When founded in 1906, Affinia Healthcare included in its mission that they would assist all St. Louisans, regardless of their national origin or race.
In continuance of that pledge 116 years ago, Affinia has been awarded a grant to serve Afghan refugees relocating to the St. Louis area.
The $388,438 grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI).
It will support Affinia’s culturally and linguistically appropriate health education, navigation and care coordination towards the immediate and long-term physical and mental health needs for Afghan refugees included under the USCRI guidelines for this program, according to the provider.
To assist refugees and other groups who are eligible for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Program and are entitled to health coverage benefits to the same extent as refugees, “it is critical to ensure newcomers can understand and access the U.S. healthcare system,” Dr. Kendra Holmes, Affinia Healthcare president & CEO, explained.
“Increasing non-clinical services for individuals and families is vital to enhancing the wellbeing of these populations. Immigrants arriving in our city are often fleeing traumatic situations and whatever health concerns they may have had, are exacerbated by the stress of long travel, separation from friends and family, and finding housing and employment,” said Dr. Holmes.
“We are extremely honored to continue the mission of our founders and look forward to providing vital healthcare services and support to these communities.”
This latest grant builds upon previous partnerships to serve immigrant communities.
In March 2023, the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis awarded Affinia Healthcare at $63,000 to provide immigrants healthcare services.
In April 2023, Affinia Healthcare announced a partnership with the Al Taqwa Islamic Center to provide healthcare services to its members, which includes Muslim immigrants to the United States.
USCRI grant awarded in 2018 and renewed in 2023, to provide initial health examinations, immunizations and primary care for newly arrived refugees.
Affinia Healthcare serves as the primary care home for many of the newly arrived refugees and other immigrants who often lack health insurance access, caring for over 4,000 immigrants on an annual basis.
During 2022, Affinia served more than 700 new refugees and anticipates approximately 800 new arrivals in the current fiscal year (Oct. 22, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023), most being from Afghanistan, in addition to other immigrants.
The number of new immigrant patients is expected to significantly increase this year, as the International Institute of St. Louis, the local refugee relocation agency, anticipates receiving another 800 Afghan refugees and other refugees.
Affinia host group prenatal care event
MO HealthNet, in partnership with the St. Louis Integrated Health Network, hosted a group prenatal care additional reimbursement launch event on Friday January 12 at the 1717 Biddle Street center.
Group prenatal care models are designed to improve patient education and include opportunities for social support while maintaining the risk screening and physical assessment of individual prenatal care.
“We are excited to announce the launch of additional reimbursement to providers conducting evidenced-based group prenatal visits for their patients,” said Kirk Mathews, MO HealthNet chief transformation officer.
“This is a great step toward eliminating the racial disparities in maternal/infant health outcomes that have existed far too long.”
Group prenatal care is instrumental in reduction in preterm birth, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions, and decreased emergency department visits in the third trimester.
It is beneficial to increases in birth weight for term and preterm infants; rates of breastfeeding initiation and continuation, and patients presenting in active labor and at greater cervical dilatation, and patient, obstetrician and other obstetric care provider satisfaction.
Prenatal care also improves pregnancy-related weight management, and knowledge of childbirth, family planning, postpartum depression, and early child rearing.
