Funders

AllOne Foundation

We are grateful for the AllOne Foundation’s continued investment in The Wright Center.

• 2020 Initiatives

  AllOne Foundation awarded The Wright Center for Community Health funds to ensure the ongoing delivery of critical programming currently offered by Telespond Senior Services, Inc. (Telespond) to older adults in Lackawanna County, including individuals who may be socially isolated and therefore prone to developing behavioral health issues such as substance use disorder, anxiety, and depression. The award ensures the continued administration and day-to-day operation of Telespond and the continuation of its services, which include a medical model adult daycare program, a federally-supported companionship program, and an in-home personal care program. With the support of the AllOne Foundation, TWCCH will implement a continuity of care infrastructure and workflow to connect existing home healthcare clients to TWCCH’s patient-centered medical home model, providing access to its integrated physical and behavioral health services as well as its network of health professionals including community health workers. AllOne Foundation’s support will allow more of the region’s older adults to continue to live independently in a safe and supporting environment: their own homes.

• 2018-Present Initiatives

  AllOne Foundation awarded The Wright Center for Community Health and Maternal and Family Health Services a  grant to support the organizations’ work within the community-based Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) pregnancy recovery initiative. The Healthy MOMS program launched in late 2018 with a goal of organizing regional players in the healthcare, legal, and social services sectors to care for pre- and post-natal women with opioid use disorder (OUD) and, ultimately, reduce their babies’ risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Benefitting from these grant funds, moms-to-be within multiple counties served by AllOne Foundation (Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming) are eligible for services/care during their pregnancy, through delivery and continued throughout their postpartum “fourth trimester”. Click here to learn more about the Healthy MOMs program.

Americorps

The Wright Center for Community Health is approved to host AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTAs).

• 2017-Present

  Through a continued partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, The Wright Center for Community Health is approved to host AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTAs). Our VISTAs contribute to several long-term projects across a range of TWCCH initiatives, including its Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence, School-Based Health Centers, and LGBTQ+ service line. Their projects contribute to our goal of improving and expanding service lines and access to quality healthcare for consumers in underserved areas of high priority throughout Lackawanna County.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation awarded TWCCH a Capital Grant to support the renovation of its primary care clinic.

• 2019

  The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation awarded TWCCH a Capital Grant to support the renovation of its primary care clinic space at the Scranton Practice. Funding was used to furnish and equip the space for primary care, dental, and mental and behavioral health services.

• 2019

  TWCCH was also awarded an Operating Grant by the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to partially support the salary and benefits of Scranton Practice medical personnel during credentialing and until their positions are fully sustainable through insurance billing.

HRSA

We are grateful for HRSA’s continued investment in The Wright Center.

• Teaching Health Centers

  2011-Present

  Since 2011, HRSA has awarded the organization the establishment of Teaching Health Center locations and expansion of residency training opportunities. Through this support, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education has established regional internal medicine and family medicine programs, as well as a National Family Medicine Residency in partnership with A.T. Still University which trains residents in four Federally Qualified Health Centers across the country. To learn more about Teaching Health Centers, click here.

  2020

  HRSA awarded TWCCH a Post-Doctoral Training in General, Pediatric, and Publich Health Dentistry grant to establish The Wright Center for Community Health NYU Langone AEGD Residency in Northeastern Pennsylvania. TWCCH will collaborate with NYU Langone Dental to become a clinical learning environment in expansion of their Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Residency Program. The TWCCH NYU Langone residency will focus on vulnerable and medically complex populations including older adults, homeless individuals, victims of abuse and/or trauma, individuals with mental health and/or substance-related disorders, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with HIV/AIDS and HCV. The AEGD residency will be embedded in TWCCH’s NCQA-certified patient-centered medical home for comprehensive integration of oral health with physical and mental/behavioral health.

• Rural Communities Opioid Response Program

  2020 

  HRSA awarded The Wright Center for Community Health a Rural Communities Opioid Response Program—Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome grant to improve integrated care and care coordination and establish and/or enhance family support services in rural Wayne and Susquehanna counties.  Consortium members include Maternal Family Health Services, Lackawanna-Susquehanna Drug and Alcohol Programs, Wayne County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Trehab Community Action Agency, PA Treatment and Healing, Endless Mountains Health System, Barnes-Kasson Hospital, Wayne Memorial Hospital, Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers, Scranton Counseling Center, and Children’s Service Center.

  2019 

  HRSA awarded The Wright Center for Community Health a Rural Communities Opioid Response Program—Implementation grant to establish a community consortium aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic. Through this funding, The Wright Center for Community Health is engaging community resources throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania to maximize medication-assisted treatment efforts in a team-based care infrastructure.

• Primary Care Training and Enhancement

  2016

  HRSA awarded WCGME five years to enhance primary care workforce education by motivating and better preparing increased numbers of trainees toward satisfying careers in the provision of high-quality, team-based care for the nation’s underserved. WCGME, in partnership with A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), is augmenting training across the primary care continuum by integrating authentic, team-based, patient­centered health professions education within nationally distributed CHC training sites in order to ultimately improve access to quality healthcare for highly vulnerable and underserved populations.

• Ryan White Part C Outpatient Early Intervention Services

  Annually since 2003

  HRSA provides important operational funding for The Wright Center for Community Health Ryan White Clinic, which delivers healthcare services to patients with infectious diseases from across a seven-county area. HRSA Early Intervention Services Program funding allows The Wright Center for Community Health to provide targeted HIV counseling and testing, medical evaluation and clinical and diagnostic services, therapeutic measures for preventing and treating the deterioration of the immune system and for preventing and treating conditions arising from HIV/AIDS, and referrals to appropriate providers of healthcare and support services.

  2020

  HRSA awarded TWCCH a Ryan White Part C EISP COVID-19 Supplement for preventing, preparing for, and responding to COVID-19 as needs evolve for clients of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) recipients.

• Look-Alike Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing

  2020

  HRSA awarded TWCCH  to purchase a mobile testing vehicle to directly support COVID-19 testing capacity expansion. The mobile health unit will be used to coordinate coronavirus testing for traditionally underserved populations, with the ultimate goal of addressing health equity issues seen in the pandemic. TWCCH will procure and distribute tests within the service area, purchase testing supplies, and provide patient and community education related to testing. TWCCH staff will assess symptoms and deliver test results and appropriate follow-up assessment by telephone, text monitoring, and videoconference. Health information technology and necessary equipment will be purchased to facilitate HIPAA-compliant connections.

The Margaret Briggs Foundation

The Margaret Briggs Foundation awarded The Wright Center for Community Health to expand the use of MinibarRx technology.

• 2019

  The Margaret Briggs Foundation awarded The Wright Center for Community Health to expand the use of MinibarRx technology. MinibarRx is a system for the storage of vaccines that interfaces with patients’ electronic health records to provide safe administration of vaccines. The interface stores all lot numbers, expiration dates, and National Drug Code vaccine numbers, and ensures the correct vaccine distribution to the correct patient. MinibarRx also assists with reporting should a vaccine be recalled. TWCCH is using the Margaret Briggs Foundation funding to implement the MinibarRx system at its Scranton Practice.

Moses Taylor Foundation

We are grateful for Moses Taylor Foundation’s continued investment in The Wright Center.

• 2020

  Moses Taylor Foundation awarded TWCCH a mini-grant to hire a trainer to conduct two 2-hour workshops for TWCCH employees on the principles of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). MBSR therapy is considered a tool to build resilience and improve wellness. These introductory workshops in MBSR would encourage further individual exploration of meditation therapy and its potential to reduce burnout and improve patient care.

National Association of Community Health Centers

NACHC’s Quality Center selected TWCCH as one of 20 health centers from a pool of national applications.

• 2020

  NACHC’s Quality Center selected TWCCH as one of 20 health centers from a pool of national applications to pilot the use of Patient Care Kits as part of virtual visits. The goal of the pilot is to test the impact of providing patients with self-care tools (equipment, instructions, education), while health centers receive coaching on health outcomes, patient experience, staff experience, and cost, and to develop models and workflows for the use of Patient Care Kits and remote patient monitoring. As a participating health center, TWCCH received 24 Patient Care Kits to be distributed to two dozen selected patients as part of virtual care and remote patient monitoring.

Pennsylvania Department of Health

The PA DOH awarded TWCCH a Community-Based Health Care Program grant.

• 2020

  The Pennsylvania Department of Health awarded TWCCH a Community-Based Health Care Program grant to increase access to comprehensive primary healthcare services for uninsured, underinsured, and underserved populations through the establishment of a new community-based healthcare clinic in Hawley. With the support of PADOH, TWCCH’s Hawley Practice offers one-stop, right-venue care to patients in Wayne and Pike counties, who are now able to access integrated behavioral and primary health services in one location.

• 2020

  In 2018, TWCCH assumed responsibility as a hub in the state’s Pennsylvania Coordinated Medication-Assisted Treatment (PacMAT) system and further expanded its work of serving the complex needs of patients with OUD by establishing ten practice spokes in four counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2020, PADOH awarded TWCCH a second PacMAT grant to recruit, engage, train, and support an additional ten practices as spokes.

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services awarded TWCCH a Support Services Navigation and Housing Services.

• 2019

  The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services awarded TWCCH a Support Services Navigation and Housing Services for Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder grant. The purpose of the grant to extend the pilot housing program implemented in Year 1 to support the recovery of individuals with OUD in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. TWCCH provides supportive services, including recovery services and basic needs and self-sufficiency supports, while all housing services and rental assistance is provided in collaboration with United Way of Wyoming Valley.

  The funding allows both organizations to work together to mitigate the impacts of unstable living conditions for individuals with OUD and to provide high-quality healthcare services to this population.

United Way of Wyoming Valley

This year, the Northeast Regional HIV Planning Coalition and United Way of Wyoming Valley invested over in support of The Wright Center.

• Annually

  This year, the Northeast Regional HIV Planning Coalition and United Way of Wyoming Valley invested in support of The Wright Center for Community Health’s Ryan White Clinic.

A. T. Still University—School of Osteopathic Medicine

ATSU-SOMA sub-awarded TWCCH to participate in a project.

• 2019

  ATSU-SOMA sub-awarded TWCCH to participate in a project titled Pathways to Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration in the Nation’s Health Centers: Creating Master Adaptive Learners Where the Need is Greatest. TWCCH has engaged in the planning and development of behavioral health curriculum enhancements aimed at training community-based practicing primary care providers, residents, and students, primarily within osteopathic medicine and dentistry, to utilize assessments and tools enabling community-based sites to escalate within the Framework for Levels of Integrated Healthcare. The funding also supports TWCCH in helping to initiate new training in opioid and substance use disorders and improving trainee and provider self-care and wellbeing.

Direct Relief

Direct Relief, in partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers, awarded TWCCH a COVID-19 Response Fund.

• 2020

  Direct Relief, in partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers, awarded TWCCH a COVID-19 Response Fund for Community Health grant in recognition of the profound effects that the pandemic has had on community health centers’ finances, staff members’ safety and wellbeing, services, and the patients who rely on them. The funding provided an infusion of additional emergency financial support to bolster safety-net facilities and TWCCH’s response to the unprecedented scale of COVID-19.

• 2020

  Direct Relief also awarded TWCCH a Innovation Award in Community Health for Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Underserved Communities. The funding will enhance TWCCH’s capacity as a safety-net provider to address the opioid epidemic by providing telehealth certification training for medical residents and faculty. Through an online training program, residents and faculty will learn the history and status of telehealth activities and engage with live telehealth learning experiences in TWCCH’s behavioral health service line. Participants will understand the use of telehealth to improve healthcare access and population health, explore how team-based and academic/community partnerships can be used to advance care, and embrace the changing models of care resulting from advancing telehealth technologies. This training can assist providers in reaching rural patients and help prepare them for care provision during major health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic through the utilization of telehealth.

Federal Communications Commission

The FCC awarded TWCCH a COVID-19 Telehealth Program grant to purchase and install telehealth equipment, monitors, and software.

• 2020

  The FCC awarded TWCCH a COVID-19 Telehealth Program grant to purchase and install telehealth equipment, monitors, and software. Funds were also awarded for the development of telehealth kits, and a supporting protocol, for patients to use from their homes. TWCCH community health workers will deliver these kits to patients on the day before their scheduled appointments. Each kit will contain Bluetooth-based diagnostic tools (e.g., a stethoscope, blood pressure cup, pulse oximeter, scale, and EKG) and instructions. A provider will conduct the appointment by videoconference, and the kit will be retrieved the day after the appointment, sterilized, and prepared for reuse.

Highmark Foundation

The Highmark Foundation awarded TWCCH a COVID-19 Relief for Critical Community Organizations grant.

• 2020

  The Highmark Foundation awarded TWCCH a COVID-19 Relief for Critical Community Organizations grant to strengthen its capacity to serve those who are uninsured and underserved during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luzerne Foundation

TWCCH was awarded a grant by the Luzerne Foundation Youth Advisory Committee.

• 2020

  TWCCH was awarded a grant by the Luzerne Foundation Youth Advisory Committee to support translation services for deaf or hard of hearing patients and patients with limited English proficiency at TWCCH’s Luzerne County practices.

Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs awarded TWCCH a Pregnancy Support Services grant.

• 2019

  The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs awarded TWCCH a Pregnancy Support Services grant to extend the reach of the Healthy MOMS program into Luzerne, Wayne, and Susquehanna counties. With DDAP’s support and in concert with partners including Maternal and Family Health Services and Outreach—Center for Community Resources, TWCCH is coordinating the delivery of MAT and pregnancy support services in counties and communities that don’t currently have the benefit of a strong network of collaborating social service agencies.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection awarded TWCCH a Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant.

• 2020

  The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection awarded TWCCH a Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant for the acquisition, delivery, and setup of seven pieces of refrigeration equipment.  The equipment will improve TWCCH’s existing food distribution program by enabling it to consistently maintain a supply of perishable items at its Mid Valley, Scranton, and Hawley practices and at Telespond Senior Day Services. The equipment will also expand TWCCH’s capability to offer healthy food choices. The program will be able to accept more donated/rescued fruits and vegetables from its traditional sources: Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank and Friends of the Poor. In addition, local growers of nutrient-rich foods can now be approached as potential new sources.

Robert H. Spitz Foundation

The Robert H. Spitz Foundation awarded TWCCH an grant for its Community Health Workers’ Patient Assistance Program.

• 2020

  The Robert H. Spitz Foundation awarded TWCCH an grant for its Community Health Workers’ Patient Assistance Program. TWCCH’s community health workers team stocks food and other necessities for emergency distribution to patients in dire situations. The Spitz Foundation funding will enable to community health workers to supply basics, then guide eligible individuals to apply for health insurance and food programs, and connect with community resources (e.g., GED programs and job training). The goal is to help patients overcome pressing economic issues so that they can gain the focus and financial ability to properly address their health issues.

School-Based Health Alliance

Through funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the School-Based Health Alliance launched a new learning collaborative.

• 2020

  Through funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the School-Based Health Alliance launched a new learning collaborative called Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment in School-Based Health Centers (SBIRT-in-SBHCs). TWCCH received a grant to support its SBHCs in preventing, identifying, and reducing substance use and depression in middle and high school-age youth.  TWCCH will also receive one year of participation in training and technical assistance to implement the SBIRT program.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

SAMHSA awarded TWCCH a Targeted Capacity Expansion: Medication Assisted Treatment—Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction grant.

• 2020

  SAMHSA awarded TWCCH a Targeted Capacity Expansion: Medication Assisted Treatment—Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction grant. The funding has enabled TWCCH’s Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence to increase the number of individuals receiving MAT and supported in long-term recovery services. Project partners include Lackawanna County (Court of Common Pleas treatment courts, prison, Agency on Aging, Department of Human Services Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and Single County Authority), Maternal and Family Health Services, Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Justice Outreach Program, and the Scranton Police Department.

TWCCH received a grant from the John and Helen Villaume Foundation.

• 2019

  TWCCH received a grant from the John and Helen Villaume Foundation to support the delivery of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in Wayne County. Through its Hawley Practice, TWCCH will expand its MAT services to reach this underserved population, who will now also be able to access primary care, nutrition, HIV/infectious disease treatment, dental, behavioral health, and women’s health services in addition to the services of TWCCH’s OUD-COE and the Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) program.

Appalachian Regional Commission

INvestments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative

• 2021

  Addressing the substance abuse crisis by expanding a recovery ecosystem leading to workforce entry or re-entry. Enhanced job training for Peer Recovery Support Specialists in conjunction with The Institute, AHEC, Luzerne County Community College, and other community partners.

CDC Foundation

CDC Foundation Hazleton COVID-19 Relief Project

• 2020

  To provide additional testing to residents of the Hazleton area and to prepare a community infrastructure for delivering a coronavirus vaccine. A catch-up vaccine program for children is also being supported as local children are not current on the required vaccines for school enrollment.

Hearst Foundation Funded

Foundation Funding in start-up costs.

• 2020

  This funding supports the increased access for low income patients who receive primary care, dental care and behavioral health care at the newly opened Scranton site location. Fuds will be used to offset provider salaries and benefits during the startup period so that patient care can be provided immediately upon hire.

Program is administered by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund under the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

• 2019

  It uses tax credits to attract private investment into distressed communities, thereby spurring job creation and other economic growth. In 2019, The Wright Center entered into multiple agreements, assisted by the NMTC Program, to facilitate the construction of our Scranton Practice, a healthcare hub in the South Scranton Neighborhood that includes a primary care practice as well as space for our organization’s graduate medical education and administrative activities. The aggregate principal amount of the loans was secured by assets of the organization.