FOR RELEASE October 10, 2005
Contact: Scott Beck
314.345.5512 office

Missouri Foundation for Health Assists Hurricane Katrina Evacuees with Special Grant Funding

St. Louis, October 10- The Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) has announced that 22 grants totaling $986,000 have been awarded for Katrina related services in the Foundation's service region.

"The response of Missouri organizations to the needs of those affected by Katrina has been outstanding," according to Foundation President and CEO James R. Kimmey, MD. "The Missouri Foundation for Health is pleased to assist in those efforts."

The grants are:

Southeast Missouri and Bootheel:

Dunklin County Health Department (Kennett) - $90,000 to provide medical, dental, and vision services as well as medication assistance to over 170 Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

SEMO Health Network (New Madrid) - $83,520 to provide medical and dental care to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the Bootheel region.

Scott County Health Department (Sikeston) - $10,700 to provide medical services to evacuees and volunteers at nearby shelters as well as conduct environmental inspections of the shelter campgrounds.

Bootheel Counseling Services (Sikeston) - $15,220 to provide counseling and resource coordination to both evacuees and those serving them in New Madrid, Scott, Stoddard, and Mississippi counties.

New Vision Youth and Family Services (Cape Girardeau) - $47,250 to provide medical, mental health, case management, transportation, and pharmacy services to displaced Hurricane Katrina families in Perry, Cape Girardeau, and Scott counties.

Missouri Highlands Health Care (Ellington) - $22,670 to provide physical, mental, and dental health services to a minimum of 50 Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the Cape Girardeau/Bootheel area.

Central Missouri:

Central Missouri Food Bank (Columbia) - $100,000 to acquire food and/or transportation to feed those in the service region.

Columbia/Boone County Health Department (Columbia) - $45,890 to provide medication assistance, eyeglasses, and dental assistance to more than 400 families displaced by Hurricane Katrina to Boone County.

Lake Regional Hospital Foundation (Osage Beach) - $17,325 to provide medical, emergency room, and mental health services to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the Lake of the Ozarks area.

Morgan County Health Center (Versailles) - $5,000 to provide medication assistance and transportation to and from the clinic for victims of Katrina in Morgan County.

Pathways Community Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. (Jefferson City) - $4,375 to provide psychiatry services and medications to Hurricane Katrina evacuees throughout central Missouri.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, St. Louis Chapter - $7,500 for medication and equipment necessary for asthma and allergy management for approximately 50 children in the St. Louis region displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Saint Louis County Department of Health - $225,000 to cover the costs of medical services, prescription medications, and mental health consultation to people impacted by Hurricane Katrina that are currently housed in the St. Louis area.

St. Patrick's Center - $75,000 for central intake, referral processing, housing assistance coordination, mental health assessment, employment counseling and residual case management of Hurricane Katrina survivors.

Catholic Family Services - $46,963 to provide emergency crisis counseling/mental health services and psychiatric medication management for victims of Katrina now in St. Louis.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. - $5,000 to provide Hurricane Katrina families with a resource manual regarding benefits, housing opportunities, education information, domestic violence information, and information for senior citizens available within 21 counties of eastern Missouri.

Family Resource Center - $15,000 to provide therapeutic services to children and families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Southwest:

Dallas County Health Department (Buffalo) - $5,000 to provide 500 displaced families with dental kits that include toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, fluoride rinse, and dental care brochures.

St. John's Health System (Springfield) - $98,390 for reimbursement of medical equipment, supplies provided to Hurricane Katrina victims in Louisiana, and for medical support provided to evacuees now in Springfield.

Burrell Behavioral Health (Springfield) - $50,000 to provide mental health services including crisis and outreach services, psychotherapy, educational and supportive services, psychiatric services, and medication assistance to Hurricane Katrina victims in Springfield.

NAMI Southwest Missouri (Springfield) - $36,387 to expand service hours, provide medication assistance, provide support to disaster response workers, and provide therapeutic support to children of Katrina evacuees now in a 10-county service region.

Intervention Ministries (Bolivar) - $38,600 to provide case management services to approximately 250-300 displaced families. In addition, with assistance from their partner agencies, the ministries will provide basic needs as well as vouchers for medications, primary care, dental and mental health services. Vouchers will be returned to Intervention Ministries for reimbursement for services.

The grants are part of Project Katrina, an initiative announced by MFH on September 8. Funds were available to nonprofit organizations to assist them in meeting increased demands on their services from individuals displaced to Missouri in the aftermath of Katrina and for other costs related to the storm.

MFH is the largest health foundation in Missouri and the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in the state. The Foundation is in its fourth year of successful grantmaking, during which $140 million in grants and awards have gone to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves. For more information on MFH, visit www.mffh.org

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