Community Benefit

Community Benefit

As a not-for-profit, independent district hospital, MarinHealth Medical Center is fully committed to serving the healthcare needs of the surrounding community. In addition to being the county’s only full-service acute care facility, we give extensive charitable resources to benefit the community through access to care, education, prevention and support programs, and more.

2024 Community Benefit

Community benefit services promote health and healing and focus on addressing the identified unmet health needs of the community. For a program or service to be considered a community benefit, it must: improve access to health care; or enhance the health of the community; or advance medical or health care knowledge; or reduce the burden of government or other nonprofit community efforts.

In 2024, MarinHealth Medical Center provided community benefit activities and programs within its service area. MarinHealth provided $333,341 in financial assistance (charity care) costs, where no reimbursement is received, and $66.3 million in Medi-Cal shortfalls, which is the difference between what the hospital is reimbursed for care to beneficiaries and the actual cost of providing that care. During 2024, MarinHealth Medical Center contributed more than $108 million in community benefit contributions. Of that, over $105 million (97.2%) of the total community benefit contribution helped to improve access to care, increase healthy eating and active living, reduce homelessness, address mental health and substance use, and reduce violence and prevent injuries. The remainder was allocated for community building, community benefit operations, and health professions education.

MarinHealth Medical Center partners with community-based organizations to increase the number of individuals who receive health care and other health-related services that help them manage chronic conditions, access mental health care services, and transition to stable housing to maintain their health and wellness.

In 2024, MarinHealth provided grant funding to 20 local community partners in Marin County through our Community Grants Program. Supported community partners and highlights of their work are listed below.

Highlighted Successes

  • 215 West Marin seniors received core services aimed at successful aging, including case management services, home-delivered meals, and visitor services.
  • 88 unhoused individuals received medical respite, resulting in 323 avoidable hospital days.
  • 17,944 individuals were provided preventive dental care services.
  • Provided culturally competent nutrition education programs that build an intergenerational connection to food culture and land use among 214 preschoolers and 26 adults.
  • Over 61,335 medically tailored, nutritious meals were delivered to individuals and families in need.
  • Over 4,000 hours of leadership and mentorship were provided to over 100 Marin County youth.
  • Six trained Community Health Workers reached 825 community members through peer-to-peer outreach on substance use disorder.
  • Approximately 180,000 meals were provided to persons experiencing homelessness or those facing an imminent threat of homelessness.
  • 662 youth, adults, and seniors received comprehensive 1:1 therapy services.
  • 1,248 people experiencing homelessness were provided medical, mental health, and alcohol or drug treatment services in a clinical setting.
  • More than 500 individuals participated in Spanish-speaking mental health support groups.
  • 1,676 youth received support services to prevent and address substance use, mental health, isolation, sexual health, and trauma.
  • 3,483 at-risk individuals received community health education and referrals to safety net system supports, including benefits, job placement, rent supplements, home safety evaluations, financial assistance, food resources, legal advice, and housing resources.
  • 2,495 seniors participated in Healthy Aging programs, including cooking, balance classes, digital literacy, and nutrition.
  • Over 3,600 adults received substance use and/or mental health services in a clinical setting.
  • 1,530 seniors, youth, and families received healthy eating and active living programming, including cooking and nutrition classes, hikes, biking, gardening classes, after-school sports, environmental education, intergenerational events, and a wellness library.
  • 51,488 nutritious meals were provided to seniors in the community.

2024 Grant Recipients

Buckelew Programs
Buckelew helps people with behavioral health challenges lead healthier, more independent lives. Funding supported bilingual and culturally sensitive psychotherapeutic services for individuals and families, including undocumented individuals.

Canal Alliance
Canal Alliance is a nonprofit champion of immigrants challenged by a lack of resources and an unfair environment. Canal Alliance believes everyone has the right to achieve their dreams. When our community supports immigrants, Marin becomes a place where everyone can live, learn, work, and succeed. Funds supported the Latino Behavioral Health project.

Ceres Community Project
Ceres provides organic, medically tailored meals for those facing a serious illness with free or low-cost, nutrient-dense meals. Empowering teens as volunteer gardeners and chefs, they are mentored to learn about growing, cooking, and eating healthy foods and their power to make a difference.

Community Action Marin
Community Action Marin breaks down the barriers that get in the way of anyone in the community being able to support themselves and each other. Funds supported the Food Justice program, which believes everyone has the right to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods. Growing, cooking, and eating meals together is part of what unites people across generations and communities.

Community Institute for Psychotherapy (CIP)
CIP provides quality, low-cost mental health services to individuals and families who don’t have the resources to pay full fees for professional help. Funding provided timely and comprehensive mental health care for vulnerable families who are ineligible for county services and cannot otherwise afford care.

Homeward Bound of Marin
Homeward Bound provides homeless support programs, including emergency shelter, supportive housing, and job training. Funding supported medical respite services for people exiting acute hospital care without stable housing.

Huckleberry Youth Programs
Huckleberry strengthens families and empowers young people with services that promote safety in times of crisis, physical and emotional health and well-being, social justice in communities facing inequality, and educational success. Funds supported the Teen Health Program, providing youth and families with prevention education, screenings, assessments, and brief interventions as well as counseling for mental health and substance use and misuse.

Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS)
At JFCS, helping people successfully meet life’s challenges is part of their enduring tradition. Among the many services JFCS offers is counseling for individuals of all ages, couples, and families. Funds supported Behavioral Options to Optimize Senior Transitions (BOOST), providing early identification and screening for depression, anxiety, and trauma with evidence-based interventions.

Kids Cooking for Life
Kids Cooking for Life empowers Marin County kids and teens with nutritional knowledge and cooking skills for their lifelong health and well-being. Funds supported free after-school cooking and nutrition classes for kids aged 9 to 13.

Marin Center for Independent Living (MCIL)
MCIL provides services and advocacy for seniors and people with disabilities. Funding supported medical benefits, counseling, and access to care as core services to uninsured and underinsured individuals.

Marin City Health & Wellness Center (MCHWC)
MCHWC is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides comprehensive health services to uninsured and underinsured individuals. Funding supported the expansion of the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program for substance use disorder.

Marin Community Clinics (MCC)
MCC, a Federally Qualified Health Center, provides comprehensive health services to uninsured and underinsured individuals. Funding supported medical, dental, substance use, and behavioral health services.

National Alliance on Mental Illness – NAMI Marin County
NAMI Marin County is an organization of families, friends, and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. They provide advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental health conditions in Marin County can build better lives. Funds supported Spanish-speaking Family Support Groups. This evidence-based program offers information on medications, intervention options, how to communicate and support those with mental illness, identifying what resources are available, how to navigate the system, and self-care methods.

North Marin Community Services (NMCS)
NMCS empowers youth, adults, and families to achieve well-being, growth, and success. Funding supported the Road to Resilience for Novato Youth Teen Clinic. The trauma-informed coordinated service delivery model increases access to behavioral health, focusing on low-income youth of color, aged 12 to 25, in North Marin.

Ritter Center
Ritter Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, provides comprehensive care for homeless individuals or those living in overcrowded conditions. Funding supported developing quality improvement projects to enhance care.

RotaCare Bay Area
RotaCare is a volunteer alliance of medical professionals, organizations, and community members dedicated to providing free primary, quality healthcare services to uninsured families and individuals with limited ability to pay for medical care. Funds supported acute medical care and initial doses of medications.

San Geronimo Valley Community Center (SGVCC)
SGVCC fosters healthy communities within the San Geronimo Valley and Nicasio by providing an inclusive, diverse, and dynamic center for locally based human services, arts and culture, education, health and wellness, and community building. Funds supported the Comprehensive Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) program, which serves the community throughout a lifetime. Programs include outdoor activities, social-emotional learning, support groups, intergenerational get-togethers, and Spanish-speaking play groups.

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County
St. Vincent de Paul believes everyone needs food, housing, dignity, and a chance for a better life – no one can do it alone. Funds supported the Free Dining Room: Gateway to Health & Safety Net Services. This is the only free dining room available in Marin every day of the year. Free meals are provided to the homeless or those facing an imminent threat of homelessness, as well as housing, healthcare, legal services, and financial assistance.

Vivalon
Vivalon Healthy Aging Center provides services for seniors to stay active, informed, supported, and nourished while meeting their crucial transportation needs. Vivalon is the largest nonprofit serving older adults and people with disabilities in Marin County.

West Marin Senior Services (WMSS)
Seniors are a federally designated medically underserved population in West Marin. WMSS provides case management, home-delivered meals, congregate meals, transportation assistance, and visiting programs for seniors to promote successful aging.

To learn more about our community partners, and how you can get involved, please visit their websites.


Annual Community Benefit Report

  • MarinHealth's 2023 community benefit report and plan can be accessed, here.
  • MarinHealth's 2022 community benefit report and plan can be accessed, here.
  • MarinHealth's 2021 community benefit report and plan can be accessed, here.

Grant Program

MarinHealth partners with and supports community organizations and health agencies committed to building innovative strategies that serve the needs of Marin County residents through our Community Benefit Grant Program. Learn more about our Community Benefit Grant Program.


Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)

In 2022, MarinHealth completed a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and 2023-2025 Implementation Strategy. Both documents were approved by the Board of Directors on October 3, 2022.

The 2019 CHNA and 2020-2022 Implementation Strategy were approved by the Board of Directors on September 3, 2019.

To request a hard copy of the documents or if you would like to share any feedback/comments please email us.