UnitedHealthcare Provides Funding to Support Workforce Development

The UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia will provide Step Up Savannah with a $95,000 grant in support of its efforts to provide underserved communities with training, healthcare screenings, and employment resources to eliminate multigenerational poverty.

Established in 2005, Step up Savannah is an independent nonprofit organization that aims to serve low-and middle-income individuals throughout the Savannah and Chatham County area by promoting economic mobility and financial security.

According to the US Census, Chatham County in Georgia has a poverty rate of 15.5 percent. The press release noted that over one in three households in Savannah lacks the sufficient net worth required to navigate the loss of employment.

 Step up Savannah started the Chatham Apprentice Program (CAP) to combat the multigenerational poverty in Chatham and the surrounding counties. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia's $95,000 grant will be used to bolster CAP's efforts.

“UnitedHealthcare is committed to identifying and addressing the unmet needs of the individuals we serve to improve their overall health and quality of life,” said Michael Minor, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia, in a press release. “This collaboration will allow Step Up Savannah to expand on their critical programming and bring much needed employment opportunities to Georgians.” 

The grant will support 300 low-income young adults living in impoverished areas of Chatham County through new opportunities over a two-year period. These will include training, connections to social services, and direct employment opportunities.

Further, those involved in CAP program will be able to earn certifications and credentials that apply to several careers, including dispatcher, firefighter, and emergency medical technician. The program will add opportunities to earn doula training and certification later this year.

The press release also noted that the grant would allow Step Up Savannah to sustain its partnership with JC Lewis Primary Healthcare, a local federally qualified health center, giving program participants access to remote screenings.

“Step Up Savannah wants to express our utmost gratitude and appreciation for this workforce development and financial security partnership with UnitedHealthcare, whose generosity allows us to provide these services to low-wealth communities free of charge,” said Alicia M. Johnson, executive director of Step of Savannah, in the press release. “Although rich in human, natural and creative resources, 22% of Savannah residents live in income poverty, and 44% of the households of color have a net worth of zero. Because of partners like UnitedHealthcare, we can continue to move toward economic equity in our community, one household at a time.”

The grant is part of UnitedHealthcare's efforts to boost equitable employment opportunities. Last year, the United Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of UnitedHealth Group, announced that it would commit $100 million over 10 years to support efforts to diversify the healthcare workforce.

Additionally, in March, the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Wisconsin received recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its efforts surrounding health equity advancements.

The NCQA Health Equity Accreditation acknowledges the healthcare stakeholders that create strategies to advance health equity, including creating an internal culture supporting their health equity work and establishing language services and provider networks to meet diverse patient needs.

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Wisconsin won the accreditation for its numerous efforts to support health equity, including partnering with federally qualified health centers and community-based organizations to help address care disparities across the state.