Grant Awards Include Program to Raise Heart Disease Awareness
National 'Go Red' campaign resources will be used here to educate women
St. Louis, Mo., April 9 -The number one killer of women in the U.S., heart disease, will be tackled locally by Christian Hospital of St. Louis using a $375,524 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH). Thirty-six educational and screening events will take place during each of the three years of the program with the goal of increasing knowledge of heart disease in approximately 200,000 women. Robin Smith of KMOV Channel 4 will be the spokesperson for the program.
Other highlighted grant awards include a grant in the amount of $517,221 to the Southern Missouri Community Health Center, which will fund a dental start-up at the center. Project goals include serving more than 3,000 individuals per year.
Another substantial grant award is for the Gibson Recovery Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo, who will use a $453,809 grant to improve the continuum of care for those suffering with mental illness and substance abuse. The center will utilize an integrated approach that consists of case management, individualized outpatient treatment, 12-step principles, enhanced medication management and outreach to families.
Established in January of 2000 through the for-profit conversion of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, MFH is the largest health care foundation in the state and the second largest health conversion foundation in the country. Its vision is to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves. The Foundation is in its third year of grantmaking. Current assets are approximately $1 billion.
For additional information regarding MFH, call (314) 345-5500, (800) 655-5560 or visit the Web site at www.mffh.org.
January grant awards listed alphabetically
Christian Hospital, St. Louis, Mo 63136
Grant Amount: $375,524
Project: This 3-year project will raise the awareness of heart disease in women through a comprehensive social marketing campaign and community screenings.
Region Served: St. Louis Metro
Grant Contact: Stephen Hadzima (314) 653-5419
Dexter Community Regional Healthcare, Dexter, Mo 63841
Grant Amount: $183,041
Project: This 3-year project will establish a program to aid uninsured and underinsured individuals in completing necessary forms to receive medications and health services from patient assistance programs.
Region Served: Butler and Stoddard county
Grant Contact: Mary Peterson (573) 323-4667
Gibson Recovery Center, Inc., Cape Girardeau, Mo 63703
Grant Amount: 453,809
Project: This 2-year project will work to improve the continuum of care for those who are mentally ill and suffer with substance abuse.
Region Served: Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, New Madrid, Perry, Scott and Stoddard county
Grant Contact: John Gary (573) 334-5513
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Missouri, Jefferson City, Mo 65109
Grant Amount: $193,892
Project: This 3-year project will implement mental health programs consisting of support groups and public education that promotes effective treatment and fights the social stigma around mental illness.
Region Served: St. Louis City and County, Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Greene, Jasper, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Phelps, Pulaski and Scott county
Grant Contact: Cindi Keehe (573) 634-7727
Marion County Health Department and Home Health Agency, Hannibal, Mo 63401
Grant Amount: $24,668
Project: This 12-month grant will be used to purchase equipment and supplies to develop targeted programs in bicycle safety, burn prevention and child passenger motor vehicle safety.
Region Served: Clark, Knox, Lewis, Marion, Monroe, Putnam, Scotland and Shelby county
Grant Contact: Tammy Hudson (573) 221-1166
Salvation Army, Cape Girardeau, Mo 63703
Grant Amount: $124,629
Project: This 3-year project will implement new programs to assist individuals in getting needed medications and a primary care "health home" that will aid with lifestyle changes regarding cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Region Served: Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Scott and Stoddard county
Grant Contact: Tina Rodgers (573) 335-7000
Scotland County Health Department, Memphis, Mo 63555
Grant Amount: $54,329
Project: This 12-month grant will be used to update equipment and supplies and expand clinical space in order to serve more women and children.
Region Served: Clark, Knox, Schuyler and Scotland county
Grant Contact: Margaret Curry (660) 465-7275
Southern Missouri Community Health Center, West Plains, Mo 65775
Grant Amount: $517,221
Project: This 3-year grant will fund the dental start-up at the health center, equipping six dental operatories, providing salary for one dentist and supplies for the dental clinic.
Region Served: Howell county
Grant Contact: Alan Stevens (417) 255-8464
St. Louis ConnectCare, St. Louis, Mo 63112
Grant Amount: $500,000
Project: This 18-month project will go to upgrade the agency's medical software, enabling the center to serve 10 percent more patients per year due to an increase in staff efficiency and productivity.
Region Served: St. Louis Metro
Grant Contact: Heather Bettis (314) 879-6308
Texas County Technical Institute, Houston, Mo 65483
Grant Amount: $14,762
Project: This 12-month project will be used to purchase equipment for the RN training program.
Region Served: Texas, Wright, Douglas, Shannon, Howell, Phelps, Laclede, Dent and Pulaski county
Grant Contact: Charlotte Gray (417) 967-5466
The Missouri Coalition for Budget & Policy Priorities, St. Louis, Mo 63118
Grant Amount: $306,275
Project: This 12-month project will develop and implement a campaign to preserve Medicaid.
Region Served: Entire MFH Region
Grant Contact: Amy Blouin (314) 302-3994
The Samaritan Center, Ossman Free Medical & Dental Clinic, Jefferson City, Mo 65102
Grant Amount: $736,508
Project: This 3-year grant will provide expansion of the dental program which includes the hiring of staff and purchase of equipment and supplies. This is an effort to serve the patients currently on the waiting list, which exceeds 380 persons.
Region Served: Cole, Osage, Callaway, Moniteau, Maries and Miller county
Grant Contact: Marylyn DeFeo (573) 634-7776
Wings of Hope, Inc, Chesterfield, Mo 63005
Grant Amount: $75,019
Project: This 12-month project will help meet the needs associated with air transport of low-income patients. Medical equipment for transporting patients, supplies, fuel, maintenance and cost of overnight stays for flight crews will be supplied through the grant.
Region Served: Entire MFH Region
Grant Contact: Douglas Clements (636) 537-1302
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