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New Castle County extends CARES funding to expand access to care for disadvantaged communities hard hit by pandemic New Castle County has awarded Saint Francis Healthcare, a part of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, a Health Equity Grant of $895,000. The grant enables Saint Francis to expand the services available to vulnerable populations by its St. Clare Medical Outreach Van, such as care for the home-bound elderly, food insecure families and the homeless. "In the recovery process from the pandemic, Trinity Health and St. Francis are pleased to assist families in a more integrated way through services on an updated mobile van addressing the needs of the whole person," said Lillian J. Schonewolf, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic's Vice President of Community Health and Wellbeing. "Services will include backpack meals for children, produce and grocery gift cards, medical needs and supplies as well as access to care for social care resources through our Caregiver Model. This is a wonderful opportunity to take care of our community by going to them." The grant money will be used to design and build an entirely new mobile health van that will expand primary care services, as well as offer social care and behavioral health services, provided through a partnership with Catholic Charities. The grant will also enable the expansion of operations; provide for the hiring of a Health Equity Coordinator; and provide resources to ensure hungry families and children have access to healthy food. "Since day one, our mission has been to protect our County's most vulnerable,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “We are pleased to provide CARES Act funding to support the expansion of services provided by St. Francis and their St. Clare Medical Outreach Van to provide testing and other services throughout the pandemic." "We are proud to have been selected for this grant funding, which will enable us to serve more members of our community in need. We appreciate New Castle County's faith and confidence in Saint Francis and our programming, which this award reflects," said Saint Francis President Brandon Harvath. "The pandemic has exacerbated the struggles vulnerable populations face. This funding enables us to significantly increase the numbers of individuals and families served in the community." For more information about Saint Francis Healthcare and Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, visit www.trinityhealthma.org. About Saint Francis Healthcare Founded in 1924, Saint Francis Healthcare is guided by its Catholic-health core values of reverence, stewardship, integrity, justice and commitment to the underserved. Located in Wilmington, Del., and with 219 licensed beds, Saint Francis Healthcare offers numerous outpatient services, a primary care physician network and is a member of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Network at Jefferson. Saint Francis Healthcare offers the shortest ER wait time in New Castle County, Del., and is designated by the state and American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level III Trauma Center. The hospital is the basic life support EMS provider for the cities of Wilmington and Dover, Del. Additionally, the hospital partners with Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children for Level II neonatology care, and partners with Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals for maternal-fetal medicine. Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic is a Regional Health System that includes Mercy Catholic Medical Center – Mercy Fitzgerald Campus in Darby, Pa.; Mercy Catholic Medical Center – Mercy Philadelphia Campus in West Philadelphia; Nazareth Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia; Saint Francis Healthcare in Wilmington, Del.; St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa. and home health and LIFE programs. Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic is a member of Trinity Health, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. About Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic is a Regional Health System that includes Mercy Catholic Medical Center – Mercy Fitzgerald Campus in Darby, Pa.; Mercy Catholic Medical Center – Mercy Philadelphia Campus in West Philadelphia; Nazareth Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia; Saint Francis Healthcare in Wilmington, Del.; St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa., and home health and LIFE programs throughout the region. These entities include hospitals, associated clinics, medical offices, specialized facilities, affiliated institutions and foundations serving together in the spirit of the Gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within their communities. Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic is a member of Trinity Health.