Beating the Summer Heat & Staying Safe

DW Admin on July 31, 2020

Are you spending any time outdoors this summer? Summer is usually a time when most of us like going outside more often. However, due to COVID-19, for many who planned on heading to the beach, theme parks or participating in outdoor sports and birthday parties at the park, it’s going to take some creativity for fun in the sun this year. So, while you are getting creative with your summer activities, there are ways to keep yourself and your family cool and safe when outdoors.

I’d like to share a few summer safety tips with you, as you plan your outings with family.

  • First and foremost, if you decide to go anywhere (indoors or outdoors), please remember to maintain physical distancing by keeping at least 6 feet between yourself and others and wear a cloth face covering (mask), as mandated by the State of Texas
  • Limit your risk of getting the virus by trying to reduce the number of places you visit
  • Wash your hands with soap and water often; use hand sanitizer when necessary
  • Try ordering food and other items for home delivery or curbside pickup, if possible
  • Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated – health experts recommend drinking 16 to 32 ounces of water every hour when outside for longer periods of time. Also, staying hydrated can help prevent heat stroke
  • Dress for the heat by wearing loose, light-colored clothing, as well as a hat
  • Never leave a child or pet inside a hot vehicle, not even for a second. Temperatures inside of a vehicle can reach up to 116 degrees. Since 1998, at least 856 children across the U.S. have died from heatstroke while unattended in a vehicle.
  • Don’t walk your dog when temperatures are high. Keep in mind that asphalt (pavement) can get very hot during the summer and can burn a dog’s paw pads, causing severe burns and pain. In addition, walking your dog during hot temperatures can cause heat stroke. Try taking your dog for shorter walks early in the morning or later in the evening, when temperatures are lower

If you plan on grilling your meals outside, which is very popular in South Texas, be sure to do it safely. Did you know that grilling fires spark more than 10,000 home fires on average each year? Practice prevention with the following tips.

  • Always supervise a barbecue grill when using it. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid, once coals have already been ignited
  • Never grill indoors—that includes the house, camper, tent or any enclosed area. Be sure to keep the grill away from your home or anything that could catch fire
  • Make certain that everyone, including children and pets, are not close to the hot grill
  • Use long-handled grilling tools, especially those made specifically for cooking on grills

So, as you plan your summer outings, please be mindful of your surroundings and try to incorporate some fun but safe activities with your family. Stay safe and healthy!

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Legislative Interim Updates, July 28

DW Admin on July 28, 2020

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In this issue:

Federal Updates

State Updates

View our 2019 Legislative Outcomes & Analyses

Advocacy

In the news

COVID-19 Dashboard

Complete the 2020 Census

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Federal Updates

Federal Stimulus Package Continues to be Negotiated

Provisions for the next round of federal stimulus spending continue to be negotiated in the Senate in what Senate Leader Mitch McConnell is calling CARES 2. As the additional $600 unemployment benefit period draws to a close this week for nearly 3 million Texans, negotiations between Democratic and Republican Party leaders as to the cost and scope of the next stimulus package are projected to be around $1 trillion. The Trump administration has supported the implementation of a payroll tax cut and a second stimulus check, but senate republicans worry that doing both may be too costly.

After the first week of negotiations, an agreement was reached to establish financial assistance to schools, funding toward testing and tracing, and favoring a second round of stimulus checks over a payroll tax cut. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed the stimulus check in CARES 2 will match the stimulus check in the first Cares Act, a $1,200 one-time payment to all Americans who earn less than $75,000, including $500 for each dependent. Republican lawmakers are also set to propose a flat unemployment benefit of $100-$200 per week with benefits lasting through the end of the year. As the moratorium on evictions set by the Cares Act expired July 24, Republicans are set to repeat this figure, or even extend it. 

Pfizer Secures Federal COVID-19 Vaccine Contract for 100 Million Doses

On Wednesday, July 23, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense announced a $1.95 billion contract with Pfizer to develop 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. This contract also gives the federal government the ability to acquire an additional 500 million doses as part of the “Operation Warp Speed” initiative launched by the Trump administration in May.

If the vaccine is successful and receives EUA or licensure, the HHS would begin nationwide delivery in the final quarter of 2020. More importantly, the Pfizer vaccine would be available to all Americans at no cost. To date, the federal agency has announced up to $1.2 billion in support of AstraZeneca’s candidate vaccine, with the first doses scheduled to be delivered as early as October 2020. An additional investment of $483 million has been made in support of Moderna’s candidate vaccine scheduled Phase 1 trials in March. Finally, the HHS has also reached an agreement totaling $456 million with Johnson & Johnson for its candidate vaccine that is scheduled to begin Phase 1 clinical trials sometime this summer.

Currently, Pfizer still needs to complete a large Phase 3 clinical trial to show the efficacy of the vaccine. The $1.95 billion investment in Pfizer is the latest news on the ongoing efforts to quickly and safely release a COVID-19 vaccine.

States Getting Pressure from Feds to Reopen Schools

As the new school year approaches, state lawmakers are facing a difficult decision between reopening school facilities and risking exposure to students, faculty and staff, or keeping doors closed to millions of children.

Pressures from the federal government are pushing states toward full reopening, but as many as 39 states are still recording growing COVID-19 caseloads. This growth has prompted many school districts to announce that they would rely mostly, if not exclusively, on online learning platforms. The standard of 5% daily infection rate set by the CDC to effectively control the spread of COVID-19 has become the accepted metric for school districts to safely return to normal operation.

Here in Texas, school systems will be able to temporarily limit access to on-campus instruction for the first four weeks of school. After the first four weeks, a school system can continue to limit access to on-campus instruction for an additional four weeks, if needed. To ensure that all Texas students have access to their virtual classroom, Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, Speaker Bonnen, Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committee Chairs announced that the State of Texas will allocate $200 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the purchase of eLearning devices and home internet solutions to enable remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic for Texas students that lack connectivity.

While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that “all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with the goal of having students physically present in school,” the association has also stated that “schools in areas with high levels of COVID-19 should not be compelled to reopen against the judgement of local experts.” In the meantime, the CDC has released guidelines for school districts that are returning to full and partial capacity to ensure that the spread and transmission of COVID-19 can be managed as schools phase back into full capacity. 

 

State Updates

Texas Comptroller Projecting $4.6 Billion Shortfall for FY 2021

On July 20, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released a revised revenue estimate that projects a budget deficit of $4.58 billion at the end of the 2021 fiscal year. This marks a decrease from the $2.89 billion surplus originally projected in October 2019.

Hegar stated in a letter to state leadership that Texas will have $110.19 billion in general revenue, a decrease from the original projection of $121.76 billon. Hegar attributes this revised budget deficit to the impact of COVID-19 on the state economy; consumer spending makes up the largest portion of general revenue for the state. Hegar also attributes losses to the volatility of the oil market. The state also has an additional $8.8 billion in the Economic Stabilization Fund to lean on in the event of crisis.

Hegar clarified for lawmakers that these projections are subject to change based on the continuation and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Texas is ready for a moderate recessionary period, consumer confidence must return to boost the economic outlook of the state in the foreseeable future.

U.S. Census Bureau Survey Data Highlights COVID-19’s Disparate Impacts on Texan

Beginning April 23, the U.S. Census Bureau began conducting a weekly survey to measure the impact of COVID-19 on American households. The initial findings show massive losses in reported income and high rates of unemployment in some of Texas’s most vulnerable populations – households with children, non-college degree holders and communities of color.  

Of the first survey, 47% of respondents reported losses of income since March 13, and an additional 41% expected to see losses continue into the next four weeks. Hispanic and Black respondents reported loss of income at a rate of 60% and 57%, respectively. White and Asian respondents have reported income losses of 41% and 44%. In this same time period, roughly 8.7 million Texans were unemployed. This number has now increased to 10.1 million in the eight weeks following the initial survey.

This sharp growth in unemployment has led to even greater disparity in the percentage of Texans with health insurance. Before the declaration of the pandemic, the health insurance rate in Texas was among the worst in the U.S at 18%. As of July 10, survey data has shown approximately 20% of respondents are currently uninsured.

State’s HHSC SNAP Incentive Study Group Begins Work on Pilot

The Health and Human Services Commission’s SNAP Incentive Study Workgroup has begun to look at ways that will provide low-income Texans with better access to affordable healthy food. We’re proud to announce Stephanie Luster, grants program officer with Methodist Healthcare Ministries was selected to serve on the workgroup.

The SNAP Incentive Workgroup, established through the passage of Senate Bill 1834, will assist HHSC with the study of existing programs that incentivize the purchase of Texas-grown fruits or vegetables under SNAP and, as applicable, provide input for the establishment of a pilot program.

Per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables from 1970-2017 shows a decline in U.S produce consumption beginning around the year 2000. This trend is directly correlated to steadily increasing rates of obesity throughout the U.S., a serious concern for health care providers treating food related illnesses. The SNAP benefits program is developing a broad outreach and incentive program to improve the eating habits of low-income Texans.

The Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Program offers a dollar-to-dollar match up to $30 maximum for the purchase of fresh fruit and veggies for all SNAP beneficiaries as well as various deals and bundles to make fruit and vegetables more affordable. The agency also offers a health incentive programthat allows SNAP participants to receive an incentive of $0.30 for every $1 of SNAP benefits spent on fruit and vegetables, capped at $60 per month per household. The SNAP program is continuing to expand and develop strategies to increase accessibility of healthy food options and increase business outlook of specialty crop producers in Texas. 

Senator Judith Zaffirini Hosts “Distanced but not Isolated: Maintaining Mental Health During the COVID – 19 Pandemic.”

On July 15, State Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) hosted a webinar that brought together a panel of statewide experts to discuss how to cope with anxieties and stressors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel included presentations from Dr. John Burrus, psychiatrist and CEO of Metrocare; Nelson Jarrin with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and Sonja Gaines, Deputy Executive Commissioner at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Texans who are experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenge because of the pandemic should contact the statewide COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line. The support line has answered over 4,900 phone calls, and has talked with Texans from 159 counties.  

On Wednesday, July 29, Senator Zaffirini will host another webinar, “Back to School? The ABCs of Covid-19." The event will address questions that parents and caregivers may have pertaining to their child going back to school.

For more information on health care research, policy or advocacy, please contact Chris Yanas at cyanas@mhm.org.

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Legislative Update, July 16

DW Admin on July 16, 2020

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In this issue:

Federal Updates

State Updates

View our 2019 Legislative Outcomes & Analyses

Advocacy

In the news

COVID-19 Dashboard

 

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Federal Updates

Pregnant Women May Have Increased Risk for Severe Covid-19 Illness

According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, pregnant women with COVID-19 may be more likely to experience a more severe level of illness than women who are not pregnant. The findings come from an analysis of data on 91,412 women of reproductive age who tested positive for COVID-19, of whom 9% were pregnant.

CDC used COVID-19 federal surveillance data from Jan. 22–June 7 to conduct a study that compared the risks and symptoms of COVID-19 among pregnant and non-pregnant women. After adjusting for age, presence of underlying conditions, and race/ethnicity, pregnant women were 5.4 times more likely to be hospitalized, 1.5 times more likely to be admitted to the ICU, and 1.7 times more likely to receive mechanical ventilation. These findings suggest that among women of reproductive age with COVID-19, pregnancy is associated with a greater likelihood of hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and mechanical ventilation. While evidence is limited, clinicians are encouraged to counsel pregnant women about the risks and how to protect themselves

Additionally, CDC’s report points out the need for more data to fully understand both the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 during pregnancy, as well as the effects of COVID-19 on maternal and paternal outcomes. Thus, CDC, in collaboration with health departments, has initiated COVID-19 pregnancy surveillance to report pregnancy-related information and outcomes among pregnant women. 

2020 Census Update & COVID-19 Complications 

Severe virus-related limitations on mobility and personal contact have completely upended a decade of census outreach planning, especially in hard to reach communities throughout our state. The U.S. Census Bureau and its countless partners are continually working to ensure everyone is counted and have been quick to implement and share strategies to protect people’s health while sustaining the focus and motivation of achieving an accurate count. 

As many Americans have shifted their attention to seeking economic relief and taking all precautions to avoid contracting the coronavirus, it is critically important for us to share a friendly reminder to participate in the census as it helps determine how billions of dollars from the federal government are invested across the country especially throughout these unfortunate times. It is these types of instances that should motivate Texans to spend three minutes at home to complete the online survey. As of July 5, Texas has a 56.7% response rate to the census which poses a serious threat to receiving much needed aid. 

Normally the finished census would have to be on the president’s desk by Dec. 31, but due to the coronavirus, lawmakers have asked for an extension that would require a change in federal law. The extra time would ensure organizations such as Texas Counts continue to have ample time to extend their efforts throughout the state. 

This past spring, Methodist Healthcare Ministries gifted the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health a $210,000 grant to support four community partners that were selected for the Texas Communities Count Initiative. The primary focus of Texas Communities Count is to aid collaborative approaches that will reach traditionally hard-to-count (HTC) populations, communities and geographic areas throughout the state. An additional three South Texas organizations were directly funded $195,420, by Methodist Healthcare Ministries to conduct census outreach in over 37 counties.

Broadband Emergency Expansion Much Needed During the Pandemic 

Due to COVID-19, private broadband companies have pledged to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not to disconnect service due to lack of payment during the crisis, as well as working to offer emergency broadband expansion to those in need. 

Many residents are having to adjust to working from home especially in rural communities where there is a lack of internet service providers. For those living in the larger metropolitan areas of the state, the high cost of cable and internet services is often the barrier for low income families. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of broadband connectivity was more of an inconvenience, however once stay-at-home orders were enforced, internet access became a necessity for roughly 2 million Texas households who currently don’t have access. With individuals losing their jobs and needing to apply for unemployment benefits, students participating in e-learning with teachers, employees adjusting to working from home and healthcare professionals providing telehealth services for patients, the need is more substantial than ever before. 

While the digital divide is not a new story for our state, it is newly pertinent now as real interactions among people are limited and virtual interactions are vital. Recent waivers and funding from the state and federal government have allowed telemedicine to become more accessible amid the pandemic. Some of these temporary changes could prove to be extremely useful in rural areas if communities are provided with fast, reliable access to broadband service. 

In 2019, the Texas Legislature passed HB 1960 by Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo). The bill created the Governor’s Broadband Development Council and is charged with conducting research and identifying solutions that overcome barriers to broadband access, especially in underserved and rural areas. The council’s report is due to members of the legislature by Nov. 1, 2020.

State Updates

Repeal of Outdated Health Care Regulation Would Benefit All Texans 

The Coalition for Healthcare Access, a group of 27 business, consumer and health organizations, is actively working to remove unnecessary red-tape and barriers and expand Texans’ access to care. In an op ed by Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ President & CEO Jaime Wesolowski, coalition members urge the Texas Legislature to take action this coming legislative session and adopt recommendations released in Lt. Governor Dan Patrick’s Texans Back to Work Task Force Report,  waiving current law requiring advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to obtain a contract with a physician before they can provide care. Read the full op ed here.

Texas Extends Deadline for Food Benefits for Families Affected by COVID-19 School Closures 

Last week, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has extended the application deadline for the federal Pandemic- Electronic Benefit Transfer program (P-EBT) to July 31. Texas has already issued nearly $700 million to families through the P-EBT program, benefiting more than 2.5 million children.  

In May, Texas received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide more than $1 billion in pandemic food benefits. The P-EBT program is intended for families with children who have temporarily lost access to free or discounted school meals due to COVID-19-related school closures. More than 3 million children in Texas were certified to receive free or reduced-price meals at school during the 2019-2020 school year. The program is a one-time benefit of $285 per eligible child and can be used in the same way as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits to pay for groceries. Extending the application deadline helps ensure that more Texas families will have access to nutritious food as the state continues to combat COVID-19.

Health TEKS Up for Review for the First Time Since the 1990s

For the first time since 1998, the State Board of Education (SBOE) will revise the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Health Education. TEKS, which outlines the minimal standards for what students are to learn in each course or grade, are periodically reviewed and revised for each subject area to ensure that Texas students attain the essential knowledge and skills for a bright future. 

Since August, members of the SBOE, in collaboration with selected content advisors and review committees, have been working toward updating the state’s 22-year-old standards on health education. To guide this process, Texas education commissioner, Mike Morath, released a report that provided a framework for members to build on. In addition to developing recommendations based on Morath’s report, members from the review committees have proposed a new health education high school course. The new course would address topics such as navigating the health care system and accessing care in communities. 

Currently, school districts must teach to the health TEKS within the overall curriculum for kindergarten through Grade 8. While high schools also have health TEKS to follow, Texas is one of 26 states that does not require health education for high school graduation. Even so, most school districts teach the class in high school, either as an elective or as a local graduation requirement. The final adoption of revisions to the TEKS for health education will take place in November.

For more information on health care research, policy or advocacy, please contact Chris Yanas at cyanas@mhm.org.

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Funded Partner Spotlight: Proyecto Desarrollo Humano

DW Admin on July 15, 2020

Miguel is a hard worker. Each morning, he gets up early to try and find some work for the day. He needs to earn enough money to support his wife, Martha, and their two children: Miguel Jr. and Magdalena. They live in a modest structure that can be generously described as a house, but they make it a home. Being together and seeing his family smile puts all the hardships of living in a colonia into perspective. Why does he travel down an unpaved, dirt road to find day work in a neighborhood that lacks potable water and other services and infrastructure people often take for granted? He does it for them. Luckily, he’s not alone. He has help in the form of friends and supportive organizations that exist to make his life, and that of his community better.

For over 25 years, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has dedicated its efforts to increasing access to care for people like Miguel—for the least served. With a service area covering 74 counties across South Texas, there is no shortage of places that need assistance, but none may be more in need than the coloniasalong the Texas-Mexico border. These unincorporated communities often lack the most basic living necessities such as potable water, drivable roads or sewage treatment. In the face of that glaring need, however, what you will find there in abundance is hope and communities filled with people that represent the best of our humanity.

To help Methodist Healthcare Ministries realize its vision in communities like these, it relies on an incredible network of partners who share our vision and commitment to caring for the least served. One such partner is Proyecto Desarrollo Humano (PDH), located in the Deep South Texas town of Pernitas.

In 2004, the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (ICM) and their Mission Partners, founded Proyecto Desarrollo Humano (PDH) to help meet the unanswered needs of Hispanic immigrants in western Hidalgo County, Texas. Their mission statement calls them to: “Help develop human and spiritual potential, strengthen family bonds, build communities of peace, love, justice, and satisfy the needs of the community” through a holistic approach that focuses on health, education and social services. Miguel and his family are emblematic of the type of person who rely on PDH to survive and to access programs and services needed to better their lives.

In the area of health, PDH offers a number of programs and services to the community surrounding it. The Clinica Maria Luisa provides limited medical and dental services for those without access to affordable care or insurance. The clinic is staffed by volunteer physicians and medical professionals at little or no cost.

Additionally, PDH offers a Women’s Wellness program offering Zumba Exercise classes, nutritional education materials, diabetic counseling and education, and mental health services.

The education offerings PDH makes available include English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for adults offered in the mornings and evenings and after school tutoring for children of all ages, as well as summer programming for kids.

Lastly, to provide the community with needed social services, PDH operates a thrift store where the community can find needed essentials, leadership & community-development programming, parenting classes, sewing groups, social work assistance, home and community improvement projects and the Organic Community Garden.

The Organic Community Garden includes hands-on instruction from experts at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and provides participants with information that’s required to help them maintain, plan and cultivate the garden. Participants can grow their own fresh, organic food in a safe space provided by PDH. The program is inspirational and empowering for the participants, who can then profit off the fruit of their own labor.

Miguel and his family are composite characters emblematic of the hundreds of the real people served by PDH. They are primarily new immigrants to the United States. They live in the surrounding colonias and the conditions are often substandard. The people make do with what they have and make the best out of their situation. They are living well below the federal poverty level and their housing consists of small trailers or bare structures which they work on to improve with the help of PDH. The men are often day laborers supporting young families. 54% of the population is under the age of 18 and attending public school. Their parents are doing their best to navigate through a language barrier and an unfamiliar new reality, but they are gracious and grateful for all the assistance provided by PDH.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has been proud to support Proyecto Desarrollo Humano since 2014 by awarding $190,000 in funding for a number of their programs and offerings, such as supplies for the community garden, parenting programs, family support activities, clinical supplies, transportation assistance and funding for staffing. In addition to the funding, Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ community-based counselor, Diana Garza Martinez, provides counseling services twice a week at PDH and Wesley Nurse Veronica Lee is on site three days a week to provide diabetic education and support to patients in need.

Sister Fatima Santiago, executive director of Proyecto Desarrollo Humano, stated that “Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ support and collaboration continue to be invaluable to us. Their financial assistance enables us to expand our service ability to our materially poor people. They also put us in contact with the broader community, enlightening us to contacts and activities. We greatly benefit from the moral support and advice given by our grant officer on her periodic visits.”

It’s incredible to find partners like Proyecto Desarrollo Humano who are dedicated and embedded into the fabric of the communities Methodist Healthcare Ministries serves. By working together, we can address the needs of an area and population that is often overlooked and under-resourced. Being there to lend a helping hand to the Miguels, Marthas and Miguel Jrs. and Magdalenas of the world, helps these organizations build stronger, more resilient families and thriving communities full of opportunity and hope.

To learn more about Proyecto Desarrollo Humano and to find out how you can help, visit www.proyectodhumano.org

Since 1995, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. has provided over $1.06 billion to improve the wellness of the least served through our direct care services, strategic grantmaking and community partnerships. Methodist Healthcare Ministries is proud to partnerwith organizations that share our mission and organizational objectives of increasing access to care to the least served across South Texas.

 

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Methodist Healthcare Ministries awards $32 million in annual health care grants

DW Admin on July 1, 2020

San Antonio (July 1, 2020) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.– a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured – has awarded $32 million in community grant funding to 92 nonprofit agencies across its 74-county service area. This grant funding is part of the organization’s $108.8 million 2020 investment used to support the community through direct services provided through clinical operations and regional staff, as well as the development of community partnerships. View 2020 funded partners.

Given annually, these grants are rooted in partnerships that support access to care, integrated delivery systems and patient-centered models. In partnership with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), safety-net clinics, counseling services and regional community projects, Methodist Healthcare Ministries' goal is to create measurable impact at the community and regional levels to further establish health care networks. Awards are aligned with one of the organization’s strategic objectives: High Functioning Primary Care, Clinical-Community Connections, Access to Health, Families of Solution, Community-Church Hubs and Strategic Cross-Sector Collaboration.

Since April, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has also awarded $1.5 million in emergency funding to support COVID-19 relief efforts by 46 agencies and organizations across South Texas.

“Methodist Healthcare Ministries endeavors to fulfill its mission of ‘Serving Humanity to Honor God’ and our 2020 funding is targeted towards building health equity across South Texas to help the least served obtain access to quality health care,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “The strategic partners we have engaged will further our efforts to support the growth of resilient families and the creation of thriving communities throughout our service region, leading to increasing access to quality care for the least served.”

Funding is allocated to approximately 129 grant programs to deepen collaborative efforts, incentivize quality health outcomes, leverage and strengthen health care delivery systems and promote sustainable systems change.

The single largest area of giving this year is to High Functioning Primary Care, with more than $12.8 million awarded to support community-centered primary care health homes that address physical, mental, social and spiritual needs of patients & engage in improving community health & wellbeing. Funding Access to Care is the second largest area with awards totaling $6.5 million to support improving access to health care for those in need in medically underserved areas.

San Antonio-based CommuniCare Health Centers received two grants totaling just over $2 million in 2020. One grant provides primary and preventive care services in Bexar County, with an emphasis on integrated and preventive care. The second grant supports dental services for the uninsured and to assess the impact it has on outcomes for medical and behavioral health patients. CommuniCare has been a funded partner of Methodist Healthcare Ministries since 1996 and has received over $34.5 million in grant funding over the years.

“CommuniCare Health Centers is proud to be a Methodist Healthcare Ministries grant recipient,” said Paul Nguyen, President & CEO of CommuniCare Health Centers. “Over the past several years, our partnership has allowed us to improve the health of thousands who are less fortunate, and this has helped us achieve a measurably impact on the health and wellness of the communities we serve. The funding that CommuniCare receives gives patients access to the Integrated Health Improvement & Prevention Program, which allows uninsured patients with chronic conditions to utilize our medical and dental services. Our patients are very appreciative of this program and have access to continuity and quality care in Bexar county. As a grantee, CommuniCare is able to improve patient health outcomes and successfully educate the community on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.” 

Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks partnerships that align with its mission and services and support its objectives. Methodist Healthcare Ministries' board of directors oversees the selection of funded partners and requests are considered on an annual basis by invitation only; unsolicited proposals are not accepted.

The largest award for 2020 is $4.7 million for the South Texas Regional Advisory Council’s (STRAC) South Texas Crisis Collaborative (STCC)’s operations, infrastructure and programming. STCC is a unique and unprecedented partnership between local health systems, mental health care providers, public safety agencies and philanthropy that is improving the continuum of care for the most vulnerable residents – unfunded and underfunded patients experiencing mental illness, homelessness and/or chronic illness.

Since inception, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has invested more than $356 million in grant-making to improve community health care in its 74-county service area – which makes up 29 percent of Texas counties.

In addition to grant-making, Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks to increase access to health care through advocacy and direct services. Methodist Healthcare Ministries operates two San Antonio-based primary health care clinics: Wesley Health & Wellness Center and Dixon Health & Wellness Center, and two School Based Health Centers: School Based Health Center at Krueger Elementary and School Based Health Center at Schertz Elementary. The clinics address the needs of low-income families and the uninsured by providing services at no cost or on a sliding fee scale. The health care services Methodist Healthcare Ministries provides are a cornerstone of its charitable purpose of creating access to care.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries' mission also includes its one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System—the largest healthcare system in South Texas. This creates a unique avenue to ensure the Methodist Healthcare System continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all, and revenue to Methodist Healthcare Ministries for its programs and services.

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Methodist Healthcare Ministries Awards $22,662 in emergency grant funding to UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry

DW Admin on June 25, 2020

San Antonio, TX (June 25, 2020) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.—a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has approved an emergency grant for $22,662 to the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. The School of Dentistry provides dental care to the homeless population at Haven for Hope and COVID-19 has impacted its ability to continue those services.

“Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to supporting partners across South Texas that are on the front lines, providing care to vulnerable populations in need,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “Through this additional support, we are ensuring that our trusted partner, UT Health San Antonio School Of Dentistry can access the critical resources and personal protective equipment they need to care for dental patients at Haven for Hope. In these tough times, we are proud to do all we can to bring more smiles to the world.”

As healthcare organizations continue to provide needed health and dental care to patients in this challenging environment, the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to ensuring the health and safety of both patients and providers. As dental care is delivered in close proximity to patients, COVID-19 clinical guidelines for dentistry include several new protocols to prevent exposure and limit the spread of the virus during dental procedures. This funding will augment the dental engineering and work practice controls needed to prevent cross-contamination from COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the services provided to the homeless residents of Haven for Hope by limiting these assistances to only emergency care,” said Juanita Lozano-Pineda, DDS, MPH, associate dean for external affairs with the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. “Thanks to funds provided by Methodist Healthcare Ministries, the infection-control personal protective items and additional equipment that controls aerosol generation during procedures will all help protect our patients, dental students, residents and faculty from the highly contagious virus. This will allow students and residents to better understand some of the engineering controls needed to practice dentistry safely, as we expand to resume comprehensive care services to a vulnerable population that is in great need of oral health care.”

This award is in addition to the $753,228 grant funding Methodist Healthcare Ministries already provided to the School of Dentistry in 2020. The School of Dentistry has been a funded partner of Methodist Healthcare Ministries since 2002 and has received $8,468,521 to fund a number of its programs. Of that funding, nearly $2.5 million has been awarded specifically for work the School of Dentistry performs at Haven for Hope, including dental equipment, PPE and urgent care.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has awarded over $1.5 million in COVID-19 emergency grant funding to nonprofits and faith-based organizations since the pandemic began. Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to providing safe, affordable health care to San Antonio’s low-income population through virtual medical and behavioral health care—including food and other emergency assistance during this pandemic. Additionally, staff across the organization’s 74-county service area—including Wesley Nurses and community based counseling staff—continue to provide virtual care and resource assistance to the most vulnerable.

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Virtual Camp Wesley

DW Admin on June 19, 2020

Due to the ongoing need to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Methodist Healthcare Ministries will not be offering its usual Camp Wesley summer program.  However, Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Recreation & Enrichment team has developed a new free 'virtual' camp experience that children can participate from the safety and comfort of their own homes. Each class will be unique and designed so campers can participate with materials typically already available in their homes. Join us for fun and learning starting June 22.  See the details below.

  • Virtual Camp Wesley (60 minutes)
    • Classes run Monday, June 22 thru Friday, August 14 beginning at 1 p.m every weekday
    • Classes are free to the public, but registration is required
    • K-8th kids can participate in activities with just a little bit of supplies.
    • Activities can be altered to be completed with whatever supplies campers have available.
    • Campers can log on from a laptop, cell phone or tablet
    • Register in advance for the class through this link: https://mhm.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYlce2tqzksHNyafkGaCCfvyM3-no0v4YKr

Follow the links above to register and you will receive a confirmation email containing information needed to join the class. Attendees register once and can attend any of the occurrences.

Our team remains available to help you find ways to stay active and healthy. Have a great summer!

 

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Statement from Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. on Racial Injustice

DW Admin on June 6, 2020

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.’s long standing mission is “Serving Humanity to Honor God” and our vision is “To be the leader for improving wellness of the least served.” We believe that to improve the wellness of the least served and fully live out our mission we must recognize the inequities inherent in our communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. Inequities revolving around maternal and infant health, chronic stress, trauma, education, food security, safe housing and financial wealth have resulted in vast differences in life expectancy and quality of life for people living in the 74 counties we serve.

We believe that by nurturing resilient families—regardless of one’s spirituality, income, race, gender, or sexual orientation—we help communities to thrive. And, only when everyone has access to quality healthcare, a good education, meaningful job opportunities, as well as safe and just living environments, can communities truly thrive.

The disenfranchisement of people of color in our community through policies and practices contributing to systemic racial oppression, including the suppression of opportunities to reach one’s full potential for health and life, does harm to all families and prevents every community from thriving.

As an organization rooted in the traditions of the Methodist faith, we proclaim, with the 2017-2020 Social Principles of the United Methodist Church, recognition of racism as sin and affirm the ultimate and temporal worth of all persons. We rejoice in the gifts that every racial group and culture bring to our total life and stand with our partners, patients, clients, and the communities we serve in rejecting all expressions of racism and policies and practices that erode inclusion and diminish health equity for all.

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A Letter to Our Wesley Nurses

DW Admin on May 11, 2020

May 11, 2020

Dear Wesley Nurses:

This week, this month, this year—the spotlight is on you. 2020 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale—pioneer of modern nursing—and has been designated the “Year of the Nurse” by the World Health Organization. More importantly, we are shining a light on you now because of the invaluable role you continue to play in providing compassionate care to the least served during the coronavirus pandemic.

As a young pastor, I served on staff at a church that received one of the very first Wesley Nurses. Since that time, I have observed and worked with Wesley Nurses from a variety of positions. I have seen lives saved through health assessments and prescription assistance. Pastors and other leaders have learned the wisdom of asset-based community assessment. I witnessed a whole congregation as it flipped from dying to thriving, through a nurse’s community connections. I have served alongside Wesley Nurses with gratitude and pride.

Now as a board member for Methodist Healthcare Ministries, I rejoice to see the collective scope and impact of your work. Across the 74 counties within the Rio Texas Conference, your work is nimble, creative, and contextual. All the nurses I have known personally have relished the working environment that allows them to bring themselves fully to the work of healing bodies and spirits, fulfilling the MHM mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God.” The following reflection, written by a friend of the program, is a rendering of that labor of love.

A Wesley Nurse offers:

  • healing in the face of hurting,
  • compassion in the midst of chaos,
  • faith that lifts others out of fear,
  • perseverance despite the presence of obstacles,
  • hope in the place of despair,
  • peace that allows for progress,
  • confidence to change circumstances,
  • and, most importantly, hands and feet that faithfully follow God’s leading.

We shine a light of celebration and honor on you, Wesley Nurses, because your light shines so brightly amidst our church and communities. Thank you for your faithfulness and your service, which I know at times only God fully sees, and which has blessed us immeasurably. May God inspire and strengthen you, shining the true light from which all goodness comes, reflecting through you always as beacons of divine mercy and love.

 

Grace and peace,

Laura Merrill

Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Clergy Excellence

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“Thank You” to Nurses – National Nurses Week 2020

DW Admin on May 9, 2020

If you stop and think about it for a second, all of us have been touched by the caring hands of a nurse. From our earliest moments after birth, through our years in school, to any time we’ve had to visit a medical office, hospital or clinic to seek treatment for something that ails us—it’s in these moments a nurse is always there to care for us and lift our spirits.

This week is recognized as National Nurses Week, but 2020 is also the Year of the Nurse—apropos for a year defined by a pandemic—but also the year which marks 200 years since the birth of Florence Nightingale, who pioneered modern nursing. Now more than ever, it’s a time to recognize and give thanks to all the nurses who serve and work in our communities to care for us and provide us with healing comfort.

At Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., we are blessed to have almost a quarter of our workforce comprised of nurses—100+ caring servants whose skillful hands and caring hearts deliver healing and hope to the most vulnerable among us.

At our four clinical locations in and around San Antonio, we have nearly 20 nurses treating patients who traditionally lack access to quality health care. When our patients and clients visit one of our clinics, it’s the face of one of our nurses who provide the most care and attention as they navigate through the programs and services we offer. Many of the patients we serve in those clinics often have complex healthcare needs on top of struggling with poverty, food scarcity and other issues that make prioritizing their health nearly impossible. Our clinical nurses have to be the shoulders for patients to lean on, hands to hold them steady when they are overwhelmed or scared, a confidant for life’s challenges and cheerleaders to encourage them in making sometimes hard choices to get healthy.

Moving outside our clinics and into our 74-county service area, we are fortunate to have 87 Wesley Nurses rooted in communities large and small across South Texas. The Wesley Nurse program was one of the first initiatives that Methodist Healthcare Ministries launched over 20 years ago and it is our largest geographic outreach program. Wesley Nurses are Registered Nurses who practice faith-based, community nursing and are located in churches and communities. Wesley Nurses are trained to treat the mind, body and spirit of patients they encounter and they are embedded into the fabric of the communities they serve.

Our nursing team embodies our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” on a daily basis by going above and beyond to provide quality, compassionate care – especially now. In these difficult times, they have become catalysts for creative care that reaches past the physical distance caused by this pandemic. From the onset of the coronavirus, our clinical nursing team quickly pivoted to HIPAA-compliant virtual care solutions to ensure our patients and clients didn’t miss the care they need to stay healthy. At a time when operations at most businesses and medical practices have been affected, our Wesley Nurses sprang into action to organize community relief efforts necessary for people to survive amid this COVID-19 reality. From volunteering with food banks and organizing food distributions to spending hours driving through their communities delivering needed supplies such as medicines or diapers to those with transportation challenges—they are working diligently to protect and improve the mental, physical and spiritual health of the uninsured across South Texas.

Across our city and around the world, you can find a nurse hard at work in hospitals, medical offices, urgent care centers, schools, nursing homes, behavioral health centers and more. Nurses are part of the engine that keep our health care system moving forward. They are smart, creative, resourceful, compassionate, caring and wise. We often encounter them when we are not feeling our best, yet they strive tirelessly to help us through every situation.

I had a job as a nursing assistant through college, which allowed me the chance to appreciate firsthand the work nurses give to their patients and I saw how much how much compassion the job requires. The scale of the impact they have on patients and families is incredible and I’ve been inspired by all the nurses I’ve worked with throughout my career in the health care industry and now, as President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries.

During National Nurses Week and throughout 2020, I’d like to ask you to reach out to the nurses in your life and say, “thank you!” Whether it’s someone in your family or someone you encounter while accessing the health care system, please let them know how much they are appreciated. It’s the nurses in the world who are truly leading the way toward our recovery with their care and compassion.

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Methodist Healthcare Ministries Awards $1.1 million as part of COVID-19 Relief Efforts

DW Admin on April 27, 2020

San Antonio, TX (April 27, 2020)– Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.–a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has awarded $1,151,443 million in emergency grant funding to 46 nonprofit, health and social service agencies in its 74-county service area for COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

“During these unprecedented times, Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to increasing access to care for the least served across South Texas,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “This investment ensures that our partners have additional support in continuing to provide critical physical and mental health care and essential resources for our friends and neighbors impacted by this pandemic. We are proud to stand with our communities who are hurting and need a little extra help today. We know that they are resilient and that by working together, we can ensure that everyone has access to the care and support they need.”

While $433,409 was awarded to agencies in and around Bexar County, special consideration was given to underserved communities that do not have the same degree of philanthropic support as San Antonio. To ensure there is equity in the accessibility to response and recovery resources in Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ 74-county service area, $718,034 is being awarded to agencies that primarily serve outside Bexar County.

Grants will cover a three-month period beginning April 1 through June 30. Some of the organizations receiving this funding include:

  • Central Texas Food Bank (multiple counties), $50,000 for food assistance
  • Christian Assistance Ministries (San Antonio), $35,500 to supply handwashing stations, showers and hygiene supplies for homeless people
  • Coastal Bend Food Bank (multiple counties), $100,000 for food assistance
  • Concho Valley Regional Food Bank (multiple counties), $25,000 for food assistance
  • Food Bank of the Golden Crescent (multiple counties), $50,000 for food assistance
  • Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley (multiple counties), $100,000 for food assistance
  • Fuerza Unida (San Antonio), $7,425 for an emergency food pantry
  • I Care San Antonio, $33,435 to continue operations during the crisis
  • Jewish Family Service (San Antonio), $32,529 to support a collaborative six-agency mental health response to low-income students and families sheltering in place, through telehealth/mobile mental health resources.
  • Mission 911 (Corpus Christi), $25,000to help isolate and care for homeless individuals who need to “shelter in place”
  • Phoenix Center (multiple counties in Marble Falls area), $10,000 for telehealth services to provide trauma-informed care to underserved rural children and families
  • San Antonio Food Bank (multiple counties), $200,000 for food assistance
  • South Texas Food Bank (multiple counties), $75,000 for food assistance
  • Texas Diaper Bank (multiple counties), $50,000 for families in need of diapers and other hygiene supplies
  • The Children’s Shelter (San Antonio), $15,000 to meet increased demand and additional costs due to sheltering in place

Through this funding, Methodist Healthcare Ministries granted $600,000 to the seven Food Banks covering the 74-county service area, as a strategic emergency response, and $342,554 to 31 churches and church agencies to help respond to basic needs in urban and rural communities throughout South Texas.

This funding opportunity is in addition to the $32 million granted this year to over 90 agencies across South Texas which supports access to care, integrated delivery systems, patient-centered health models and other programs and services aimed at addressing the Social Determinants of Health that disproportionately impact the least served.” Details of this announcement to be released publicly soon.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries remains committed to provide safe, affordable health care to San Antonio’s low-income population through virtual medical and behavioral health care—including food and other emergency assistance during this pandemic. The organization also still offers services to its Parenting Program clients via Zoom classes and will begin to offer recreation & enrichment program offerings via Zoom to patients and clients looking for ways to stay active and healthy in these times where social distancing prevents in person services. Additionally, regional staff, including Wesley Nurses and community based counseling staff continues to provide services throughout the 74-county service area.

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Recreation & Enrichment Virtual Class Schedule

DW Admin on April 24, 2020

Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Recreation & Enrichment team remains available to help you find ways to stay active and healthy. Our team is offering a variety of recreation & enrichment classes via Zoom that you can participate in from the comfort of your own home. The classes being offered include:

 

 

 

Follow the links above to register and you will receive a confirmation email containing information needed to join the class.

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Jaime Wesoloski

President & Chief Executive Officer

Jaime Wesolowski is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Methodist Healthcare Ministries. A healthcare executive with three decades of leadership experience, Jaime is responsible for the overall governance and direction of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. Jaime earned his Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from Xavier University, and his Bachelor’s of Science from Indiana University in Healthcare Administration. As a cancer survivor, Jaime is a staunch supporter of the American Cancer Society. He serves as Chair of the American Cancer Society’s South Texas Area board of directors and he was appointed as Chair to the recently created South Region Advisory Cabinet, covering eight states from Arizona through Alabama. Jaime believes his personal experience as a cancer survivor has given him more defined insight and compassion to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their families.