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SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – April 9, 2026 – Dignity Health Central Coast Market that includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH), French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), and Marian Regional Medical Center (MRMC), is proud to announce it has awarded $487,500 in funding to six unique community non-profit partnerships in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Representatives from each organization attended the breakfast award ceremony on April 9, 2026 at French Hospital in San Luis Obispo to acknowledge their service in providing critical health and human services to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County residents.
Grants are awarded through a Community Health Improvement Grants Program created by the Dignity Health parent company CommonSpirit Health. The intent of the annual Community Health Improvement Grants program is to help non-profit organizations with an interest in building healthier communities by improving health and living conditions. Criteria for this funding cycle were based on the following priority areas identified in the hospitals 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment:Unmet Vital Conditions which included: transportation, financial assistance, child care, food insecurity, education, environment, behavioral health and substance use disorder.
This year, the Dignity Health Community Grants were awarded to the following local six Accountable Care Communities:
K-12 Mental Health Counseling: Reclaiming the Lost Year, Preparing for the Future
This project will address behavioral health needs among the youth. The project will provide on-campus and virtual services clinical counseling services for students with mild to moderate mental health needs. The project will provide individual and group support and class presentations provide early intervention that prevents mild to moderate conditions from escalating, and reduces the stigma of mental health counseling, creating a more supportive student community. The program will be offered to all schools in the Lucia Mar Unified School District and SLO Coastal Unified School District
Fiscal Agent: Community Counseling Center of SLO County
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Hearts Aligned Inc.
Hearts Aligned will provide comprehensive services to 70 low-income families that have a child classified as critically ill by the referring medical professional. They will provide direct financial assistance up to $2,500 which may include rent, utilities, auto expenses, gas and grocery cards, insurance, lodging and other essentials to help families at their most vulnerable time.
Fiscal Agent:Hearts Aligned Inc.
Transitional Housing and Small Business Financial Education for Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence Survivors in San Luis Obispo County
The project will address the need for transitional housing and supportive services for unhoused and at-risk sexual assault (SA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County. Our Transitional Housing(TH) Program will partner with the Mission Community Service Corporation Women’s Business Center’s to provide
small business workshops, training, and 1-on-1 consulting to survivors in the TH program. TH clients focus on self-sufficiency with Lumina Alliance advocates, including housing and financial stability, and specialized tools like the proposed workshops will improve their outcomes and independence post-trauma.
Fiscal Agent: Lumina Alliance
Harm Reduction Navigation in Santa Barbara County
The project will address the need of harm reduction services among the unhoused. Harm Reduction Navigation Specialists will work with clients reached through their syringe exchange program and referred from partnering agencies, including Hope Village and the FARO Center. Harm reduction navigation will be offered in both English and Spanish, ensuring that outreach, education, and linkages are culturally sensitive and accessible to clients.
Fiscal Agent:Pacific Pride Foundation
Senior Home Delivery
The project will address the need for healthy food for homebound, low-income seniors in San Luis Obispo County. Senior Home Delivery will provide seniors who are unable to access Food Bank distribution sites with weekly grocery delivery directly to their homes.
Fiscal Agent: SLO Food Bank
The Salvation Army San Luis Obispo Corps Street Outreach Program
The project will address housing among the unsheltered.The Salvation Army will work alongside its partners to connect individuals and families to services and eventually to housing. The Salvation Army case manager will provide basic needs: hygiene kits, food, water, etc., document obtainment assistance, and referrals to other community resources including health information.
Fiscal Agent: The Salvation Army San Luis Corps
About Dignity Health Central Coast
Seven award-winning hospitals comprise Dignity Health Central Coast: Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo, all recognized for their quality of care, safety, and service.
Additionally, Dignity Health Central Coast has a network of nearly 50 physician offices known as Pacific Central Coast Health Centers that include primary care, cancer care and various specialty offices. Dignity Health Central Coast also includes premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically advanced imaging centers, outpatient services, and comprehensive home health services.
Learn more at dignityhealth.org/centralcoast.
About CommonSpirit Health
Inspired by faith. Driven by innovation. Powered by humankindness. CommonSpirit Health is building a healthier future for all through its integrated health services. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic healthcare organizations, CommonSpirit Health delivers more than 20 million patient encounters annually through more than 2,300 clinics, care sites and 137 hospital-based locations, in addition to its home-based services and virtual care offerings. CommonSpirit has more than 155,000 employees, 45,000 nurses and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice providers across 24 states and contributes more than $4 billion annually in charity care, community benefits and unreimbursed government programs. Together with our patients, physicians, partners, and communities, we are creating a more just, equitable, and innovative healthcare delivery system. Learn more at commonspirit.org.