Mission
Bristol Hospice Foundation of CA is a non-profit organization established to commit its resources to activities which are intended to ensure hospice care & other compassionate programs are available for families facing a life-limiting illness with particular emphasis on the underinsured/uninsured.
Notes from the nonprofit
The Foundation was created in Bakersfield, CA in association with Kern Hospice in 1979. In July 2001 when Kern Hospice was acquired by Optimal Healthcare the existing 501(c)3 changed its name. In 2020 Optimal Hospice changed its name to mirror its new parent company Bristol Hospice. To reflect our continued partnership the Foundation name was officially changed in January 2021. From the beginning the Foundation funded hospice care for patients facing a life-limiting illness who are uninsured/under-insured. In the mid 1990's community education and bereavement support programs, such as Kids Camp were added.
Ruling year
1979
Director
Cherie Shoemake
Main address
1227 Chester Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301 USA
Formerly known as
Kern Hospice Services
Optimal Hospice Foundation
EIN
95-3334909
NTEE code
Hospice (P74)
Home Health Care (includes Visiting Nurse Associations) (E92)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Access to hospice care for people who have a life limiting illness who have limited or no insurance. Provide grief support to children following the death of a loved one.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Kids Camp
The loss of a loved one touches each member of the family, including children. To help young people through their bereavement, Bristol Hospice Foundation of CA created Kids Camp. This summer camp program is specially designed for young people ages 6 - 16 that have experienced the loss of an immediate family member in the recent past. At Kids Camp, young people enjoy traditional camping activities, such as swimming and hiking, in an atmosphere where both staff and fellow campers understand their special needs. The children find healing and peace through games, activities and fellowship with each other. Kids Camp is in the Bakersfield, Fresno, and NorCal areas and is open to all children in the community. The child's loved one did not have to be on hospice to attend camp. This innovative experience is at no cost to families, thanks to generous support from the community. Camp participants may be referred by school counselors, healthcare providers, family members and other individuals.
Community Outreach
The Foundation is committed to providing education regarding the importance and value of hospice care to patients and families. Losing a loved one is never easy, unfortunately most people have no idea how hospice can help or when hospice would be appropriate. Community Outreach programs whether directly provided or funded by the Foundation provide the community the information they need to make an educated decision that is best for their situation.
Direct Patient Care Funding
The Foundation works closely with Bristol Hospice to ensure families have access to hospice care regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. When a patient is uninsured or their benefits have run out the Foundation pays Optimal Hospice Care a per day rate to help cover the cost of the patients care while on hospice. This ensures families are never turned away based on their insurance status. This program is provided for all 19 of our service areas in California.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Optimal Hospice Foundation is a non-profit organization established to commit its resources to activities which are intended to ensure hospice care and other compassionate programs are available for families facing a life-limiting illness with an emphasis on the underinsured or uninsured population. Programs include outreach & education, hospice care funding and bereavement support including an annual Kids Camp for children who have experienced the loss of a love one.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We utilize our relationships with the community to raise awareness about hospice care and the programs provided by the Foundation.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Foundation partners with the Community Education Department of Optimal Hospice Care.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We will be working to expand our involvement in our Bereavement Programs. We have increased our Kids Camp attendance by adding a camp in Northern California in 2015. In 2016 we saw the need to provide a program for children to young to attend our over night camp, so in 2017 the Foundation added a one day camp model for kids ages 5-9. We started with a single one day session for Kern County with much success. The one day model was added for Fresno area in 2019. The goal is to have a one day camp in NORCAL starting in 2021.As of 2020 the Foundation will host 6 sessions of camp from Kern to San Joaquin Counites - 4 overnight and 2 one day.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
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BRISTOL HOSPICE FOUNDATION of CA (formerly Optimal Hospice Foundation)
Board of directorsas of 3/29/2022
Michele Cooper
San Joaquin Valley Mortgage
Term: 2022 - 2025
Jim LaMar
Greenlawn Funeral Homes
Theresa Olson
Keller Williams Realty
Suzi Beaty
Fidelity National Home Warranty
Kris Simpson
Komoto Pharmacy
Shanna LeViner
Pro Safety and Rescue, Inc.
Jesse Soto
Kern River Holdings
Kim VanDeVenter
Kern Medical
Michele Herstad
Mistras Group
Bethane Banks
Houchin Blood Bank
Laronda Dillard Smith
Kern Medical
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
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