Owensboro Health announces recipients of 2021 Community Health Investments Grant Program

OWENSBORO, Ky. (Aug 20, 2020) – Owensboro Health announced its FY 2021 Community Health Investments Grant Program recipients on Thursday, August 20, who received funding for 35 projects.

The Community Health Investments Grants provide in-kind and financial support for health, human services and arts projects and programming throughout the region. Funded projects and agencies being supported span a wide array of regional needs, from children in local school districts to aging adults and senior services.

The grants are targeted at a number of identified community health needs including the health system’s four priority focus areas: Tobacco and Related Diseases; Older Adults and Aging; Arts in Healing; and Children and School Health. This year, the grants will support 35 projects throughout the region, with a total of $640,000 in funds being distributed during FY2021. This year’s amount means Owensboro Health has invested more than $7 million in area agencies since 2009.

Greg Strahan, Owensboro Health’s President and CEO, said these grants are vital part of Owensboro Health fulfilling its mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities we serve.

“Of all things we do at Owensboro Health, none can be more important than partnering with the communities and the people we serve. At no time has this been more evident than during the current global pandemic,” Strahan said. “The Community Health Investment grant program is one way Owensboro Health makes direct community investments to impact the health of the communities we serve.”

Agencies and projects funded for the upcoming fiscal year are listed below:

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Improving Health and Wellness through BG Music Programming

Bluegrass Community Outreach brings Bluegrass music to local schools, provides Saturday music lessons, Community Engagement, Music Outreach and the Bluegrass Band Project.

Care Net of Owensboro

Obstetrical Ultrasound Program Expansion

This program will expand the Obstetrical Ultrasound Program by adding an additional ultrasound machine and exam table. Expansion ensures that more pregnant mothers receive care, information and education at an earlier point in their pregnancy, thereby achieving the goal of healthier, full-term pregnancies delivered by healthier mothers.

CASA of the Ohio Valley

Change a Child's Story

Change a Child’s Story is a community awareness program related to child abuse and resilience factors. In the spring of 2021, it will address the behavioral health needs of children in the court system. Grant funds will also be used to increase community awareness and engagement with an active campaign in print, video and social media outlets.

Cliff Hagan Boys and Girls Club

Bountiful Kids

The Bountiful Kids program provides cooking classes for 20 youths, swimming lessons for 40 youths, as well as a Teen Night at the Mike Horn Unit about tobacco and vaping education and entrance to the Western Kentucky University Challenge Course.

Community Dental Clinic

Dental Healthcare, Education and Access to Care Project

It also allows for a Community Dental Clinic Dental Healthcare, Education and Access to Care Project. The target population is the uninsured and Medicaid patients in our area who need routine and emergent dental care through their Charity Care Fund. This project also involves helping to pay for staff PPE against COVID-19 transmission.

Daniel Pitino Shelter

The HEART Program

Specific components of the HEART Program include: Conscious Discipline education and training, equipment to support play, social/emotional learning, as well as evidence-based programming to assist the staff and residents with tobacco cessation resources, allowing them to become the first Daviess County homeless shelter to adopt and implement a tobacco free policy.

Daviess County Diabetes Coalition

Reducing Chronic Disease, Increasing Resiliency

CARE Direct is a self-measured blood pressure management initiative. The program components include education, support and supplies. An Omron blood pressure cuff is provided to participants and is theirs to keep upon successful completion of the six-month program. An additional six months of education (enhanced management) is available, if desired and the Farmacy program allows for increased access and availability of fresh fruits and access at the Farmer's Market.

Daviess County Public Schools

The Umbrella Project-Rise Up for Resilience

The Umbrella Project-Rise up for Resiliency promotes the development of positive mental health and reduces stigma that is so often attached to mental health. Funding supports the Rise Up for Resilience Summit, Safe Spaces and Mindful Rooms.

Girls Inc. of Owensboro Daviess County

Healthy Living 2020 and Beyond

The goal of Healthy Living 2020 and Beyond is for girls to participate in and use educational activities, resources and opportunities to promote strong, informed minds to encourage lifelong smart choices and to build bold habits that lead to healthier futures.

Greater Owensboro Young Life

Lead through Mentoring

This mentoring program addresses the need for identity, the need to belong, a lack of purpose, detrimental family impacts and negative peer pressure -- many of the root causes that adversely affect our High School and Middle school students.

Green River District Health Department - Nicotine Reduction Program

Green River Nicotine Reduction Program

A program which works to provide nicotine replacement therapy, tobacco quit line and cessation support. It also offers education and awareness regarding JUULS and electronic cigarettes. The program is a model in the state and has been sought after nationally for replication.

Green River District Health Department- DC-CAP

Daviess County Community Access Project (DC-CAP)

A prescription assistance and access to care program reaching at risk and vulnerable populations. The goal is to provide at least $3 million dollars in donated prescriptions to our local community.

Green River District Health Department-Safe Sleep for Babies

Safe Sleep for Babies

This program will purchase 50 Safe Sleep Survival Kits for babies. The kits consist of a Sleep Sack, a Pack ‘N Play fitted sheet with safe sleep messaging, a soothing pacifier and a “Sleep Baby Safe and Snug” children’s book.

Hancock County Partners Coalition

Tobacco/E-Cigarette Prevention, Education & Cessation

A program for youth and adult education about the dangers of tobacco/e-cigarette use, created to decrease usage rates among youth in Hancock County, Kentucky and Spencer County, Indiana. Components include prevention and diversion, education and cessation.

Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky

Hospice and Palliative Care Triple Aim Initiative

Providing funding for components of the Triple Aim initiative which provides education on the benefits of receiving the “right care at the right time in the right place.” It also includes Relias training, Consolo EMR, CHPN Certifications for staff and Camp Courage for children.

Junior Achievement of Western Kentucky

JA Pathways toward Career and Life Success for K-12 Youth

This program is an investment targeting youth in 11 counties with the highest free and reduced lunch classrooms. It provides students with the knowledge, skills and tools to understand the importance of improving their economic well-being.

Kentucky Kids on the Block

Puppetry Programs for Good Health

Provides educational puppetry programs addressing priority health areas at public elementary schools in Butler, Hopkins and Ohio Counties.

Light of Chance

Breathe Youth Arts Residency Program

The Breathe Youth Arts Residency Program aims to improve adolescents' mental and behavioral health through the use of a thirty-one week pilot initiative implemented in the Hopkins County Day Treatment Program. BYARP is a holistic program comprising distinct, yet interconnected service components including visual arts, music, creative writing, performing arts and mindfulness exercises. These components help participants learn skills that promote cognitive focus, emotional regulation and decision-making.

Marsha's Place Pregnancy Resource Center

Marsha's Place STI Clinic

The STI Testing Clinic at Marsha’s Place in Henderson, serving multiple counties, will increase the health of our community by providing education, free STI testing (gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis) and treatment to vulnerable clients.

Muhlenberg County Public Libraries

StoryWalk

Muhlenberg County Public Libraries will place StoryWalks at LuRay Park and Rails to Trails. StoryWalks encourage reading and physical exercise in an outdoor setting.

New Beginnings Sexual Assault Support Services

EMDR Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol for Children

EMDR training helps children with severe behaviors and developmental trauma develop healthier attachments, self-regulation and work through their trauma.

Owensboro Dance Theatre

Dance for Wellness 2021

The Dance for Wellness Project focuses on four programs: the “Rising Stars: Adaptive Needs Dance Therapy,” program, the “Dance/Movement/L.E.A.N.” program, the “Dance for Health” program and the "Dance to Learn…Science" program.

Owensboro Museum of Science and History

Discover Owensboro/ Discover the World & Daviess Co Health

The “Discover Owensboro – Discover the World” science and general learning programs aim to assist students with science and math literacy and construct additional health exhibits. The museum is considering the construction of “Daviess County Health” temporary and permanent history exhibits. They are partnering with Owensboro Innovation Academy.

Owensboro Public Schools

Owensboro Public Schools: Health eX Education Project

Owensboro High School’s Allied Health course prepares high school students for a variety of healthcare careers.

Owensboro Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition

Community, Business and Professional Awareness Campaign

Strategies supported by the Kentucky Suicide Prevention Plan and the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention include community-based programs aimed at reducing the stigma associated with seeking treatment for mental health problems. They also utilize educational materials and programs designed to help people understand suicidal risks and warning signs; increase the competency of those professionals who work with suicidal patients and provide support to loss survivors.

Owensboro Symphony Orchestra

Music on Call

Music On Call brings meaningful, musical experiences directly to participants in their environment through a variety of community partnerships. Funds will cover artistic expenses, technical expenses, travel expenses and staging and property expenses.

Puzzle Pieces

Healthy Play: Combating Obesity in Those with Disabilities

Funding for the first phase of the project Healthy Play: Combating Obesity in Those with Disabilities will go toward the first-ever outdoor sensory museum and installation of an inclusive playground. Puzzle Pieces will be a national test pilot site. Phase II has multiple committed partners including the Christopher Reeves Foundation.

RiverPark Center

Broadway 2020-2021 and Pay What You Can

The Pay What You Can Program underwrites free and greatly reduced tickets for Broadway shows and other RiverPark Center performances for those who may not otherwise be able to afford attendance.

Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County

Frozen Meal Project

Funding will support the continuation of the senior frozen meal project, creation of an instructional manual for others to replicate the program and identification of alternative funding sources and partnerships that will create program sustainability.

Susan G. Komen Evansville Tri-State Affiliate

Saving Lives in Western Kentucky

Funding will support a pilot project addressing the social determinants of health to reduce the burden of non-medical expenses to patients with breast cancer.

The Foundation for Excellence at Owensboro Public Schools

Owensboro High School's Biomedical Expansion Project

Funding will help equip the Biomedical Pathway Program for its Year Two class and laboratory needs.

The Salvation Army

Summer S.O.A.R. – School’s Out Activities and Recreation

Support for the 2021 Summer S.O.A.R children's camp program.

The Way of Rockport

Healthy Living for 2020/2021

Funding allocated will support the provision of dental care for clients in recovery in this Spencer County recovery facility.

Theatre Workshop of Owensboro

Spotlight on Kids

Funds will provide support for youth productions, in-school educational programs, a Drama Camp and Club, educational workshops and our in-house school day performances.

Tri-State Food Bank

Capacity Expansion Project

The goal of the Capacity Expansion Project is to greatly increase the physical capacity of Tri-State Food Bank, enabling it to double the amount of nutritious food distributed to the hungry and effectively take the food insecurity rate to zero by the year 2030. This project aims to reduce food insecurity and provide nutritious food to the needy and especially to the most vulnerable populations - children, senior citizens and those living in food deserts and rural communities.

SOS International

Hospital Recycling Partner

Funding supports a continued Hospital Recycling Partnership to support the expenses related to collection and redistribution of surplus medical supplies. SOS was a key partner in addressing needs presented by COVID-19 in Kentucky.