Desert Hot Springs: A Place-Based Initiative


Purpose:

To support health access and health service improvements in the city of Desert Hot Springs, CA

District Funds committed to date: $ 8,863,378

Impact of funding over a 10-year period:

  • Improved access to healthcare & dental care with Borrego Health Foundation’s clinics providing services in three locations
  • Physician ratio increased – HPSA (Health Professional Shortage Area) designation changed (originally 2 permanent or 1 doctor/13,000 residents →approx. 10 FTE
  • Medically Underserved Area (MUA) designation will no longer be applicable after services ramped up within the year
  • Dental providers increased to 4 FTE with imbedded dental clinic at the Wellness Center from two dental providers who accepted Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal and only one who accepted new patients (1 provider/11,180 estimated Medi-Cal patients).
  • Innovative financing for Community Health & Wellness Center i.e. New Market tax credits – now used as a model by Desert Recreation District for funding of a Thousand Palms health clinic
  • Mental health services increased through Family Services of the Desert; Riverside County Department of Mental Health; Borrego Health Foundation; and UCR School of Medicine.
  • Poverty moved up the policy agenda
  • 10-year timeline:

    July 2003
    DHCD funds a mobile health clinic in DHS - Santa Rosa DeValle/Boys and Girls Club ($153,700)

    June 2004
    DHCD issues an RFP for a consultant to lead a community health initiative in DHS – goal: identify and prioritize community health care needs in the City of Desert Hot Springs DHCD funds Family Services of the Desert for mental health counseling services at the Desert Hot Springs Family Resource Center/Boys and Girls Club ($81,813)

    August 1, 2004 – January 2005
    DHCD contracts with Community Initiatives ($120,277) to facilitate a community dialogue and planning process which would result in a Healthcare plan and strategy for Desert Hot Springs

    March 18, 2005
    Desert Hot Springs Community Plan final report issued by Community Initiatives (click here for full report)
    Recommendations:

    • Launch a basic community clinic now
    • Begin development toward a community health campus

    Actions:
    DHCD provides additional funding for Task Forces formed to pursue recommendations

    August 1, 2005
    DHCD and County Housing Authority Purchase Agreement - $1million of sale proceeds (Sunrise/Vista Chino property) for acquisition of property in DHS to provide a location for a family medical care facility (no later than 6/30/10)

    2006
    DHCD approves grant for DHS to hire Hammes Company to create a Blue Ribbon response on healthcare for Desert Hot Springs. ($100,000)

    February 27, 2006
    First report from Hammes given to the City of Desert Hot Springs “Continuum of Care” Planning: Highlighting service area, population projections, household incomes, payor mix projections.

    June 14, 2006
    Updated report from Hammes provided to the City of Desert Hot Springs: Project objectives, Department of Public Health facility update, market and volume analysis, service line recommendations, financial projections, facility recommendations. Task force pursues medical group/physician options.

    2006
    Riverside County Department of Public Health prepares the architectural program for a new Desert Hot Springs facility, sized at 11,000sqft including the WIC Program, family care center with 8 exam rooms and work stations for other Public Health programs.

    March 13, 2007
    Riverside County Board of Supervisors approves the Notice of Intent to purchase 14.08 acres at the NE quadrant of Palm Drive and Park Lane.

    June 2007
    DHCD provides Family Services of the Desert (FSOD) a capacity building grant for a permanent location in Desert Hot Springs. ($75,000)

    October 29, 2007
    Escrow closes and the County holds a Desert Hot Springs Land Acquisition Celebration.

    May 2008
    County selects HDR Architecture, Inc to design the new family care center.

    September 2008
    DHS commissions feasibility study/survey for new Boys & Girls Club.

    November 2008
    DHCD provides FSOD supplemental funding to cover unreimbursed expenses due to unexpected delays in opening the DHS office. ($48,655)

    February 2009
    District, DHS, Borrego representatives take tour of the Jewish Temple facility as a possible clinic site.

    March 10, 2009
    District meets with representatives from Desert Hot Springs, Borrego Community Health Foundation (“Borrego”) and the County of Riverside to discuss status of the medical clinic.

    April 17, 2009
    Desert Hot Springs and District Representatives meet to hear about the new Boys and Girls Club. (Possible $3 million ask for share of the project.)

    2009
    DHCD provides grant to FSOD for the provision of mental health services to District Residents in Desert Hot Springs. ($133,352)

    June 2009
    County puts out RFP for a clinic operator.

    June – August 2009
    Ongoing discussion regarding the Boys and Girls Club.

    September 08, 2009
    Desert Hot Springs representatives make a presentation to the Program Committee about the new Wellness Center concept as a part of the Boys and Girls Club.

    October 01, 2009
    Groundbreaking for Community Health and Wellness Center (Boys and Girls Club).

    October – December 2009
    Ongoing discussion regarding the Community Wellness Project; Waiting to hear from the Federal Government if Borrego received the grant for the clinic.

    January 2010
    Borrego does not get Federal Grant.

    April 01, 2010
    Meeting with the County, Desert Hot Springs, Borrego and District representatives regarding current status of the clinic and future direction.

    April 28, 2010
    DHCD provides grant to Borrego Community Health Foundation towards build out of 3,400 square foot/7 exam room clinic on Palm Drive ($330,000)

    May 25, 2010
    DHCD provides grant to FSOD for the provision of mental health services to District Residents in Desert Hot Springs. ($121,472)

    July 1, 2011
    DHCD provides grant to FSOD for the provision of mental health services to District Residents in Desert Hot Springs. ($225,000)

    May 8, 2012
    DHCD awards $5,167,048 to the City of Desert Hot Springs towards the construction of the 82,000 square foot Health and Wellness Center.

    February 26, 2013
    DHCD provides matching grant to HARC for “oversampling and supplemental questions” for the City of Desert Hot Springs for the 2016 Coachella Valley Community Health Monitor. ($30,000)

    June 25, 2013
    DHCD provides grant to FSOD for the provision of mental health services to District Residents in Desert Hot Springs. ($89,222)

    Total Fiscal Impact from 2003 to 2013: $7,675,539

    • Infrastructure: $5,497,048
    • Services: $928,214
    • Partnerships: $1,250,277

    Other services & additional fiscal impact: $1,187,840 for a GRAND TOTAL OF $8,863,378

    This number includes funding to organizations located in Desert Hot Springs, such as Food Now, Angel View, The Ranch Recovery Centers, Soroptomist House of Hope, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Food Pantry, & Sky Valley Parks Emergency Response Team as well as placement of a Healthcorps Coordinator for two years at DHS High School.

What’s New