Executive Summary

Clarkston, Georgia, welcomes more refugees per capita than any other city in the United States. The continuous arrival of refugees has created a community rich in diversity and hope. Yet, many systemic obstacles prevent refugee families from improving their health and well-being. These obstacles result in inequities such as higher-than-average poverty rates, limited health insurance coverage, and lower life expectancy.

After spending an entire year listening to their community, Ethne’s founders opened a healthcare clinic to reduce these inequities. Ethne’s willingness to follow the community’s guidance ensured its early success. The fact that Ethne has exponentially increased healthcare visits year after year is a testament to the founders’ ongoing focus on community listening and representation. Most Ethne leaders live in the organization’s service area, and most employees are persons of color, speak two or more languages, and are first- or second-generation immigrants or refugees.

Ethne is a trusted healthcare provider in Clarkston. Ethne’s 46 staff improve health by providing quality, affordable healthcare, including dental services, limited specialty care, and primary care – a type of healthcare that reduces health inequities for diverse communities. Ethne has cured infections, helped patients manage chronic illnesses, and prevented an immeasurable number of illnesses. Further, Ethne’s Resource Team ensures patients receive the full range of healthcare and social services they need by helping them navigate the fragmented, expensive U.S. healthcare system that excludes most Clarkston residents.

Good health is critical to a person’s success, and Ethne will continue to expand and deepen our services to ensure everyone in our community succeeds.

Organizations may provide budget and employee data based on this proposal or the organization as a whole. For more information on this proposal or organization, please email us.