VNA Awarded Mutual of Omaha Foundation Grant
OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 4, 2020 – Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) was awarded a $50,000 grant from Mutual of Omaha Foundation. This operational funding will be used by VNA to improve the health and independence of those living in or at risk of poverty through VNA’s programs, such as its Homeless Shelter Nursing Program.
VNA’s Shelter Nursing Program allows a nurse to serve every local homeless and domestic violence shelter in the metro. MACCH – Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless – identified 5,820 individuals in Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie counties who experienced homelessness in 2018. VNA served 37 percent of these individuals, which made for a total of nearly 8,000 public health nursing visits throughout the year, serving 120 children, more than 150 youth on the streets, more than 1,100 men and more than 700 women.
Each day, VNA’s four shelter nurses help these individuals find community resources and enable them to take better care of their health needs.
They see clients who sleep in their cars or abandoned buildings. They see clients who move between alcohol or drug treatment programs. They see families who lost their homes due to an injury or job layoff. They see women and children who found themselves without a home after leaving an abusive relationship. They’re uniquely equipped to help those with a wide range of health symptoms, both mentally and physically. They advocate for clients, help facilitate appointments, and direct them to resources. They stay with clients once they’ve finally found a home, to make sure they are still well and taking their medications.
All of VNA’s shelter nursing services are provided to clients free of charge, thanks to the Mutual of Omaha Foundation, and other generous donors. Funds raised at VNA’s annual fundraiser, Art & Soup, also benefit the shelter nursing program. The 23rd annual Art & Soup event will be held on Feb. 23 at the Embassy Suites, La Vista. Tickets can be purchased at vnatoday.org/artandsoup.
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About Visiting Nurse Association
After more than a century, Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) continues to provide valued expertise, comforting perspective, innovative leadership and industry-leading solutions around the health issues of the day in the communities we serve. Our team of more than 400 compassionate healthcare professionals are dedicated to shaping tomorrow’s care, today, by providing the highest quality care to individuals at home and across the community – no matter their age, station in life, or available resources. To learn more about VNA’s unique commitment to fostering a healthy, thriving community, and the services available to meet each client’s ever-changing needs, visit vnatoday.org, or call 402-342-5566.
About Mutual of Omaha Foundation
The Mutual of Omaha Foundation was established in 2005. With a mission to break the cycle of poverty and invest in capital projects that strengthen the community, the Foundation supports organizations that address these issues within the tri-county area of Douglas & Sarpy Counties (NE) and Pottawattamie County (IA). For more information on the Mutual of Omaha Foundation, visit mutualofomahafoundation.org.
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