October 26, 2007
Contact: Bev Pfeifer-Harms
Director of Communications
314.345.5500 office

$13.1 Million in Grants Target Improved Health Services

84 Health Departments Receive Missouri Foundation for Health Funding

St. Louis - Eighty-four local county health departments in Missouri are sharing $13,141,477, thanks to a special funding effort by Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH). These grants fund infrastructure improvements so that the departments can improve delivery of health services in their respective communities. The total represents the Foundation's largest single funding effort to date.

Each health department in the MFH service area received a base grant of $50,000 plus $2.10 per area resident based on 2005 population data. The individual department grants range from about $58,000 to more than $2 million.

"With this grant, health departments can address infrastructure problems so that available government funding can continue to be spent where it is needed most - providing services to area residents," said
Dr. James R. Kimmey, president and CEO of MFH.

Infrastructure improvements funded through these grants include the purchase of equipment supporting information technology, communication services, transportation improvements, health-related educational programs, or renovations related to improving client services.

The health departments receiving a grant are:
Adair County Health Department, $101,469. The department is using the funding to make computer/software upgrades that will improve services to clients.
Audrain City-County Health Unit, $104,094. The health unit is using the funding to make computer/software upgrades and improvements to its communication services.
Barry County Health Department, $124,758. The department is using the funding to make renovations to its Cassville facility.
Barton County Health Department, $77,420. The funds are being used for needed renovations and the purchase of communication equipment for the department.
Bollinger County Health Center, $75,883. The center is using the funding to make renovations and computer/software upgrades that will improve services to clients.
Butler County Health Department, $136,810. The department is using the funding to make computer/software upgrades and transportation improvements that will improve services to clients.
Callaway County Health Department, $139,336. The department is improving services to clients by making renovations and upgrading its transportation.
Camden County Health Department, $132,807. The health department is using the funds to upgrade its transportation services and to make renovations to the facility.
Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, $199,438. The funds are being used for needed renovations and the purchase of furniture and equipment for the health center.
Carter County Health Center, $62,411. The funds are being used for needed renovations and transportation improvements for the health center.
Cedar County Health Department, $79,736. The department is improving services to clients by upgrading its computers and communication equipment.
Chariton County Health Center, $67,060. The funds are being used for needed renovations and to upgrade the health center's computers and software programs.
Christian County Health Department, $191,259. This grant funds building renovations to the health department's facility in Ozark.
Clark County Health Department, $65,378. The department is improving services to clients by making renovations to its facility.
Cole County Health Department, $202,790. This grant funds renovations, equipment and transportation upgrades to help improve services to the community.
Columbia/Boone County Health Department, $350,985. The department is using the grant money to purchase new computer equipment and transportation improvements.
Cooper County Public Health Center, $86,317. The center is enhancing its office and technology equipment and also making transportation improvements.
Crawford County Nursing Service/Health Department, $100,257. The funds are being used for needed renovations and to purchase new equipment and furniture for the health department.
Dade County Health Department, $66,443. The department is using grant money to make renovations and upgrades to educational and diagnostic equipment.
Dallas County Health Department, $84,518. The grant is being used to make renovations to the department's facility in Buffalo.
Dent County Health Department, $81,674. The department is improving services to clients by upgrading its technology and communication equipment.
Douglas County Health Department, $78,547. The department is using the funding to make renovations to its Ava facility and to upgrade its computer equipment and software.
Dunklin County Health Center, $118,345. The center is improving services to clients by making renovations and upgrading its equipment and furniture.
Franklin County Health Department, $258,089. The department is making transportation improvements and purchasing office equipment and computer upgrades for its facility in Union.
Gasconade-Osage County Health Department, $111,383. The grant improves services by purchasing new furniture and equipment, including computers and software.
Hickory County Health Department, $69,469. This grant is helping the department upgrade its office equipment, including computers and diagnostic equipment.
Howard County Public Health Department, $70,910. The department is improving services to clients by making renovations to its facility.
Howell County Health Department, $130,640. Funds from the grant are upgrading the department's transportation and purchasing office equipment for the facility.
Iron County Health Department, $71,573. The department is improving services to clients by upgrading its equipment and furniture.
Jasper County Health Department, $194,701. The department is using the grant to purchase technological and telephone equipment, as well as two vehicles and office furniture.
Jefferson County Health Department, $498,705. The department is using grant funding to make renovations and to purchase equipment supporting information technology and communication services.
Joplin City Health Department, $149,084. The department is using the grant to upgrade its computer and communication systems.
Knox County Health Department, $58,759. This grant funds building renovations, as well as the purchase of computers and other equipment.
Laclede County Health Department, $122,433. This grant funds renovations, diagnostic equipment and transportation upgrades to help improve services to the community.
Lawrence County Health Department, $127,967. Funding purchases new transportation and makes renovations to the department's facility in Mt. Vernon.
Lewis County Health Department, $71,391. The department is improving services to its clients by making renovations to its facility in Monticello.
Lincoln County Health Department, $150,227. The grant funds renovations to the department's facility in Troy, and also funds transportation improvements.
Linn County Health Department, $77,579. In addition to building renovations, the health department is using grant funds to enhance the center's technology and communication services equipment.
Macon County Health Department, $82,760. The department is using the funding to make renovations to its facility in Macon.
Madison County Health Department, $75,517. This grant funds an upgrade of the department's computers, as well as the purchase of furniture and other equipment.
Marion County Health Department & Home Health Agency, $109,588. This grant is funding the improvement of services to clients through computer, diagnostic and educational equipment.
McDonald County Health Department, $97,972. The department is using the grant to purchase new computers and software, and to make building renovations to improve services to the community.
Miller County Health Center, $101,895. The center is using the funds to make renovations to its Tuscumbia facility.
Mississippi County Health Department, $78,558. This grant funds an upgrade of the department's computers, as well as the purchase of furniture and other equipment.
Moniteau County Health Center, $81,676. The center is using the grant to improve its communication, diagnostic and other types of equipment.
Monroe County Health Department, $69,696. The department is using the grant to upgrade its equipment, including its computers and software.
Montgomery County Health Department, $75,549. The department is using the grant to improve its communication equipment and to make renovations to its facility.
Morgan County Health Department, $92,916. The grant is improving services to clients by funding renovations, new equipment and furniture for the facility.
New Madrid County Health Department, $88,989. The department plans to make transportation improvements and to make renovations and upgrades to furniture and equipment.
Newton County Health Department, $155,189. Funding assists the department in making renovations and in upgrading its transportation.
Oregon County Health Department, $71,846. The department is improving services to clients by making renovations and adding a security system at its Alton facility.
Ozark County Health Department, $69,929. This grant funds building renovations and purchases computer equipment and software for the department.
Pemiscot County Health Center, $90,765. The grant is being used for renovations and to enhance the center's technology equipment and software.
Perry County Health Department, $88,999. The department plans to make renovations and upgrades to computer and diagnostic equipment.
Phelps/Maries County Health Department, $157,339. The department is using the funding from the grant to upgrade its computers and office equipment.
Pike County Health Department, $89,400. Funding from the grant updates the department's computers and also purchases new equipment and furniture for its facility.
Polk County Health Center, $110,673. The health center is using funds from the grant to make renovations to its facility in Bolivar.
Pulaski County Health Department, $142,793. The department is using the grant to make renovations to its facility and to improve its communication, diagnostic and education equipment.
Putnam County Health Department, $60,583. This grant is funding renovations to the department's facility in Unionville.
Ralls County Health Department, $70,498. The department is using the grant to purchase various types of equipment, including educational, diagnostic and computers/software.
Randolph County Health Department, $103,206. The department is using the grant to upgrade its equipment and furniture.
Reynolds County Health Center, $63,829. The grant is being used to enhance the center's technology and communication services equipment.
Ripley County Health Center, $79,087. The center plans to make transportation improvements and upgrades to its information technology equipment.
Schuyler County Health Department & Home Health Agency, $59,047. The health department is upgrading its information technology equipment with funding from the grant.
Scotland County Health Department, $60,349. Funding purchases new equipment for the facility, including computers and software.
Scott County Health Department, $136,400. The department is using the grant to make renovations and upgrading its furniture and equipment.
Shannon County Health Center, $67,571. The center is using grant funding to upgrade its computers and communication equipment.
Shelby County Health Department, $64,162. This grant enables the department to make renovations and upgrades throughout its Shelbyville facility.
Springfield-Greene County Health Department, $576,646. The department is making improvements to its facility through building renovations and upgrades to its information technology equipment.
St. Charles County Department of Community Health & the Environment, $742,874. The grant funds the purchase of equipment supporting information technology, communication services, transportation improvements, health-related educational equipment and building renovations.
St. Francois County Health Center, $179,488. The center plans to make transportation improvements and upgrades to its information technology equipment.
St. Louis City Health Department, $773,160. This grant upgrades the department's current information technology equipment. The department is converting its existing records to a paperless, electronic version and upgrading its computer systems. The department is also implementing wireless technology to reduce duplication of data entry and expedite environmental inspections.
St. Louis County Health Department, $2,159,799. This grant funds infrastructure improvements to enhance the department's delivery of services. The department is using the grant to upgrade its office equipment, including its computer systems and its monitoring/diagnostic equipment.
Ste. Genevieve County Health Department, $88,216. This grant is funding the improvement of services to clients through equipment and furniture upgrades, and other renovations.
Stoddard County Public Health Center, $112,399. The center is using the grant to improve services to clients by making renovations to its facility.
Stone County Health Department, $114,955. This grant assists the health department in making renovations and purchasing equipment and furniture for its facility.
Sullivan County Health Department, $64,505. The department is making building renovations with the grant.
Taney County Health Department, $140,269. Funding from this grant helps the department renovate and purchase communication equipment for its Forsyth facility.
Texas County Health Department, $101,689. The grant enables the department to make renovations and to purchase new equipment and furniture for its facility in Houston.
Warren County Health Department, $110,404. In addition to upgrades and renovations to the facility, the department is also using funds to update its technology equipment and software.
Washington County Health Department, $100,467. The department is using the grant to make renovations and upgrading its furniture and communication equipment.
Wayne County Health Center, $77,504. The center is using the grant to make renovations and upgrading its furniture and equipment.
Webster County Health Unit, $122,965. The health unit is making renovations and purchasing equipment and computers with funding from this grant.
Wright County Health Department, $88,443. This grant is helping the department upgrade its transportation and to purchase computers equipment and software.

Established in 2000, MFH is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in Missouri. MFH is in its sixth year of grantmaking, having issued more than $240 million in grants and awards to date. It is dedicated to serving the uninsured, underinsured and underserved in 84 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis.

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