Grant Awards Focus on Addressing Differences in Care
Minorities, disabled persons will receive improved care because of health projects
St. Louis, Mo., Dec 29 -The Hispanic population, which has increased 284% in the last ten years in the southwest region of Missouri, is the focus of a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) to Southwest Missouri State University. Utilizing this $305,013 grant and working with local Hispanic advocacy groups, the university will educate health profession students about the Hispanic culture, build skills in cultural competency and teach medical Spanish skills to existing rural health care professionals.
An increased need for services will also be met for disabled persons in Rolla, Mo. and the surrounding areas. Tri-County Center for Independent Living; an organization that provides free assistance in obtaining life-sustaining medications, health services and life skills, received a grant for $113,780. Tri-County helps individuals get temporary medications while more permanent resources are located. Individuals in the program are required to take classes to obtain skills to help them in obtaining long-term health coverage, improve budget preparation and to ultimately remain independent.
Established in January of 2000 through the for-profit conversion of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, Missouri Foundation for Health 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 second year of grantmaking throughout its service area - 84 Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis. 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. Visit the Community Voice section of the web site to voice your opinion on these and other grants.
October grant awards listed alphabetically:
Community Alliance for Compassionate Care at the End of Life, Springfield, Mo 65804
Grant Amount: $157,662
Project: This 3-year grant will provide a training program for nurse assistants and will allow for resources and support to improve quality of care to patients at the end-of-life.
Region Served: Taney, Christian, Stone, Webster, Green, Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Lawrence, Ozark, Texas, Wright, Howell, Butler and Camden counties
Grant Contact: Marilyn Garrett (417) 881-5521
Dexter R-XI Schools - Stoddard County Alternative School, Bloomfield, Mo 63825
Grant Amount: $30,942
Project: This grant will provide a new health curriculum to the education program at Stoddard County Alternative School. Components of the program include smoking cessation, individual counseling, hygiene, nutrition, infant care and the promotion of deterrents to teen parenthood.
Region Served: Stoddard county
Grant Contact: Betsy Taylor (573) 568-3583
Five Church Older Adults Center, St. Louis, Mo 63118
Grant Amount: $136,800
Project: This 2-year grant will be used to purchase a van so the center can increase meal delivery and medical transportation to underserved and disabled seniors and adults. The grant will also provide for an exercise program in the center.
Region Served: City of St. Louis
Grant Contact: Michael Howard (314) 664-1008
Food Outreach, St. Louis, Mo 63103
Grant Amount: $97,909
Project: This 2-year grant will provide nutritional counseling to persons with HIV/AIDS in order to enhance their life and decrease the chance of malnutrition, which can lead to symptomatic AIDS.
Region: City of St. Louis, Jefferson, Warren, St. Charles, Franklin, St Louis and Lincoln county
Grant Contact: Greg Lukeman (314) 652-3663
Friend of Moms Inc., St. Louis, Mo 63136
Grant Amount: $91,902
Project: This 2-year grant will provide for a nurse home visitation program to pregnant teens in an effort to reduce the chance of child abuse and neglect and decrease the possibility of repeat pregnancies. Home visits will continue until the baby has reached age two.
Region Served: St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren counties
Grant Contact: Nancy Fuegner, MSN, LPNP (636) 398-6667
Lincoln Univ Cooperative Extension, Jefferson City, MO 65102
Grant Amount: $300,000
Project: This 3-year project will allow for health screenings and health and resource education programs for underinsured and uninsured minority and other disadvantaged older adults. Classes will include information on nutrition, exercise, disease prevention, personal health management, the Senior Rx program and federal, state and community resources.
Region Served: City of St. Louis, Pemiscot, Cole, Callaway and Moniteau counties
Grant Contact: Gail Jones (573) 681-5530
Midtown Catholic Community Services, St. Louis, Mo 63110
Grant Amount: $204,245
Project: This 3-year grant will help low-income families manage their health crises by providing them with information and support, and connecting them to appropriate resources. This project will reach 400 individuals and their families over three years.
Region Served: City of St. Louis
Grant Contact: John Pachak (314) 534-1180
People Against Domestic Violence Health Services, Union, Mo 63084
Grant Amount: $147,386
Project: This grant will allow this organization to expand its current outreach and referral services to survivors of family violence and to expand its prevention education programs to underserved rural communities.
Region Served: Gasconade and Franklin counties
Grant Contact: Judy Hereford (636) 583-8443
South Central Public Health Services Group, West Plains, Mo 65775
Grant Amount: $507,101
Project: This grant will be used to purchase a Geographic Information System, which will connect various healthcare and public safety agencies together electronically. This is in an effort to eliminate fragmentation of existing health care services.
Region Served: Howell county
Grant Contact: Cherry-Ann Fite (417) 256-7078
Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Mo 65804
Grant Amount: $305,013
Project: This 3-year project will work to reduce health disparities among Hispanics by providing culturally competent health care in five rural medically underserved counties.
Region Served: Barry, Jasper, Lawrence, Newton and McDonald counties
Grant Contact: Susan Dollar, PhD (417) 836-6359
Tri-County Center for Independent Living, Rolla, Mo 65401
Grant Amount: $113,780
Project: This 2-year grant will allow the center to serve 266 individuals with disabilities. Individuals that come to the center will receive assistance in order to avoid a lapse in taking specific life-sustaining medications. Individuals will also be able to participate in skills classes, obtain budget/money skills and be referred to further medical resources.
Region Served: Laclede, Phelps and Pulaski counties
Grant Contact: Victoria Evans (573) 368-5933
United Services for the Handicapped in St. Charles County, St. Peters, Mo 63376
Grant Amount: $49,700
Project: This grant will be used to purchase therapeutic and medical equipment for a new motor development room at a new facility which will open in July of 2004. The center will serve 366 children with special needs.
Region Served: St. Charles county
Grant Contact: Jeanne Palombo (636) 926-2700
University of Missouri St. Louis - Division of Counseling and Family Therapy, St. Louis, Mo 63121
Grant Amount: $285,445
Project: Funds for this 3-year project will provide free counseling services for individuals with neuromuscular disease and their families. Emotional support groups and a family support network will also be available.
Region Served: St. Louis county
Grant Contact: Robert Rocco Cottone, PhD (314) 516-5897
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