Audubon Area Community Care Clinic (AACCC) is receiving a 3-year grant award totaling over $275,000 to support the opening of a health clinic within the Daniel Pitino Shelter, the agency announced Wednesday.
The funding comes from the Kentucky Association of Health Plans (KAHP), the trade association representing commercial insurers and Medicaid managed care organizations in the Commonwealth.
The Daniel Pitino Shelter, located at 501 Walnut Street, is a homeless shelter that serves single women and families and is the primary soup kitchen for Daviess County.
According to a release from AACCC, the grant will reduce the need for transporting individuals offsite to receive medical and behavioral healthcare. The funds will be used for the renovation of an existing space inside the Daniel Pitino Shelter to create a clinical exam room, a reception and triage area, and a space for a therapist and/or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). KAHP is also contributing funds for the hiring of behavioral health staff.
“We are thrilled that Kentucky’s health plans are making such an impactful investment in Owensboro,” said Brandon Harley, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Audubon Area Community Care Clinic. “KAHP is helping us to bring care to one of the most economically disadvantaged areas of the county. We are removing barriers to healthcare such as transportation and the logistics of getting to a medical center.”
The Daniel Pitino Shelter currently works in close partnership with AACCC, located at 750 Salem Drive, to ensure those utilizing the shelter have access to medical and behavioral healthcare.
“The Daniel Pitino Shelter’s location, along with the bus stop outside the main entrance, will allow AACCC to bring healthcare to the entire neighborhood and surrounding areas,” the organization said in a release.
KAHP President and CEO Tom Stephens said AACCC approached them with a “very compelling” grant proposal.
“In 2014, the McAuley Free Clinic serving the area was forced to close due to lack of funding. That created a healthcare desert of sorts,” he said. “We saw an opportunity to make a substantial impact on increasing access to healthcare by funding the renovations and assisting with personnel costs. This was an easy decision for our grants committee – AACCC is a great organization with a strong vision.”
AACCC is targeting a March opening for the clinic.
