Quality Health Foundation Awards Grants

EASTON, Md., June 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Quality Health Foundation (QHF), the mission arm of Quality Health Strategies (QHS), recently awarded grants totaling $406,000 to fourteen organizations across Maryland and in Washington, DC supporting local healthcare-related quality improvement efforts. 

Funding decisions for the 2015-2016 grants, which range from $10,000 to $40,000, were determined by a project's potential to impact access to quality healthcare and human services in the community. QHF selected this year's awardees from a wide range of projects that targeted underserved and at-risk populations.

"We are pleased to single out these organizations for their important quality improvement initiatives," said Brenda Crabbs, Co-Chair of the QHF Board of Directors. "Their work is perfectly aligned with our mission to improve the health status of individuals and communities. Although the amounts may seem modest, the impact can be great for these 14 charitable organizations." Catherine Smoot-Haselnus, QHS Chair said that "the efforts of QHF are instrumental in creating solutions to transform health." Molly Burgoyne, Co-Chair of the QHF Board of Directors summed it up by saying: "We are delighted to fund these worthy organizations covering a broad portion of our service area throughout Maryland and Washington, DC."

A grant of $25,000 provided to Access Carroll, Inc., a patient-centered and integrated medical home for low-income residents of Carroll County, will support the costs of the Pharmaceutical Management Program. This program focuses on addressing chronic disease treatment, prevention, maintenance, and education and secures medications free of charge from pharmaceutical companies for these patients.

Channel Marker, Inc., a mental health support agency serving Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties, was awarded $40,000 to support its Health Home Program. The funds will be used for a nurse care manager and health educator who will work with clients and psychiatric rehabilitation staff to emphasize health promotion, illness prevention, and prevention practices. 

The Community Ministries of Rockville received $25,000 for its Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic which provides quality healthcare and healthcare education to Montgomery County's low income uninsured and underinsured residents. The grant will fund a portion of staff costs to increase access to culturally and linguistically appropriate care, reaching underserved populations and improving dissemination of health information. 

A grant of $25,000 was awarded to DeafMD to produce a series of health education videos in American Sign Language to increase the deaf community's knowledge of cardiovascular health including cause, symptoms, diagnosis, management, care and prevention of the disease. The videos will reach over 100,000 sign language dependent deaf individuals with clear, concise, and accurate health information in their primary and preferred language.

On the topic of diabetes, Doctors Community Hospital Foundation received $25,000 to continue support for the Latino outreach program throughout Prince George's County and expand the On the Road Diabetes Self-Management Program into high-risk areas. The funds will also support the evaluation component of the program to assess its success during the past two years to determine if the participants are managing their diabetes at home with proper education and support long term.

For All Seasons, Inc.—a licensed outpatient mental health clinic with offices in Kent, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester counties—provides a full continuum of mental health services for underserved children, adolescents, adults, and families without regard to their ability to pay. A grant of $20,000 will provide mental health evaluations and therapeutic treatment sessions for people who are not eligible for victim grants and who are uninsured.

A grant of $38,000 was awarded to the Frederick County Hepatitis Clinic, Inc., for its Hepatitis Screening, Evaluation and Treatment Program. The funds will be used to provide free hepatitis screening at local organizations and provide comprehensive care to uninsured, underinsured and working poor individuals infected with viral hepatitis.

For Help and Outreach Point of Entry, Inc. in Salisbury, Maryland, $40,000 will support the Health Outreach Ministry which serves approximately 2,500 clients who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. These clients will receive medical assessments; health education and screening; referrals for healthcare treatment; financial assistance to purchase health related items; and assistance to obtain social services.

A grant of $10,000 was awarded to Light House for its Power Up Your Pantry Program. This program provides cooking and nutrition classes in Spanish and English to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Participants receive free groceries and cooking utensils. This comprehensive nutrition program is designed to improve health outcomes that can lead to increased self-sufficiency and improved quality of life.

The Maryland Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped (MFDH) was awarded $35,000 to support the Donated Dental Services Program that improves access to dental care by providing free dental services to low-income adults who are disabled by illness or injury. MFDH recruits dentists and dental laboratories and provides case management for the patients. Over $1 million in donated dental services will be provided to more than 400 eligible patients.

The Myrtle Tyler Faithful Fund, Inc. received the annual Goldgeier Award with a grant of $40,000 for the Zeta Healthy Aging Program. The Partnership engages older adults in health education and self-empowering activities and provides a non-threatening environment for seniors to interact with health agencies and professionals and to engage in health education, self-empowering sessions, screenings, one-on-one consultations, and small group learning sessions.

N Street Village, Inc. is a community of empowerment and recovery for homeless and low-income women in the District of Columbia. A grant of $25,000 will provide comprehensive services addressing both emergency and long-term needs to approximately 1,000 women. The result is that these women achieve personal stability and make life-changing gains in housing, income, employment, mental health, physical health, and addiction recovery.

For Partners in Care, $18,000 was awarded to support the Ride Sharing Program in Anne Arundel County. This program provides access to health care and other important destinations for older adults to remain independent in their homes and engaged in the community. Volunteers use their own cars to provide no-monetary-cost rides for trips to doctor visits, hospitals, pharmacies, and other destinations as well as provide other one-on-one, person–centered services to seniors.

Salisbury University received $40,000 for the Lower Shore Early Intervention Program which addresses behavioral and developmental concerns of underserved children from birth to five years of age. The funds will be used expand the Visiting Intervention portion of the program to provide consultative services to families and children with behavioral and mental health needs who are not enrolled in licensed daycare programs. The program helps parents with intervention strategies for their children as well as assistance in navigating community resources.

Since 2006, Quality Health Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $3.66 million to 55 organizations in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Go to http://www.qualityhealthfoundation.org/images/QHF_Award_Map_6_19_2015_1309x2148.jpg to view the areas covered by the grantees across Maryland and the District.

About Quality Health Foundation

Quality Health Foundation, the mission arm of Quality Health Strategies, is a not-for-profit organization providing grants to charitable and not-for-profit organizations in Maryland and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.qualityhealthfoundation.org/.

SOURCE Quality Health Foundation

Related Links

http://www.qualityhealthfoundation.org/