The Children and Families Commission of Orange County Continues Funding to Ensure Children Have Access to High-Quality Pediatric Health Care at 12 Community Clinics
Irvine, Calif., February 7, 2013 – The Children and Families Commission of Orange County approved $2 million to support community clinics that provide high-quality pediatric health care services to the county’s at-risk children. The major investment of funds underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensure that underserved children have regular access to comprehensive, community-based health care and extends its history of financial support to pediatric clinics that began in 2003.
“Our mission is to ensure that all children are healthy and ready to succeed when they enter school,” said Sandra Barry, chair of the Children and Families Commission of Orange County. “These pediatric clinics provide a critical safety net for our community and play an important role in our collective efforts to meet the health care needs of Orange County’s most at-risk and vulnerable children.”
The funding allocated to the community clinics continues to expand access for children 0-5 years of age, including primary care and specialty care services.
In addition to receiving operating funds from the $2 million, the El Sol Science and Arts Academy is the recipient of catalytic capital funds for construction of a new clinic/wellness center. These funds are part of a matching grant with the Children’s First Initiative. The agreement with El Sol requires that health care services be provided to children under the age of six for a period of 10 years beginning February 2013.
“The continued commitment by the Children and Families Commission has helped to make the community clinic at El Sol a reality,” said Monique Daviss, executive director of the El Sol Science and Arts Academy. “Our partnership with the Commission will help ensure that children in our community receive the health care they need in order to be ready to learn and take advantage of the opportunities provided at El Sol.”
About the Children and Families Commission of Orange County
The Children and Families Commission of Orange County oversees the allocation of funds from Proposition 10, which added a 50-cent tax on tobacco products sold in California. Almost $29 million was allocated last year to fund 161 programs that served more than 136,000 young children. Funds help pay for early education, pediatric primary and specialty health care, children’s dental, homeless prevention, and child development programs for children from the prenatal stage to age 5 and their families. The Commission’s goal is to ensure all children are healthy and ready to learn when they enter school. For more information, please visit www.first5oc.org.