United Way of the Midlands awards $484,600 grant to Visiting Nurse Association to fund Parenting Support, Home Health Aide and Home Health Care programs
Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) has been awarded $484,600 in grant funding from United Way of the Midlands (UWM) to support several programs in Douglas and Sarpy counties in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa.
“Thanks to the generosity of United Way donors, VNA is able to provide help to the area’s most marginalized community members,” said James Summerfelt, VNA President and CEO. “Since 1896, VNA has been at the forefront of public health, support and family services by operating innovative programs that meet the unique needs of individuals and families, regardless of the complexity of care or their ability to pay.”
The grant funding will be distributed across four program areas as outlined below:
$175,000 for Maternal Child Home Visitation program offers skilled nurses, parent coaches/family support workers and social workers who deliver intensive home visitation services to at-risk families living in poverty. The program’s focus is to promote a healthy pregnancy and teach important parenting knowledge and skills, providing babies with the best possible start to life. VNA’s Maternal Child Home Visitation programs are Project WIN (Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties), Love and Learn Teen and Young Parent Program (Douglas and Sarpy Counties), Nurse-Family Partnership (Pottawattamie County) and Healthy Families America (Douglas County).
$120,000 for VNA’s Maternal and Infant Home Health Care program provides services to at-risk families living in poverty including physician-directed nurse home visits, shelter nursing and lactation consultants who provide breastfeeding assessment, support and education. Nurses conduct home visits to women experiencing high-risk pregnancies, postpartum health assessment and safety training, and children with acute illness or injury. VNA’s Parenting Support programs use a strengths-based approach and interventions that reduce child maltreatment and improve the health, parenting skills and self-sufficiency of families.
$104,600 for Home Health Care physician-directed services that provide the full spectrum of care for patients in need, including overall case management, coordination of care and discharge planning, while focused on continuity of care and outcome achievement. Funds raised by VNA will ensure those who need home health services the most will get the high-quality care they deserve, regardless of ability to pay. VNA will partner with UWM and Amedisys to provide these vital services.
$85,000 to VNA’s Home Health Aide program provides home health aide and homemaking services to un/underinsured community members who have little to no financial resources. Assistance with personal care (bathing and personal hygiene) and homemaking (household tasks, meal preparation and laundry) helps individuals maintain their safety, independence and home environment. These services also help to delay and prevent the need for a transition into a skilled nursing facility, decrease caregiver burden and, ultimately, minimize healthcare expenses.
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