Washington, D.C. – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated Sunset Community Health Center in Somerton on receiving a $650,000 New Access Point Grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funds, which come through the Affordable Care Act, will help Sunset expand its regional school health clinic program, which Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) transferred to Sunset in April 2011.

The award is part of a $128.6 million nationwide series of grants announced today by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The awards are being given to 219 health centers around the country to help reach more than 1.25 million additional patients and create approximately 5,640 jobs by establishing new health center service delivery sites. More information about the nationwide awards is available at http://1.usa.gov/NTOYJk.

“These funds are going to create jobs, make sure Southern Arizona students get the health care they need, and improve access to medical services regardless of where a student lives or how much her parents make,” Grijalva said. “The Affordable Care Act strategy of investing in underserved areas is exactly the way we should be going. I thank HHS for recognizing the need for this award and all the others around the country that are going to have such a positive impact.”

A portion of the grant will fund the opening of a new school health clinic in Somerton to provide care to uninsured students. Sunset already operates school health clinics at Pecan Grove Elementary School, Rancho Viejo Elementary School, San Luis Arizona Desert Elementary School, and schools in the East Valley through a mobile medical van.

Because of the new grant, Sunset estimates it will be able to provide health care to at least 4,000 students referred by more than 45 schools throughout Yuma County. The Sunset student health effort is the only basic primary care option for many students because of family finances. For more information about the local impact, call Sunset at (928) 819-8999.