Event Will Kick Off Health Care Project
Two Valley groups that started a project to assist the uninsured poor will sponsor a free kickoff event Saturday to launch their health project.
Valley Organized in Community Efforts, or VOICE, and San Fernando Valley Neighborhood Legal Services Inc. will celebrate the official start of the Vida Health Project at the event featuring participating families, health care providers, community leaders, food and music.
Vida, Spanish for “life,” will allow up to 300 people to receive outpatient primary care at about 20 private and public San Fernando Valley clinics, said Beth Osthimer, senior attorney at Valley Neighborhood Legal Services. Participants will be able to visit doctors, get prescriptions and undergo tests, lab work and preventive care for free or a voluntary monthly contribution, she said.
So far, about 220 people have qualified for Vida services.
The health care project was developed with help from USC’s School of Policy, Planning and Development and is being funded with a $550,000 three-year grant from the California Endowment, a Woodland Hills-based nonprofit health care foundation, Osthimer said.
Saturday’s program starts at 9:30 a.m. at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church Hall, 668 S. Workman St. For more information, call Osthimer at (818) 834-7570.
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