News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: January 9, 2008
For more information, contact Kim Moore, President, 620-662-8586
$500,000 Innovation Funding opportunity renewed for 2008; program funds new ideas to improve Kansans' health
Hutchinson, Kansas -- A special allocation of $500,000 for "Innovation Funding" grants in 2008 has been announced by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. The money is earmarked specifically to support practical, promising ideas to improve oral health, access to health care, and physical activity and nutrition.
The innovation funding concept is a result of the Health Fund's strategic planning process which involved over 400 Kansans who participated in interviews, focus groups, and local community meetings to discuss important health issues and ways they might be addressed. Innovation Funding grants were first offered in 2007 and this grant opportunity is being offered again for 2008. Last year, 17 Innovation Funding grants were awarded across Kansas, totaling over $743,000.
"Our strategic planning work reaffirmed our commitment to the areas of oral health, access to health care, and supporting healthier lifestyles," said Kim Moore, president of the Hutchinson-based Health Fund. "Kansas citizens have a lot of great ideas for addressing these problems, but not always the financial resources to make them happen. This funding gives those ideas a realistic chance to be instituted."
Application information available online
Guidelines for applying for innovation funding grants may be found in a Request for Letters of Intent available through the Health Fund website, www.healthfund.org. The Health Fund will be conducting webcasts/teleconferences in mid-February to review the Request for Letters of Intent and answer any questions you may have. Pre-registration is required to participate.
A focus on the three specific health care issues began in 2003 and continues to be firmly supported by the Health Fund's Trustees. "The need is still here. Our challenge is to identify how a foundation of our size can do the most good. We think the innovation funding opportunity is one way to make a tangible difference," said Moore.
Improved physical activity and healthier living remain among the most frequently mentioned health issues of our time. Moore believes the wide-spread recognition of healthy eating and regular exercise is a sign that may signal a readiness for change, a necessary component to succeed in altering behavior patterns.
Moore said the Health Fund will work to address healthier living this year through church and child care programs, as both play a large role in modeling and teaching healthy behaviors.
Much accomplished, much still to do
Oral health care funding was first made available through the Health Fund in 1998. While gains have been made, including the re-establishment of a state office of oral health, increased dental prevention efforts by schools and medical practices, and water fluoridation for ten additional Kansas communities, the Health Fund leadership recognizes there is still significant work to do.
"Access to dental care remains a problem," said Moore. "Many organizations have joined the effort to improve oral health in Kansas, but the Health Fund believes there's more to do over the next few years to ensure the infrastructure is in place to continue these advancements."
Affordable health care for low-income Kansans has been a priority of the Health Fund since its inception. Endowed by proceeds of a hospital sale founded and supported by United Methodists, the Health Fund mission -- Healthy Kansans through cooperative and strategic philanthropy guided by Christian principles -- grew from the church's own health care ideals.
2008 focus
"We will always make it a priority to improve health care coverage for Kansans. There are many ideas for how to expand coverage and address the estimated 300,000 Kansans without health insurance," said Moore. "Our focus for 2008 is to support information gathering, planning, and policy development for creating workable solutions."
The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund was endowed by the Kansas West Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1986. Each year, the foundation awards grants totaling approximately three million dollars.
For more information about the Health Fund, visit its website at www.healthfund.org or call 800-369-7191. The Innovation Funding Request for Letters of Intent and application information is available here.
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