Local health center raises funds to match $100K challenge grant from Looker CEO

Santa Cruz Community Health Centers (SCCHC), a leading nonprofit provider of high-quality, affordable and comprehensive health services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, today announced it has raised the funds to match a $100,000 challenge grant created in memory of Cecilia Rose Bien from her parents, Frank and Lorraine Bien. 

The $200,000 in donations will support the Center’s growing Pediatric Center of Excellence, serving low-income children of Santa Cruz County. A total of 75 of gifts ranging from $10 to $25,000 was raised in five months.

Frank Bien, CEO of Santa Cruz-based tech company Looker, established the challenge grant in May. Cecilia became a patient at SCCHC when her primary care pediatrician, Salem Magarian, MD, transitioned his entire clinic to the East Cliff Family Health Center in Live Oak in 2014.

At the onset of the challenge grant campaign, Bien said, “Santa Cruz Community Health Centers was instrumental in coordinating care across the health care system for Cecilia, and I’m excited to support their ongoing efforts to improve the lives of children in our community. SCCHC’s vision for an all-encompassing system of pediatric care for low-income children will ensure all kids have a healthy start to life and reach their full potential, building a stronger community for all of us.” 

 The Pediatric Center of Excellence is part of a comprehensive system of care to improve the lives of the more than 4,000 children served by SCCHC. Currently, 95 percent of the families served live at or below the poverty level and more than 180 of the children served are homeless.

 Consisting of three phases, development of a Pediatric Center of Excellence is entering Phase 2, which will increase services for at-risk children. Going forward, plans call for additional integration of specialty care, implementation of evidence-based models for children age birth-to-3, and greater attention on social factors like housing and food insecurity. The SCCHC is also innovating new ways to work with the Live Oak School District to serve shared students and patients.

“We’re so thankful for the combinedgenerosity of our community and the Bien family, which ensures we can serve thousands of beautiful kids as they grow,”said Leslie Conner, executive director of SCCHC. “These funds are an investment in our Pediatric Center of Excellence, so that all children, regardless of income or any other circumstance, have access to the care they need to reach their full potential.”

Pediatric Center for Excellence Development Timeline

Phase 1 – 2014 to current

• Patient Centered Medical Home (NCQA Level 3 Certified)
• Integrate Behavioral Health Services into pediatric primary care delivery
• Implement Team-Based Care
• Launch Stanford Developmental/Behavioral Health specialty access
• Help launch Live Oak Cradle to Career
• Launch pediatric complex care management
• Develop relationships, funding and community collaboration

Phase 2 – 2019-2020

• Plan and build new 18,000 square foot facility at 1500 Capitola Road, with Dientes and MidPen
• Evidence-based screenings to identify all needs (physical, emotional, cognitive, social) with associated pathways to address needs
• Implement Healthy Steps program (birth-to-three)
• Scale up: Community Care Team with Live Oak School District

Phase 3 – 2021-2025

• Open new facility including partnership with Dientes
• Expand pediatric specialties
• Implement Centering Pregnancy
• Expand Cradle to Career initiatives

About Santa Cruz Community Health Centers
Through the Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center and the East Cliff Family Health Center, Santa Cruz Community Health Centers (a Federally Qualified Health Center) provides comprehensive primary care services in English and Spanish to all ages, genders, ethnicities, abilities and sexual orientations, regardless of their ability to pay. Seeded by the Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center, SCCHC is driven by its originator’s 40-year commitment to social justice and access to health care as human right. Its mission remains constant: to provide quality health services and advocate the feminist goals of social, political, and economic equality. SCCHC’s health centers serve nearly 11,000 patients through a dedicated staff of medical providers, nurses, licensed clinical social workers, health educators, and administrative staff. SCCHC’s clinics offer primary care, pediatrics, prenatal care and education, mental health and substance abuse counseling, chronic disease management, health insurance enrollment, food distribution, and more. Learn more at schealthcenters.org, facebook.com/schealthcenters or on Instagram (@schealthcenters).

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