San Andreas, CA…February 24, 2017– Mark Twain Medical Center (MTMC) is proud to announce the names of the several Calaveras County not-for-profit organizations to receive the Mark Twain Medical Center Community Grant for 2016. The hospital honored grant recipients at an awards luncheon held February 22, 2017. To date, more than $380,000 has been awarded to Calaveras organizations by the MTMC Community Grants Program. The Mark Dignity Health Community Grants Program varies according to the size of each hospital. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, or have a fiscal agent that is a 501(c)(3) organization and capable of administering the funds; the project or program must be a response to the health priorities identified in the local Dignity Health hospital’s community health assessment or benefit plan, and the project to be funded must involve collaboration with a minimum of two other organizations and/or with a Dignity Health hospital in our community.

From left to right Susan Wenger, President, Murphys Senior Center Board; Nicki Stevens, MTMC; Steve Shetzline, Executive Director, Murphys Senior Center; David Sackman, Deputy Director, Calaveras Behavioral Health Services; Elizabeth Thompson, Executive Director, Common Ground Senior Services; Doreen Schmidt, Planner, Area 12 Agency on Aging

This year’s honorees will be collaborating together under the project called: “Healthy Seniors Now”. Included
below in the program are the following organizations:
 Murphys Senior Center (provides free services to older adults including educational events, lunch and
exercise.);
 Common Ground Senior Services (supports the independence of individuals with disabilities through
resources, advocacy and services);
 Calaveras County Behavioral Health (provides the community with a wide range of mental health
services for children, youth and adults in Calaveras County.)
 Area 12 On Aging (Information and Assistance, In-Home Support, Minor Home Repair, Care
Management and Outreach.)
 Calaveras County Senior Center (provides exercise, lunch and social groups for seniors)
“This year we are pleased to award these organizations this opportunity to align with our core community health
principles, stated Bob Diehl, CEO at MTMC. “This program for many of our senior population will allow us to
focus on disproportionate unmet health-related needs of our community, with an emphasis on our senior
population. The focus for this program will be on primary prevention and addressing underlying causes of health
problems. Historically, we have seen the positive outcomes from our community partners who are the direct
beneficiaries of our grants, and continue to believe that this effort will result in building community capacity by
demonstrating collaboration.”

Health Seniors Now incorporates most of the Community Health Principles, primarily Building Community
Capacity, Demonstrating Collaboration and Emphasizing primary prevention. Community capacity and
collaboration will be done throughout the program by addressing community exercise needs and providing classes.
In addition, primary prevention will be completed by providing exercise and health classes to address health
problems.

Healthy Seniors Now addresses the significant health needs of adult diabetes and high blood pressure, also Healthy
Seniors Now addresses the added health needs of limited mental health resources. Healthy Seniors Now is also in
line with the MTMC Implementation Plan by providing Preventive Services including health education, classes
and workshops.

“It’s a pleasure to work with Dignity Health and our partners in developing activities for older adults, remarked
Steve Shetzline, Executive Director for the Murphys Senior Center. “We are excited to deliver innovative
programs to keep folks mentally, socially and physically active.”

The MTMC Executive Leadership Team carefully evaluated the programs to determine which programs best
address the unmet health needs as revealed in MTMC Community Needs Assessment. Six local nonprofit
organizations submitted proposals, requesting a total of $177,000.

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About Mark Twain Medical Center
Founded in 1951, Mark Twain Medical Center is a 25-bed, critical-access hospital providing inpatient acute
care, outpatient services and emergency services. The Medical Center’s Medical Staff represents a broad
range of specialties that ensure access to high quality medical care in a rural community. In addition to being
a major provider of health services, Mark Twain Medical Center is also a major source of jobs for area
residents. On average, more than 300 people are employed at the hospital and its five Family Medical Centers.
The Medical Center is a member of Dignity Health, the fifth largest not-for-profit healthcare system in the
nation. For more information, please visit our website at www.marktwainmedicalcenter.org. Mark Twain
Medical Center is also on Facebook.