Our community thrives when everyone can access the heathcare and behavioral wellness services they need. Unfortunately, our care systems can be difficult to access and hard to navigate for many of our neighbors. As a result many go underserved.
Mental health issues are more prevalent in lower-income families, but the pain of untreated illness can reach anywhere. These problems do not discriminate as to a person’s socio-economic status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, etc. Providers in the county are struggling to meet the needs of a wide variety of people experiencing mental health challenges, especially unhoused individuals, children, first responders, and those with substance abuse issues.
Considering health more broadly, almost ten percent of adults in the county are still uninsured despite incredible gains under the Affordable Care Act. The rate of people without insurance is more than double the count average (22.8%) in Santa Maria. Thousands of people are forced to weigh their health against the potential expense whenever they need to seek medical help. That choice could mean they may not eat tonight or pay the rent next week. Extensive research has found people who are uninsured receive about half as much medical care as those who have insurance, resulting in poorer overall health.
The Santa Barbara Foundation works across a number of initiatives to promote our community’s health including our Behavorial Health and Healthcare grant program, the 4Rs program supporting youth mental health providers, our Community Health Workers/Promotores initiative, and more.
If you are interested in contributing to the solutions, we welcome your partnership and appreciate your support.
Make a Gift Behavioral Health Community Grant Program
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