2008 Community
Health Interactive Mini-Grant Award Recipients
Following April's Community Health
Interactive, local collaborations were eligible to apply for mini-grants
to fund projects to improve community health. This mini-grant program
was supported by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice. More than a dozen
applications were received and a committee of community reviewers
allocated a total of $6,000 to 8 local projects. The projects receiving
funding are summarized below.
|
| Name of
Project |
Laurel Civic's
Spring Into Summer Event |
|
Description |
A festive event in Laurel will help residents “Spring into Summer” with
health in mind. On June 18th, from 3 pm – 7pm, a variety of community
organizations will gather at the Laurel Community Center for Spring Into
Summer – an event which will include healthy cooking demonstrations and
tastings, education about local heath and wellness opportunities, health
screenings and much more. The funds would be used to purchase five (5)
Relion Auth-Inflate Digital Blood Pressure Monitors for residents
identified with chronic high blood pressure; to purchase food for
healthy cooking demonstrations as well as to encourage healthy eating of
fruits and vegetables; to print flyers and promotional materials and to
purchase incentives that will encourage active, healthy lifestyles. |
|
Collaborative Partners |
Laurel Civic Association, Community Pharmacy of Sarasota County,
Sarasota County Health Department, University of Florida/IFAS, Community
AIDS Network, Sarasota County Parks and Recreation |
|
| Name of
Project |
Empowering Young Men of Color to Optimal Wellness |
|
Description |
On Feb 28, 2009 a day long youth summit targeting 8th grade
African males will take place in Sarasota County. Funding from this mini-grant will
support sessions on health which will encourage participants to adopt
active, healthy lifestyles and increase knowledge about illnesses that
appear in an alarming rate in the African American community. The "Power
to End Stroke" campaign of the American Heart Association will be part
of the health sessions. Organizers also plan to provide the participants
with information on health care options available in the County. |
|
Collaborative Partners |
Multicultural Health Institute, American Heart Association, Manasota Pan
Hellenic Council, Truvine Missionary Baptist Church, Children First,
Inc. |
|
| Name of
Project |
Community Grow Boxes in
North
Port |
|
Description |
Mini-grant seed money will help this project grow – literally! 15
Earth-Grow Boxes will be purchased for the Health and Human Services
Campus scheduled to be opened on Pan American Drive in North Port
in September 2008. Each of the
five partnership agencies will promote and supervise their own boxes and
develop a schedule for preparation, planting, tending and reaping
seasonally appropriate vegetables.
The intent is to promote healthy eating at a low cost through
client participation. Residents
receiving services from the five partnership agencies will be the
recipients of the project benefits. |
|
Collaborative Partners |
Children First, City of North Port Social Services, Children First in
North Port, Jewish Family Services, First Step and North Port CHAT |
|
| Name of
Project |
Get
Sarasota
County
Insured |
|
Description |
Get
Sarasota County
Insured is a workgroup dedicated to educating the public about
affordable health insurance options for individuals and small
businesses, as well as low-cost healthcare options for
Sarasota
County.
Mini-grant funds will be used to support a large community Health
Care Access Expo in Sarasota
next Spring. The collaborative partners involved in Get Sarasota County
Insured will also continue to organize small educational forums
throughout the community as they have done since 2007. |
|
Collaborative Partners |
Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County, Senior Consulting Services,
Sarasota County Health Department, Breton Benefits, Early Learning
Coalition, Healthcare Sarasota, and CHIP |
|
| Name of
Project |
Health and Education Expo |
|
Description |
In an effort to enhance community awareness among African American and
Hispanic residents in North Sarasota, a
Health and Education Expo was hosted by the Newtown Community Service
Coalition in May, 2008. Funds
were used to assist with printing costs, provide food and drinks, and
obtain permits to block of streets and provide a stage and sound system
from the city. |
|
Collaborative Partners |
Agency members of the Newtown Community Services Coalition which include
Children First, Goodwill, YMCA HIPPY-Operation Graduation, First Step,
Senior Friendship Center, Genesis Health, Newtown Redevelopment, and
Newtown Wellness |
|
| Name of
Project |
Healthy Living Program Enhancements |
|
Description |
The T-Rec Coalition of Sarasota County provides monthly recreational
opportunities for teens and adults with disabilities. The Coalition is
building an aspect of healthy living into each of these events by
providing healthy snacks and exercise opportunities. Funds will be used
at two large upcoming events: the National Therapeutic Recreation Week
Celebration in July and the Disability Awareness Expo in October. In
addition to the healthy snacks, giveaways, and healthy living materials
given to participants, there will also be healthy food demonstrations
and Tai Chi classes. |
|
Collaborative Partners |
Special Athlete Boosters Inc.
T-REC (Therapeutic Recreation) Coalition of Sarasota County.
Members include: Sarasota County Parks
and Recreation, Special Olympics,
Loveland
Center, UCP (United
Cerebral Palsy); Easter Seals, Community Haven for Adults & Children
with Disabilities, Boys & Girls Club, and CASL |
|
| Name of
Project |
Pizza
Garden
in Orange
Blossom
Community
Garden |
|
Description |
Pizza anyone? The Orange
Blossom
Community
Garden will open in the
Newtown
community on July 1, 2008.
Mini-grant funds will be used to establish an organic Community "pizza
garden" and conduct pizza-making demonstrations for neighborhood members
in order to introduce the community to environmentally-friendly
practices, encourage healthy eating habits, and establish a long-term
and productive relationship between the garden and the surrounding
neighborhood. |
|
Collaborative Partners |
Orange Blossom Community Garden, Amaryllis Park Neighborhood
Association, Inc.; Sarasota
Garden Club's
Community
Garden Committee;
North Sarasota Neighborhood Assoc. |
|
| Name of
Project |
Community Pharmacy’s Spring Into Summer |
|
Description |
Though the Community
Pharmacy of Sarasota provides free prescription medicines to qualified
uninsured and under-insured residents, some pharmaceutical companies
still charge co-pays or administrative fees ranging from $20 to $40
dollars per prescription. Some clients are unable to pay the fees and
instead go without their prescriptions.
A collaboration between the Community Pharmacy of Sarasota County and
the Laurel Civic Association will help improve access.
Laurel Civic Association serves a large percentage of uninsured,
underinsured and working poor. The two organizations will follow a
referral system and help clients with a one-time payment. After trained
volunteer advocates at the Pharmacy qualify clients for the program,
Laurel Civic will distribute vouchers to cover pharmaceutical company
co-pays or other administrative fees. Mini-grant funds will be used to
cover the cost of these vouchers. |
|
Collaborative Partners |
Community Pharmacy of Sarasota County & Laurel Civic Association |
