Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Foundation matches Social Innovation Fund money to create grants for improving health services in seven Kentucky counties

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky today announced four equal Social Innovation Fund grants totaling $1 million to improve access to health services, reduce health risks and disparities, and promote health equity in Jefferson, McCreary, Wolfe, Powell, Montgomery, Bath and Menifee counties. The projects are expected to serve nearly 9,000 people in the next year.

Home of the Innocents in Louisville will establish a dental clinic at the newly opened interdisciplinary Hockensmith Pediatric Assessment Center. The program will provide dental services to children in state care, children with special health care needs, and other children and families served by the Home and its partner agencies.

St. Joseph Health System, based in Lexington, will establish primary care clinics in Powell and Wolfe counties, both rural and low-income. These satellite clinics will be staffed by nurse practitioners and will utilize telemedicine to collaborate with physicians and specialists at a central location.

Cumberland Family Medical Center, based in Burkesville, will establish a nurse-managed health center and rural training program for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Funds will be used to expand the scope of services provided in McCreary County to include x-ray and utilize health IT to connect with other CFMC sites. This will be the county's first x-ray, reducing travel for local residents who previously had to travel ouside the county for x-ray services.

The Montgomery County Health Department in Mount Sterling will establish a health education and navigation program to serve a low-income population in Montgomery, Bath and Menifee counties. Four full-time health navigators will be employed to serve the community by assessing individual needs and linking patients with services.

Each $250,000 grtant includes $125,000 from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. As an endowed public charity, the foundation was able to provide the matching funds that were required to secure the Social Innovation Fund award for Kentucky. Learn more about the grants here.

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