The Cooper Foundation on Thursday said it was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Cherry Hill-based TD Bank, to expand a program that addresses societal barriers to health care access.
The program deploys community health workers in Camden and surrounding counties to improve health care access, reduce inpatient hospital stays and emergency department visits, and increase behavioral and specialty care visits by addressing social barriers to health.
“This crucial funding will enable us to extend our reach and make a meaningful difference in the lives of even more residents in Camden and surrounding counties. Together, we can continue to build healthier, more resilient communities for generations to come,” Philip Norcross, chairman of the Cooper Foundation board, said.
“Community health workers are trusted members of their community who serve as liaisons between community members and the health care system. They identify social determinants of health needs that affect health, such as employment, food, transportation and education, and provide necessary community resources while setting and achieving patient-centered goals to help guide their patients toward self-efficacy and overall wellness,” Danielle Santiago-Roach, manager of Cooper’s Community Health Worker Program, said.
The Community Health Worker Program reaches Camden, Burlington, Atlantic, Gloucester, and Salem counties and also provides education on navigating health insurance benefits, improving self-support and advocacy skills, and techniques for improving overall health and well-being.
“The Community Health Worker Program has been instrumental in providing access to necessary care for our patients. This team has made a great difference in how we take care of our patients and has given us the opportunity to offer them more resources,” Ashley Michael, a primary care physician with Cooper Internal Medicine, said.
