Community Benefit
As a not-for-profit health care system, St. Mary’s is committed not only to our patients, but also to the communities we serve. St. Mary’s is proud to give back to Athens and Northeast Georgia, which have supported our institution for more than a century. Community Benefit is the process by which St. Mary’s measures and reports the impact on our community of health improvement services, health professions education, research, and financial and in-kind contributions. Because we are a Catholic health care system, Community Benefit is a vital part of our mission and values. Community Benefit is also one of the justifications for our not-for-profit tax status.
Click here to view St. Mary's Fiscal Year 2022 Impact Report:
Click here to view IRS 990 Schedule H forms on the Trinity Health website.
To learn more about St. Mary’s Health Care Community Benefit, contact Mission Services at (706) 389.3273.
Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementations Strategy
Every three years St. Mary’s conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) in order to most effectively impact our community and to guide our Community Benefit planning. The CHNA is a thorough analysis of the health needs and assets in our community. The CHNA provides a comprehensive overview of the region we serve, including quantitative and qualitative data regarding socioeconomic factors, health indicators, and health status of the community. Not only is the CHNA an important tool for our health care system, but we also hope it serves as a resource for other organizations and citizens in our community. St. Mary’s first formal Community Health Needs Assessment was completed in the summer of 2010.
- 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment Report | Implementation Strategy
- 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment Report | Implementation Strategy
- 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment Report | Implementation Strategy
- 2013 Community Health Needs Assessment Report
- 2010 Community Health Needs Assessment Report
Community Health Worker Program
St. Mary’s Health Care System understands that issues like unstable housing, food insecurity, and low income can have a significant impact on your health as well as your quality of life. Our Community Health Worker can help connect you to valuable resources that can enhance your quality of life and can have a significant impact on your overall health.
St. Mary’s Community Health Worker can help connect you with community resources for the following:
- Access to Primary Care- including local federally qualified health centers and free/low cost community clinics
- Basic Needs
- Food Insecurity
- Health Literacy
- Housing
- Rent and Utility Assistance
- Social Isolation
- Transportation
Working with our Community Health Worker
During your initial conversation, the Community Health Worker will have an in-depth conversation with you to understand what needs you are currently experiencing, and which needs are having the biggest impact on your life. The Community Health Worker can then make referrals to different organizations that can provide the best resources to meet your needs.
Working with our Community Health Worker is completely free, and you will only receive referrals for organizations that provide free or reduced-cost services. If you are interested in connecting with our Community Health Worker, please email chw@stmarysathens.org.
Additional Community Health Worker Resources
If you are interested in learning more about Community Health Workers, please visit the National Association of Community Health Workers website or the Georgia Watch Community Health Workers and Access to Care website.