Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Grant Recipient, The Arizona Pet Project, Offers Health Equity Initiatives Supporting Pet Families

The Arizona Pet Project was named one of the Mercy C.A.R.E.S. grant recipients and we received a $207,000 grant!

Each year, Mercy C.A.R.E.S. awards grants to projects that demonstrate positive impacts to the community and align with one or more of Mercy Care’s community health focus areas. These focuses include supporting mental health and well-being, addressing housing security, empowering recovery from substance use, and managing chronic conditions – as luck would have it, our program addresses them all. 

Grant funds will support Mercy Care’s Medicaid members in removing pet-related barriers to healthcare, mental health services, substance use, and diversion programs, secure safe shelter and housing, prevent eviction, and provide pet food and supplies.

Funds will also help sustain our statewide expansion which began in 2023 – yay!

Like us, Mercy C.A.R.E.S. partners with organizations that advance health equity and further the vision that everyone, particularly those who are underserved with complex health needs, deserves to live a healthier life, and achieve their full potential. It’s a perfect match.

Mercy C.A.R.E.S. grant recipient, The Arizona Pet Project, has seen firsthand just how transformative the human-animal bond can be, and how a pet’s unconditional love provides mental and physical health benefits and can reduce substance abuse. Integrating into the Medicaid delivery system is a huge leap forward in connecting low-income and vulnerable people with services to support themselves and their pets. 

We’re incredibly grateful to the team at Mercy Care for recognizing how important it is to preserve the human-animal bond, and for providing us with Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant funding to ensure loving pet families across Arizona receive the care they need through The Arizona Pet Project! 

Watch Our Segment on Arizona’s Family: “Arizona nonprofit helps owners keep their pets during hard times”