Grantee: Mission Africa
Timeframe: July 2026 – June 2027 | Amount: $70,000
Mission Africa is implementing the Global Communities Health Access Initiative to expand culturally responsive healthcare access for immigrant and refugee families in King County. The organization brings dedicated staffing, structured programming, and systematic data tracking to community-based outreach efforts. Services are delivered primarily in Federal Way, Kent, Auburn, and South Seattle — communities geographically distant from Seattle-area healthcare hubs.
Immigrant and refugee families in South King County face compounding barriers to preventive and primary care. Mission Africa’s 2025 program data, drawn from 128 families, identifies the leading barriers: language and communication (61%), lack of knowledge about accessing care (54%), cost and insurance confusion (48%), transportation (39%), and fear of documentation requirements or government data sharing (33%). These disparities result in higher rates of unmet preventive care needs, delayed chronic disease diagnosis, and avoidable emergency department use compared to the general King County population.
Mission Africa has outlined the following program activities:
- Community Health Education Outreach: Organize a minimum of 20 health education sessions annually at faith-based organizations, cultural centers, and community sites, led by Mission Africa’s staff or trained volunteers and presented in participants’ primary languages.
- One-to-One Health Navigation: Provide individualized navigation support, including appointment scheduling, Apple Health enrollment, interpretation, transportation coordination, and specialty referrals. Anticipate serving at least 400 unduplicated individuals.
- Health Access Events: Organize 20–25 community health events annually in partnership with King County Public Health, HealthPoint Federal Way, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and others, providing preventive screenings, vaccinations, insurance enrollment assistance, and behavioral health connections. Targeting at least 250 individuals will be linked to services.
- Warm Handoffs and Care Coordination: All individuals and families receiving referrals will receive a documented warm handoff to clinical partners including HealthPoint Federal Way, MultiCare Kent, Sea Mar, and ICHS. Reach 75% appointment attendance at the 30-day clinical follow-up.
Mission Africa’s outreach and navigation staff are recruited from the communities they serve; many having navigated the same barriers as current clients. Programming reflects direct community feedback gathered through listening sessions and Mission Africa’s volunteer network. A Community Health Advisory Group of 5–8 members representing East African, Somali, and Latino communities will be established in the first quarter of the grant term. The advisory group will review program data and guide service delivery. Advisory group members will be compensated for their participation.
ABOUT OUR GRANTEE
Mission Africa
“Mission Africa empowers families in Washington State and in villages in Africa through three focus areas: education, healthcare, & poverty alleviation.
Our work increases access points, providing interpreters and translated materials in major African languages, culturally relevant and specific services and information that supports assimilation, and ongoing opportunities for connection to community and resources for long-term stability.
As families work to navigate a society laced with racist and xenophobic systems, we actively work to increase the mental resilience of those served. For adults, we create onramps to varying competencies and increase access to basic needs resources, and opportunities for economic growth, health, and wellness. For youth, we actively work to develop positive identity associations through leadership, advocacy, and life skill development programs. All of our programs honor the diversity and cultural richness of the different countries and values of those served while fostering community and ensuring families know they are not alone.
As a community-based, community-rooted, and community-led organization with over a decade of consistent service to African families across Washington State, we pride ourselves on cultivating an inclusive and equitable culture. This is reflected in our intentional hiring practices, commitment to authentic program design, centering of community voice and need, and allocation of organizational resources. Our staff and board leadership embody the diversity of the African diaspora. We welcome and celebrate differences and work to ensure that all are equally engaged and invested, sharing power and responsibility for the organization’s mission while not discriminating against any community that wants to participate in our programs.”
