Dignity Health’s Greater Sacramento Market, encompassing Mercy Hospital Folsom, Mercy General Hospital, Mercy San Juan Medical Center, Methodist Hospital of Sacramento, and Woodland Memorial Hospital, recently announced the awarding of over $1 million in funding to 14 unique community non-profit partnerships serving Sacramento and Yolo Counties.
According to a local press release, these grants, part of the CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants program, are specifically designed to address pressing health disparities and significantly enhance the health and well-being of vulnerable and underserved populations in our community.
Funding priorities for this cycle were identified in the hospitals’ 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment and include: Access to Resources, Access to Care, Behavioral Health, and Chronic Disease Prevention and Management.
“These investments reflect our continued commitment to building healthier communities across the Greater Sacramento Region,” Dr. Tina Johnson, Sacramento market president for Dignity Health stated. “We know that health is shaped by more than clinical care and by partnering with local organizations, we are helping expand access to essential services and address the underlying factors that impact the well-being of our neighbors.”
“We’re proud to partner with Dignity Health to bring the Health Hive’s preventive care and wellness services directly into underserved communities across the region,” stated Sacramento State College of Health and Human Services Associate Dean Robert Pieretti. “This work not only expands access to care, but also provides hands-on experience for our students, helping prepare the next generation of health professionals to better understand and address barriers to care.”
Yolo County-based initiatives to receive a grant this year include:
Bridging the Gap: Mental Health Access for Rural Students:
Lead Organization: Rural Innovations in Social Economics, Inc. (Rise Inc.)
Collaborators: Esparto Unified School District and Winters Joint Unified School District
Grant Award: $100,000
The Bridging the Gap: Mental Health Access for Rural Students Initiative targets rising anxiety, depression, and trauma among students in western Yolo County, particularly Latino farmworker families, who face significant barriers to care.
In partnership with Esparto Unified and Winters Joint Unified School Districts, RISE Inc. will embed culturally responsive, bilingual, trauma-informed services directly into schools. Key components include individual/group counseling, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) sessions, parent/caregiver workshops to reduce stigma and connect families to resources, and teacher/staff training on trauma-informed practices and referral pathways. This initiative will reduce access disparities, build community resilience, and establish a sustainable mental health foundation for rural students.
Paths to Healing: Rural Victim Advocacy Program:
Lead Organization: Empower Yolo
Collaborators: Rural Innovations in Social Economics, Inc. (Rise Inc.), Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, Winters Police Department
Grant Award: $100,000
The Rural Victim Advocacy Program will expand trauma-informed services for crime survivors in underserved Western Yolo County. A dedicated Rural Victim Advocate will provide crisis response, safety planning, case management, and ongoing advocacy, ensuring equitable access to justice.
Partnering with RISE Inc. and leveraging local law enforcement referrals, the program will offer a safe, accessible point of contact and comprehensive wraparound services. Services remain voluntary and independent of law enforcement reporting, building trust and affirming survivor autonomy. This initiative will improve access, safety, and resilience for rural communities.
“Students in western Yolo County face significant barriers to accessing mental health care, particularly in Latino farmworker communities,” said Laura Guevara of Rural Innovations in Social Economics, Inc. (Rise Inc.). “With Dignity Health’s support, we’re bringing culturally responsive, bilingual, and trauma-informed services directly into schools, helping to reduce disparities and support students and families.”