By ROBERT DICKS

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital recently announced a $1 million investment in the local community to increase access to primary medical services and enhance the ability of four community organizations to serve children and expectant mothers in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

These funds will be directed to the Ravenswood Family Health Center in East Palo Alto, the MayView Community Health Center in Palo Alto and Mountain View, the Santa Clara Family Health Plan’s Healthy Kids insurance program and the San Mateo County Children’s Health Initiative.

“These community health programs are committed to providing health care for some of our most underserved populations,” said Christopher Dawes, president and CEO of Packard Children’s Hospital. “We have a close working relationship with these agencies. These funds will ensure their services for those who need them most.”

The investment will increase capacity at Ravenswood Family Health Center by funding an additional pediatrician, a pediatric social worker and an adolescent physician over the next three years; ensure continuity of services at the MayView Community Health Center clinics in Palo Alto and Mountain View through a one-time gift; and provide funding to enroll 200 more children in the Healthy Kids insurance programs in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Investing in community health continues the ongoing mission of Packard Children’s Hospital to support the health-care needs of children, adolescents and expectant mothers. Though this $1 million investment is the first of its type made by the hospital, last year the hospital provided over $48 million in uncompensated medical care and community service programs in Northern California, Packard officials said.

“With rising medical costs and the state budget crisis, many community health organizations are suffering at a time when even more residents need their services,” said Candace Roney, executive director of community services at Packard. “The health-care safety net is badly frayed. This investment reflects our commitment to ensuring that high-quality health care remains available to underserved residents in our community.”