local community-based organizations:

1. Access to care

Enhanced telephone reassurance and access to essential services: ACC will integrate and enhance three core programs, CHAT Telephone Reassurance, Senior Escort (SEP), and Rides transportation to augment mental health support, chronic disease prevention, and access to essential services for seniors and adults with disabilities. This initiative will be driven by an expanded, cross-trained volunteer base, meeting the rising demands for connection and community resources. Building upon CHAT's success, 2026 enhancements will include trauma-informed training and the introduction of peer support groups. To address transportation and active living barriers, new volunteers will serve as door-through-door Rides escorts and SEP companions, thereby boosting capacity and promoting physical activity.

• Lead organization: Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley Inc., dba ACC Senior Services 

• Collaborators: Meals on Wheels Sacramento County, Society for the Blind, Resources for Independent Living (RIL), Agency on Aging Area 4 (AAA4)

• Grant award: $100,000

Senior connection program: The Sacramento Aging and Disability Resource Connection (SADRC) is a collaborative effort among the Agency on Aging Area 4 (AAA4), Resources for Independent Living (RIL), and ACC Senior Services (ACC) working together with a community network of public, private and nonprofit agencies. The project entails the implementation of two primary enhancements to its service delivery model. First, a technology-enabled, closed-loop system will be used to standardize and streamline referral intake and triage for individuals, facilitating their connection to Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) resources. This initiative leverages existing SDoH referral expertise and the platform's capacity for cross-sector standardization. The second enhancement will be to incorporate community-based case management to deliver intensive, person-centered support alongside the referral process. 

• Lead organization: Agency on Aging Area 4

• Collaborators: Resources for Independent Living (RIL), and Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley Inc., dba ACC Senior Services 

• Grant award: $100,000

Paths to healing: Rural Victim Advocacy Program: The Rural Victim Advocacy Program will expand trauma-informed services for crime survivors in underserved Western Yolo County. A dedicated Rural Victim Advocate will provide crisis response, safety planning, case management and ongoing advocacy, ensuring equitable access to justice. Partnering with RISE Inc. and leveraging local law enforcement referrals, the program will offer a safe, accessible point of contact and comprehensive wraparound services. Services remain voluntary and independent of law enforcement reporting, building trust and affirming survivor autonomy. This initiative will improve access, safety and resilience for rural communities.

• Lead organization: Empower Yolo

• Collaborators: Rural Innovations in Social Economics, Inc. (Rise Inc.), Yolo County Sheriff's Office, Yolo County District Attorney's Office, Winters Police Department

• Grant award: $100,000

Folsom Lake College MESA Program: Building on its successful launch, Folsom Lake College's Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA) program empowers first-generation and historically excluded STEM students, to diversify the workforce and advance equity. MESA provides comprehensive academic resources, mentorship, professional development, and a nurturing community, including a dedicated study center, tutoring, transfer support, academic counseling and wellness activities. Enhanced partnerships with the El Dorado County Office of Education, Folsom Cordova Unified School District, and the CSUS Black Honors College will broaden student access to additional opportunities.

• Lead organization: Los Rios Colleges Foundation

• Collaborators: CSU Sacramento/Black Honors College, El Dorado CountyOffice of Education, and Folsom Cordova Unified School District

• Grant award: $100,000

2. Access to resources

Pathways to access: Partnering with Community Against Sexual Harm (CASH) and SAFE Credit Union, City of Refuge Sacramento will address critical needs for low-income Sacramento families by providing essential services, system navigation, and long-term stability for individuals.. This project integrates immediate drop-in services and trauma-informed mental health support with comprehensive housing, job readiness, and financial literacy education.

• Lead organization: City of Refuge Sacramento

• Collaborators: Community Against Sexual Harm (CASH), and SAFE Credit Union

• Grant award: $100,000
  

Recovery Cafe Services Expansion: Mercy Coalition West Sacramento will expand its distinctive Recovery Cafe model to address the critical need for mental health supportive services among its trauma-impacted population. This initiative will generate an additional 1,300 annual visits, engaging over 200 individuals with daily meals, weekly support groups, job training, systems navigation, and health education via the School for Recovery. The Recovery Cafe West Sacramento, central to Mercy's Mosaic Village, provides a safe, supportive environment for individuals affected by mental health disorders, homelessness, substance use disorders, domestic violence, incarceration, and other traumas. The 2026 year will include expansion of Saturday operating hours with food services, enhanced case management, and broader educational offerings at the School for Recovery.

• Lead organization: Mercy Coalition of West Sacramento

• Collaborators: City of West Sacramento, Yolo Food Bank, Community Lutheran Church, and Yolo Cares

• Grant award: $98,000
  

North Sacramento HART: The North Sacramento Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART), provides weekly respite services to unhoused individuals in North Sacramento's economically depressed Del Paso Heights and Arcade areas. Operating from Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, North Sacramento HART offers hot breakfast, clothing, hygiene kits, bus passes and to-go lunches, plus full holiday meals. Funded expansion will extend operating hours and days, and include two annual Community Health Fairs.

• Lead organization: North Sacramento HART

• Collaborators: Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Neighborhood Wellness, Hope Cooperative, City Net Homeless Services

• Grant award: $60,000

Wind Youth Services: Community Health Collaborative: This initiative addresses critical housing instability, homelessness and barriers to service access for Sacramento County's unhoused transitional age youth (12-24). This demographic faces exacerbated risks of chronic health issues and long-term homelessness due to inadequate housing, healthcare and employment opportunities. A collaboration among Wind Youth Services, One Community Health, and Juma Ventures will deliver a comprehensive continuum of integrated services. This includes: housing and case management, medical, behavioral and dental care, employment readiness, financial literacy and workforce training.

• Lead organization: Wind Youth Services

• Collaborators: One Community Health, and Juma Ventures

• Grant award: $100,000

3. Chronic disease prevention and treatment

Health Education Council, school-based wellness hub: The Health Education Council (HEC), in collaboration with the Robla School District (RSD) and Common Good Community (CGC), will enhance its school-based wellness model to address chronic disease risk and mental health needs. This will involve culturally relevant case management, linkages to health and mental health providers and referrals for social determinants of health needs. Wellness education will feature evidence-based curricula, structured nutrition/physical activity programs, family engagement, peer support and stigma reduction activities. HEC will provide multi-lingual wellness workshops and case management to anticipated Medi-Cal enrolled parents and students.

• Lead organization: Health Education Council

• Collaborators: Robla School District (RSD), and CommonGood Community (CGC)

• Grant award: $100,000
  

Health Hive at Sacramento State: The Sacramento State Center for Health Practice, Policy, and Research (CHPPR) Health Hive is a mobile, community-centered initiative dedicated to reducing health inequities and promoting well-being in the Greater Sacramento Region. It delivers evidence-based services directly to underserved communities lacking access to care, uniting Sacramento State students, staff, and faculty. The Health Hive model integrates academia, student experience, and community engagement to foster wellness and train future health professionals. It offers tailored preventive screenings and wellness services including hearing, speech, pre-diabetes checks, fitness, exercise education, foot care, childhood literacy, domestic violence education, and mental health resources; through direct services, outreach, and education, removing barriers, enabling early intervention, and building community trust.

• Lead organization: University Foundation at Sacramento State

• Collaborators: First Step Communities, ACC Senior Services, Cordova Community Council, and School of Nursing College of Health & Human Services

• Grant award: $100,000

4. Mental Health and Substance Use

Older Adult Peer to Peer Program: This project empowers SeniorLink graduates (55+) in Sacramento County, who are at risk of isolation, depression and anxiety, to become peer supporters for current participants. By recognizing older adults as active contributors whose leadership fosters stronger social connections, reduces behavioral health challenges and promotes resilience. Graduates will engage with new participants through group engagements, check-ins, and outreach, leveraging partnerships with senior living communities.

• Lead organization: El Hogar Community Services, Inc.

• Collaborators: Health Education Council (HEC), and Eskaton Senior Living

• Grant award: $100,000

Bridging the Gap: Mental Health Access for Rural Students: The Bridging the Gap: Mental Health Access for Rural Students Initiative targets rising anxiety, depression, and trauma among students in western Yolo County, particularly Latino farmworker families, who face significant barriers to care. In partnership with Esparto Unified and Winters Joint Unified School Districts, RISE Inc. will embed culturally responsive, bilingual, trauma-informed services directly into schools. Key components include individual/group counseling, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) sessions, parent/caregiver workshops to reduce stigma and connect families to resources, and teacher/staff training on trauma-informed practices and referral pathways. This initiative will reduce access disparities, build community resilience and establish a sustainable mental health foundation for rural students.

• Lead organization: Rural Innovations in Social Economics, Inc. (Rise Inc.)

• Collaborators: Esparto Unified School District, and Winters Joint Unified School District

• Grant award: $100,000

Adjustment to Blindness Counseling: The Adjustment to Blindness Mental Health Project provides essential emotional and mental health support for individuals experiencing vision loss. This initiative offers individual and group counseling sessions in multiple languages, including English, Spanish and Chinese. Recognizing that vision loss can profoundly impact independence, confidence, and mental well-being, leading to isolation, depression and substance misuse.This project facilitates acceptance, future envisioning, and engagement in blindness skills training and assistive technology. Early intervention for older adults with cognitive issues is also provided to prevent medical emergencies. Ultimately, the project offers a secure and supportive environment for processing loss, rebuilding mental health and restoring self-confidence.

• Lead organization: Society for the Blind

• Collaborators: H.O.P.E Counseling, and CA Agencies for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CAABVI)

• Grant award: $80,675

Native Youth and Families Behavioral Health Project: This project addresses the critical need for mental and behavioral health and substance use services among Indigenous youth and families in the Del Paso Heights/North Sacramento area. The initiative implements a multi-pronged, community and family-based substance use prevention program, emphasizing youth development, Indigenous cultural education, arts instruction and mentoring. This programming expands upon successful past initiatives, including a community garden and cultural learning activities. By fostering community resilience and promoting positive health practices, this initiative also aims to mitigate gang involvement and violence.

• Lead organization: Youth Forward

• Collaborators: Reaching Back to Youth, and Visionary Collective

• Grant award: $100,000

Dignity Health Honors Thriving Pink with Inaugural Community Partnership Impact Award

Dignity Health is proud to announce its recognition of Thriving Pink with the inaugural Community Partnership Impact Award. This honor acknowledges Thriving Pink's exceptional program, Thriving Pink ProsperROSA: A Collaborative Breast Cancer Outreach, Education and Program Model.

The Thriving Pink ProsperROSA program addresses a critical need for breast cancer education, screening, and support among Latina individuals in Yolo County. A cornerstone of this initiative is the deployment of Tu Historia Cuenta, an evidence-based promotores program. This model effectively connects high-risk individuals with essential screening services, facilitating early detection and intervention.

Thriving Pink further extends its impact by providing comprehensive support, navigation, and resources to breast cancer patients and survivors. Thriving Pink's approach is deeply rooted in cultural competency, with a dedicated focus on women, caregivers and families. The organization consistently honors and respects the cultural norms of the community.

This award underscores Dignity Health's commitment to fostering impactful community partnerships that address critical health disparities and enhance well-being within the communities it serves.

About CommonSpirit Health

Inspired by faith. Driven by innovation. Powered by humankindness. CommonSpirit Health is building a healthier future for all through its integrated health services. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic healthcare organizations, CommonSpirit Health delivers more than 20 million patient encounters annually through more than 2,300 clinics, care sites and 138 hospital-based locations, in addition to its home-based services and virtual care offerings. CommonSpirit has more than 160,000 employees, 45,000 nurses and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice providers across 24 states and contributes more than $5 billion annually in charity care, community benefits, and unreimbursed government programs. Together with our patients, physicians, partners, and communities, we are creating a more just, equitable, and innovative healthcare delivery system. Learn more at commonspirit.org.