The MolinaCares Accord Invests Over $400,000 in MolinaCares for Families Initiative to Improve Access to Care in New Mexico

Media Contact: Caroline Zubieta, Caroline.Zubieta@MolinaHealthcare.com, 562-951-1588

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Oct. 18, 2022 – The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of New Mexico, today launched its MolinaCares for Families initiative with an initial commitment of over $400,000 to improve access to care for families across New Mexico.

“MolinaCares for Families expands access to care for mothers, newborns, and individuals with behavioral health needs throughout our state,” said Carolyn Ingram, plan president of Molina Healthcare of New Mexico. “Our goal through this initiative is to remove barriers to equitable care by making critical services available to New Mexicans who need it most.”

Many New Mexicans struggle with access to care due to socioeconomic factors, shortages in specialty care providers, and vast rural regions. Homelessness is also a risk factor for access to care and correlates with higher rates of mental health issues.

“There are at least 16,000 residents in Bernalillo County expected to experience homelessness this year,” said Jenny Metzler, CEO of Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH). “We are grateful to MolinaCares for this grant and their commitment to serving vulnerable populations and improving health outcomes in our local communities.”

MolinaCares for Families will be providing support to:

Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH) to improve access to care for individuals experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque;
New Mexico Caregivers Coalition (NMCC) to expand caregiver workforce programs to best serve aging and disabled populations;
Many Mothers to increase bilingual capacity and provide direct in-home, doula, navigation, and other wraparound services to more Spanish-speaking families at the New Resilient Parenting Center;
Casa de Peregrinos’ Community of Hope and Healthy Food initiatives to provide shelter, housing, and food to vulnerable populations in Doña Ana County;
MAVEN Project to expand specialty services through telehealth technology in areas with greater levels of disparate access to care;
Kitchen Angels to provide underserved moms with meals as they transition home from the hospital;
Project SEARCH to prepare young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to make successful transitions into adulthood;
Native Women Lead to support activities that empower Native American women entrepreneurs and professionals;
Cooking with Kids to launch the “BIG little Project”, allowing educators across New Mexico, parents, and other community mentor programs to access CWK’s curriculum and resources to teach kids and adults how to eat and cook healthy;
Heading Home to assist individuals transitioning into more safe, stable housing; and
Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe to support non-profit programs for local youth.

“This grant will allow us to expand our Caregiver Basic Needs Program to enhance recruitment and retention of caregivers in areas with shortages,” said Adrienne Smith, president and CEO of NMCC.

MolinaCares previously invested $200,000 toward relief efforts to benefit victims of the wildfires in northern New Mexico. This included donations to the Santa Fe Community Foundation’s Community Resiliency Fund and the All Together New Mexico Fund as well as shelter, food, water, and medical care to affected residents.

About The MolinaCares Accord:

Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.

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