Marvin Smoot, EdD Vice President of Clinic Operations | Bothwell Regional Health Center
Marvin Smoot, EdD Vice President of Clinic Operations | Bothwell Regional Health Center
The ToRCH Be Well Leadership Board has awarded a grant of $46,300 to the Pettis County Community Partnership (PCCP) to support its new initiative, Empowering Low-Income Families through Health Equity. The funding will assist PCCP in offering comprehensive support and resources to 30 families over a two-year period.
ToRCH is a rural health program under Missouri's HealthNet Division, responsible for managing the state's Medicaid program. It aims to direct resources to rural areas to enhance health outcomes by addressing social determinants of health, such as safe housing and access to healthy foods.
Bothwell Regional Health Center was selected in July 2023 as one of six rural hospital community hubs to implement the ToRCH program in Pettis County. The health center acts as the program's fiscal agent, while a leadership board composed of members from various organizations oversees budget and project initiatives.
PCCP, a nonprofit serving nine counties, focuses on issues like homelessness, substance abuse, and food insecurity. “We know that low-income populations are disproportionately affected by health disparities,” PCCP Executive Director Mari Asbury said. “Prior work only focusing on medical interventions hasn’t gotten to the root cause of these gaps. Our new program will tackle the underlying social and home issues affecting health.”
Through the initiative, PCCP will work with 15 low-income families each year. Community Health Workers will assess health conditions, identify potential hazards, and establish relationships to provide continuous support. “Through these monthly visits, we can get to know families and their specific needs,” Asbury explained. “We will help them find a primary care provider for well-visit exams and preventative screenings, connect them with resources to fix home issues like mold or pests that are affecting their health, deliver monthly food boxes and provide education and support for living a healthy lifestyle.”
Allison Brosch, Dean of Health Sciences at State Fair Community College and ToRCH board chair, explained the program's impact: “Through the ToRCH program, we are able to impact health issues at a local level. The overall goal is to improve health and well-being through impacting social determinants of health and thereby avoid potential hospital admissions and emergency room visits.”
ToRCH encourages community-based organizations interested in grant funding to get in touch via email at torch@brhc.org.
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