VALPARAISO, IN — HealthLinc has been awarded a $117,510 grant by the Health Foundation of La Porte (HFL) to support its Food as Medicine program at HealthLinc La Porte and Michigan City clinics. The program aims to reduce food insecurity, improve access to nutritious food and support patients in managing chronic conditions through healthy food distribution, nutrition education and clinical support.
Through this grant:
- 214 chronically ill, food-insecure patients will be enrolled in the program
- An additional 225 community members will be reached through educational cooking classes – impacting up to 439 individuals in La Porte and Michigan City
- Each enrolled patient will receive monthly food boxes and fresh produce vouchers for six months, attend community cooking classes focused on topics such as heart-healthy meals and cooking on a budget and receive clinical support
“Many of our patients struggle to manage their chronic health conditions,” said Melissa Mitchell, CEO of HealthLinc. “We know that access to nutritious food, along with knowledge on how to create, prepare and maintain a healthy diet, can make all the difference. This program not only improves health outcomes but equips families with knowledge that will benefit them for years to come.”
Patients enrolled in the program will work closely with their providers, a dietitian and a community health worker, receiving personalized monitoring and guidance. Remote patient monitoring devices and regular clinical check-ins will help track improvements in key health metrics, including weight, blood pressure, glucose levels and A1C values.
“HFL is excited to support HealthLinc to continue the Food as Medicine program, which is seeing great results for participants who can access fresh foods and nutrition counseling and advice from a registered dietician,” says Eric DeWald, President & CEO of Health Foundation of La Porte. “The program’s remote monitoring component is impressive as data on blood pressure, weight and glucose levels are transmitted to HealthLinc where a nurse reviews and can follow up with patients immediately on any points of concern.”
For more information on HealthLinc Mishawaka, please contact Jodie Wexelberg at jwexelberg@healthlincchc.org.
About HealthLinc
HealthLinc, Inc. (healthlincchc.org) is a not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center that provides primary medical, dental, optometry, and behavioral health services to people of all ages, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. In 1996, HealthLinc began as Hilltop Neighborhood House, a neighborhood clinic and childcare center in Valparaiso, IN. Since then, HealthLinc has expanded to thirteen clinics and one mobile medical/dental clinic. HealthLinc accepts Medicare, Medicaid, Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), and most commercial insurance plans, and provides care for uninsured patients. Services will be provided on a sliding fee scale based on household size and income, regardless of a patient’s insurance status.
About Health Foundation of La Porte
Health Foundation of La Porte (HFL) is a private, independent foundation whose mission is La Porte County residents are healthy and well. Since 2017, HFL has invested more than $49 million in the community. To learn more about HFL, please visit hflaporte.org.
HealthLinc Corporate Headquarters are located at 2401 Valley Drive, Valparaiso, IN. HealthLinc clinics span northern Indiana and are in East Chicago, Knox, La Porte, Michigan City, Mishawaka, South Bend and Valparaiso.
