Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sequoia Healthcare District outlines $22 million annual budget, expands school and oral-health programs
Summary
At the March 19 Atherton Town Council meeting, Sequoia Healthcare District CEO Pamela Kurtzman described the district's funding sources, recent increases in grants and a plan to convert a Redwood City building into a federally qualified dental clinic funded with about $6 million in renovations.
Pamela Kurtzman, chief executive officer of Sequoia Healthcare District, told the Atherton Town Council on March 19 that the district is funded primarily by property taxes and returns most of its revenue to local prevention programs. "We are funded primarily through property taxes in 7 cities in Southern San Mateo County," Kurtzman said.
The nut graf: Kurtzman presented an overview of services and budgets to remind council members the district funds school-based health, oral health and community clinic work that serves Atherton residents and nearby communities.
Kurtzman said the district's annual revenue is about $22,000,000 and that the district funds roughly 80 nonprofit partners. She listed several existing programs: the Caring Community competitive grants program (about $5,000,000 annually), a Healthy Schools initiative (about $6,000,000 per funding cycle) and roughly $7,000,000 that supports community clinics such as Samaritan House and Ravenswood-based clinics for oral and primary care. Kurtzman said about 80% of the district's investments go to preventive programming.
Kurtzman also described a capital investment: the district is converting a building in Redwood City into a dental clinic to be operated by a federally qualified health center; the district is funding about $6,000,000 for renovations. She said the district expects the clinic to increase access to oral health care for low-income residents where dental benefits are otherwise limited.
Council members asked for contact information and more detail about how grant funds are distributed. Kurtzman said the Healthy Schools fund is distributed on a per-capita basis and by district budget need and that the district is studying rising needs for seniors, fall prevention and behavioral-health staffing in schools. She said the district is shifting some grant focus toward building nonprofit capacity (staff training and recruitment) so programs can operate sustainably.
Kurtzman closed by asking the council to view the district as a long-term partner for town programs and emergency or gap funding for food security and other needs. She offered to follow up with staff on details and contact information.
Ending: Council members thanked the district for the presentation and Accepted the information; no formal action or vote on district funding was taken at the meeting.
