New Advocacy Grant Program Takes the Podium in March
Received Advocating for the Uninsured Proposals Focus Mainly on Proposed Medicaid Cuts
St. Louis, April 9 - A new grant program from the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) comes at an opportune time for grass-roots advocacy organizations looking for support. Advocates for the uninsured and underinsured have been busy since the announcement was made that the legislature was considering potential cuts to Medicaid in the effort to balance the state budget.
This new grant program, Advocating for the Uninsured, is designed to provide core support and strengthen smaller, grass-roots organizations whose main purpose is to advocate and educate on behalf of the uninsured and underinsured. All proposals received in this program had not only the components of public education and advocacy, but many specified targeted work regarding the proposed Medicaid cuts.
This program ended with funding in March and will take place on an annual basis each summer. Total advocacy awards in March totaled more than $2 million.
Other grants awarded in MFH's focus areas include a grant to Big Springs Medical Association to improve the internal structure of the local emergency response system, a grant to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital to increase access to community-based and family-centered pediatric palliative care and a grant to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Southwest Missouri to teach kids about mental illness and reduce the stigma associated with mental health needs.
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.
March grant awards listed alphabetically
Almost Home, St. Louis, Mo 63104
Grant Amount: $147,610
Project: This 2-year project will add new components to the current work of Almost Home. Safety and first aid classes will be added and current counseling sessions will be extended.
Region Served: St. Louis County
Grant Contact: Cassandra Cooke (314) 771-4663
Big Springs Medical Association, Ellington, MO 63638
Grant Amount: $820,993
Project: This 2-year project will improve the current infrastructure of the emergency medical response system.
Region Served: Carter, Iron, Reynolds, Shannon and Wayne County
Grant Contact: Alan Freeman (573) 663-2313
Butler County Health Department, Poplar Bluff, Mo
Grant Amount: $286,143
Project: This 3-year project will enhance health care services for up to 400 uninsured women in Butler County.
Region Served: Butler County
Grant Contact: Robert Hudson (573) 785-8478
Connections Handyman Services, Springfield, Mo 65802
Grant Amount: $150,000
Project: This 2-year project is targeted to low-income elderly and disabled citizens and will provide accessibility modifications and repairs to their homes. This is in an effort to help them remain independent.
Region Served: Christian, Greene and Webster County
Grant Contact: Julie Guillebeau (417) 862-3586
CoxHealth, Inc. (Children's Miracle Network), Springfield, Mo 65807
Grant Amount: $142,056
Project: This 12-month project will enable this organization to purchase a new C.A.R.E Mobile; a 36-foot, fully equipped, self-contained pediatric clinic.
Region Served: Lake Ozark-Rolla, South Central, Southwest and Springfield regions
Grant Contact: Susan Scanlon (417) 269-3162
Discovery Center of Springfield, Springfield, Mo 65806
Grant Amount: $38,380
Project: This 12-month project will implement a hands-on, interactive dental health awareness exhibit.
Region Served: Barry, Christian, Dade, Greene, Dallas, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster County
Grant Contact: Ann Carter (417) 862-9910 x701
Father's Support Center - St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo 63158
Grant Amount: $509,583
Project: This 3-year project will provide medical treatment services to 1,224 uninsured men in their program.
Region Served: St. Louis City and County
Grant Contact: Halbert Sullivan (314) 621-2737
Kids' Harbor Child Advocacy Center, Camdenton, MO 65020
Grant Amount: $148,901
Project: This 2-year project will expand the current services of Kid's Harbor. This organization provides medical examinations for children who are suspected to have been victims of physical and/or sexual abuse.
Region Served: Camden, Dent, Hickory, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Morgan and Phelps County
Grant Contact: Necole Olmstead (573) 317-1200
Lafayette House, Joplin, Mo 64802
Grant Amount: $188,685
Project: This 2-year project will increase Lafayette's nursing and counseling services and allow the organization to increase the number of shelter beds in their facility.
Region Served: Barry, Barton, Dade, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald and Newton County
Grant Contact: Alison Malinowski (417) 782-1772
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Special Health Care Needs
Grant Amount: $127,761
Project: This 2-year project will establish medical homes for children with special health care needs.
Region Served: Carter, Iron, Reynolds and Shannon County
Grant Contact: Craig Schnieders (573) 751-6230
Missouri Network of Child Advocacy Centers, Springfield, Mo
Grant Amount: $1,140,799
Project: This 3-year project will advance the training of the all the network child advocacy centers in the region, improving the network's ability to serve child abuse victims.
Region Served: Entire MFH region
Grant Contact: Barbara Brown (417) 831-2327
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Southwest Missouri, Springfield, Mo 65807
Grant Amount: $180,177
Project: This 3-year project will provide education to middle and high students regarding mental illness. This is an effort to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and to teach kids how to recognize systems in order to receive the earliest possible treatment.
Region Served: Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Howell, Lawrence, Ozark, Polk, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright County
Grant Contact: Dewayne Long (417) 864-7119
New Vision Youth and Family Services, Cape Girardeau, Mo 63701
Grant Amount: $149,831
Project: This 12-month project enables the organization to increase the availability and accessibility of their psychiatric services.
Region Served: Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Scott and Stoddard County
Grant Contact: Tim Gould (573) 334-3486
Pemiscot County Health Center, Hayti, Mo 63581
Grant Amount: $101,249
Project: This 3-year project will provide comprehensive women's wellness services including pap smears, breast exams and birth control.
Region Served: Pemiscot County
Grant Contact: Gary Gill (573) 359-1656
Phelps/Maries County Health Department, Rolla, Mo 65401
Grant Amount: $1,034,857
Project: This 3-year project allows the health department to expand their services to serve more uninsured patients who have mental health needs, diabetes and hypertension.
Region Served: Crawford, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Phelps, Maries, Rolla, Texas and Wright County
Grant Contact: Josephine Waltman (573) 364-3381
Ripley County Caring Community Partnership, Doniphan, Mo 63935
Grant Amount: $266,097
Project: This 2-year project will provide funding to staff a new crisis shelter. The shelter will serve persons who are experiencing a crisis situation such as family violence or homelessness.
Region Served: Ripley County
Grant Contact: Diane Silman (314) 996-2648
Safe House for Women, Inc., Cape Girardeau, Mo 63702
Grant Amount: $9,000
Project: This 2-year project will provide funds to cover co-pays, prescriptions and dental and vision care to the women and families who come to this domestic violence/sexual assault center.
Region Served: Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, Perry, Scott and Stoddard County
Grant Contact: Lisa Barnes (573) 335-7745
Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Mo 63701
Grant Amount: $4,250
Project: This 12-month project will provide infant monitors/intercoms to new mothers in order to enhance child safety and provide support to mothers located in isolated rural areas. Monitors will also be provided to caregivers in order to provide them with some independent time and to increase safety for the ill loved one.
Region Served: Bollinger, Dunklin, Mississippi, Perry, Scott and Stoddard County
Grant Contact: Linda Heitman (573) 651-2558
SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO 63104
Grant Amount: $436,848
Project: This 3-year project will be used to educate community health care providers and increase access to community-based and family-centered pediatric palliative care.
Region Served: Entire MFH region
Grant Contact: Suzanne Toce (314) 577-5642
St. Louis Association of Community Organizations, St. Louis, Mo 63103
Grant Amount: $150,000
Project: This 2-year project will recruit residents of low-income, high crime neighborhoods to participate in coordinated neighborhood walks. The project will address the major barrier to walking; high crime, by providing security escorts during the walks.
Region Served: St. Louis City
Grant Contact: Gina Ryan (314) 533-9104 x203
St. Louis Maternal Child and Family Health Coalition, St. Louis, Mo 63144
Grant Amount: $405,557
Project: This 3-year project will implement the Fetal Infant Mortality Review in St. Louis zip codes 63113, 63120 and 63136. These areas have high infant mortality rates, and the review will allow the Coalition to improve community resources and service systems for women, infants and children.
Region Served: St. Louis County
Grant Contact: (314) 646-8601
St. Louis Variety Club, St. Louis, Mo 63146
Grant Amount: $225,000
Project: This 3-year project will increase services to disabled children by providing power wheelchairs, augmentative speech devices and hearing aids.
Region Served: Crawford, Gasconade, Franklin, Iron, Jefferson, Perry, Pike, St. Charles, St. Louis City and County, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Taney, Washington and Warren County
Grant Contact: Jan Albus (314) 453-0453
The AIDS Foundation of St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo 63139
Grant Amount: $192,478
Project: This 2-year project will implement a social marketing campaign to increase HIV/AIDS awareness among young gay men and men who have sex with men. Prevention will also be a key component to this campaign.
Region Served: St. Louis City and County
Grant Contact: Thomas Adams (314) 367-7273
United Way of the Ozarks, Springfield, Mo 65806
Grant Amount: $121,069
Project: This 2-year project will implement a multi-targeted media campaign that explains the health and environmental impacts of methamphetamine, the legal consequences of operating a meth lab and tips on how to identify a lab. Training programs will also be held on these three topics.
Region Served: Greene County
Grant Contact: Melissa Haddow (417) 888-2020
Vision for Children at Risk, St. Louis, Mo 63106
Grant Amount: $124,408
Project: This 2-year project will establish two collaborative work groups; one for teen pregnancy and the other to support foster youth transitions. The second group will focus on teaching these newly-transitioned, young adults how to access health care services.
Region Served: Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Louis City and County
Grant Contact: Jim Braibish (314) 534-6015
Washington University School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Adult HIV Clinic
Grant Amount: $1,062,334
Project: This 3-year project consists of the development and implementation of a program to address the dual health issues of psychiatric care and treatment of liver disease for patients in the HIV/AIDS clinic.
Region Served: Cape Girardeau, Franklin, Jefferson, St. Louis City and County and Warren County
Grant Contact: Judith Aberg (314) 454-8325
Williams & Associates, St. Louis, Mo 63107
Grant Amount: $13,564
Project: This 12-month project will focus on providing disease treatment, prevention and wellness information to the African American community.
Region Served: St. Louis City and County
Grant Contact: Enise Williams (314) 531-2284
Advocating for the Uninsured Grant Awards:
Citizens for Missouri's Children, St. Louis, Mo 63143
Grant Amount: $22,046
Project: This 5-month project will produce and deliver educational materials regarding the impact of proposed Medicaid cuts affecting children and their families.
Region Served: Entire MFH region
Grant Contact: Allison Ricks (314) 647-2003
Grass Roots Organizing (GRO), Mexico, Mo 65265
Grant Amount: $25,000
Project: This 4-month project will consist of advocating for the preservation of Medicaid
Region Served: Entire MFH region
Grant Contact: (573) 581-9595
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc., St. Louis, Mo 63108
Grant Amount: $24,979
Project: This 12-month project will work to protect and preserve the Missouri Medicaid program through policy analysis, advocacy activities, collaboration and community education.
Region Served: Entire MFH region
Grant Contact: Joel Ferber (314) 534-4200
Mental Health Association of Greater St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo 63104
Grant Amount: $19,765
Project: This 3-month project will include information sharing to individuals on the Association's email list and to the St. Louis Post Dispatch editorial writers. A parity brief will also be provided for volunteers.
Region Served: St. Louis Metropolitan region
Grant Contact: James House (314) 773-1399
Metropolitan Congregations United for St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo 63108
Grant Amount: $25,000
Project: This 12-month project will provide transportation for 200 metropolitan congregation leaders to the state capitol to advocate against Medicaid and MC+ funding cuts, educate congregations on health care as a metro-equity issue and develop strategies to protect and improve healthcare throughout the state.
Region Served: St. Louis City and County
Grant Contact: Gail Guelker (314) 367-3484
Missouri Association for Social Welfare, Jefferson City, Mo 65101
Grant Amount: $25,000
Project: This 12-month project will develop a media campaign to educate Missouri citizens on the impact of proposed Medicaid cuts.
Region Served: Entire MFH region
Grant Contact: Dianna Moore (573) 634-2901
Missouri Citizen Education Fund, St. Louis, MO 63112
Grant Amount: $23,717
Project: This 8-month project will expand current activities surrounding education to communities regarding proposed Medicaid cuts.
Region Served: Audrain, Boone, Cape Girardeau, Cole, Franklin, St. Louis City and County, St. Charles, Franklin, Jefferson, Boone, Cole, Callaway, Audrain, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, New Madrid, Dunklin, Scott and Stoddard County
Grant Contact: John Hickey (314) 531-2288
Paraquad, Inc., St. Louis, Mo 63141
Grant Amount: $24,957
Project: This 6-month project will implement a grassroots campaign to increase the awareness of proposed Medicaid cuts.
Region Served: St. Louis City and County
Grant Contact: Kirsten Dunham (314) 567-1558
St. Louis Area Jobs with Justice, St. Louis, Mo 63139
Grant Amount: $25,000
Project: This 12- month project will provide for continued work with collaborating organizations in media work, rallies and lobbying regarding proposed Medicaid cuts. Funds would also be used to provide leadership development.
Region Served: Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Louis City and County
Grant Contact: Lara Granich (314) 644-0466
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