Oneida County has been awarded $538,000 by the Central New York Care Collaborative to improve the healthcare of the local refugee population.

The funding will go to the Neighborhood Center as the lead agency, along with Mohawk Valley Health System, the Regional Primary Care Network and the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees.

It will be used for a project that will help reduce unnecessary hospital re-admissions and increase access to primary care.

“I am happy that Oneida County was able to help facilitate this collaboration between these important organizations,” County Executive Anthony Picente said. “This funding will strengthen the foundation of one of our community’s most valuable assets — our refugee population — and ensure that its healthcare needs are met in the most effective and efficient way possible.”

The Central New York Care Collaborative is a partnership that connects more than 2,000 healthcare and community based service providers in six counties across Central New York.

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