OMAHA, Neb.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Nebraska (“Molina”), presented a $50,000 grant to the Latino Center of the Midlands in support of its Siembra Salud program. The initiative addresses health equity and workforce shortages through internships and gardening projects for Latino families.
According to recent Community Health Needs Assessments from CHI Health and Children’s Nebraska, Latino residents are two-and-a-half times more likely to report “fair” or “poor” physical health, more than three times as likely to report “fair” or “poor” mental health, and three times more likely to report food insecurity. Among low-income residents who lack health insurance, one in four is Latino.
Siembra Salud, Spanish for “sowing health”, uses a two-pronged strategy to close these gaps. Through internships, young people work with families and gain hands-on experience in health care, social work, and mental health careers. They also meet Latino health care professionals and complete job-shadowing opportunities. Through gardening projects, families learn about nutrition and connect with physical and mental health resources. Workshops teach not only gardening skills, but lessons on nutrition, health resources, and mental health awareness.
“MolinaCares is proud to support the Siembra Salud program to create more equitable outcomes for those in the Latino community,” said Frank Clepper, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Nebraska. “Addressing social determinants of health, like nutrition and employment, is critical for improving the overall well-being of a community.”
The Latino Center of the Midlands plans to employ at least 10 paid interns each year. Qualified interns can become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA). It’s anticipated that 200 people per year will participate in Siembra Salud’s gardening projects.
«We extend our gratitude to Molina and MolinaCares for their generous support of the Latino Center of the Midlands,” said Albert Varas, president and CEO of Latino Center of the Midlands. “This funding will empower us to address critical health disparities and workforce shortages through our Siembra Salud program and its internship branch. Together, we are fostering a healthier, more equitable community by providing hands-on learning opportunities, nurturing future health leaders, and ensuring that our families have access to the tools and resources they need to thrive.»
About The MolinaCares Accord
Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.
About Molina Healthcare of Nebraska
Molina Healthcare of Nebraska, Inc., provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through the Medicaid program in Nebraska. Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare, please visit MolinaHealthcare.com.
Contacts
Media Contact: Ben Jackey, [email protected], (502) 377-9484
