The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation Awards 11 Grants
The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation awarded 11 grants in its spring 2025 funding cycle. Funding supports efforts in some of the state’s most vulnerable populations to improve the quality and value of health care and fight diabetes.
In partnership with Diabetes Free SC (DFSC), the Foundation will continue to support the management of diabetes during pregnancy and in women with or at risk for the disease. And a new diabetes initiative for adults will launch through a faith-based community model.
In addition to furthering the goals of DFSC, the Foundation will fund two projects that will improve community health care access and quality. A new grant aims to increase access to maternal health in the Lakelands region with the goal of improving birth outcomes and maximizing resources. An added grant in Greenville County will align emergency medical services with patient needs to expand community resources and reduce barriers to care.
These projects are funded in partnership with DFSC:
Comprehensive Management of Maternal Diabetes (SC MOMs) Expansion (2 years)
Organizations: Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) (Multiple counties in the Lowcountry and Pee Dee regions), Prisma Health Midlands (Clarendon, Orangeburg, Richland and Sumter counties) and Prisma Health Upstate (Anderson, Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties)
Summary: Through these two-year grants, the Foundation will help expand the management of maternal diabetes initiative collectively known as SC MOMs. This program will continue to help women manage maternal diabetes through a team-based, patient-centered model of care. Outcomes will include improved birth outcomes and improved health for mothers. Each partner will continue to gather and share data that will lead to improved care and long-term sustainability of the SC MOMs model of care.
Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) (1 year)
Organizations: Clemson University (Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties), Prisma Health Midlands (Clarendon, Kershaw, Richland and Sumter counties), Prisma Health Upstate (Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg counties) and Rural Health Services (Aiken County).
Summary: The Foundation will continue to support four WHI locations for one year as they build insight and gather data from the initial funding period. This project integrates educators, community providers, specialty care and community services into an innovative, patient-centered model of care for women with or at risk of diabetes. This project’s major outcomes will strengthen WHI’s comprehensive model of care, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and improve pregnancy and health outcomes.
Spiritual Health Initiative for Eliminating and Lowering Diabetes (SHIELD) (2 years)
Organizations: Generation4 (Anderson County) and Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center (Richland County)
Summary: These two-year grants will embed culturally tailored diabetes education and preventive care within trusted settings at Welfare Baptist Church in Belton and Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center in West Columbia. Each location will offer 12-week intensive programs that will equip participants with the knowledge to prevent and manage diabetes. This project’s major outcomes will increase understanding of diabetes, improve clinical outcomes and connect patients to care providers.
Two additional grants improve access and quality of care:
Lakelands Maternal Health Access Initiative (3 years)
Organization: Community Initiatives Inc. (Greenwood, Laurens, Edgefield, Abbeville, McCormick and Saluda counties)
Summary: This three-year grant will support a remote patient monitoring system that will give women access to maternal care at home and improve maternal health outcomes in rural counties. This project’s major outcomes will increase monitoring of health conditions to prevent or treat complications in pregnancy, decrease preterm birth rates, address the maternal health workforce shortage and increase access to health care in rural parts of the state.
Prehospital Assisted Treatment and Healthcare Services (PATHS) (2 years)
Organization: Greenville County Emergency Services (Greenville County)
Summary: This two-year grant will create a system to respond to low-acuity emergency management service (EMS) 911 calls via phone and/or home visits. EMS resources will be better equipped to provide patients with the right care in the right setting. This project’s major outcomes will improve response times, support patient-centered care, decrease transportation burdens and improve access for rural patients.