Dr. Michael Blackwell and the Program for Pet Health Equity have been granted a $250,000 award from PetSmart Charities.  This award will support their AlignCare work with a special focus of expanding it and studying its application in BIPOC communities in the US. It will help connect families in those communities with veterinary service providers and veterinary social work coordinators and other existing resources.

Funds will be used to support accessible veterinary care for families in underserved communities facing barriers to care in any AlignCare Community and support program expansion into BIPOC communities. The program will leverage community resources and funding to improve access to care and may align resources currently provided by social service agencies and professionals, veterinary service providers and animal welfare organizations. Data will be collected from AlignCare enrollees to better understand how lack of access to veterinary care may affect their physical and emotional well-being. Funds from this grant will allow researchers to further explore how sociocultural barriers impact pet owners’ ability to access vet care.