News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: February 26, 2010
For more information, contact Virginia Elliott, Vice President for Programs, 620-662-8586
Health Fund announces three new grants
Hutchinson, KS—The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund is pleased to announce the award of three new grants to improve access to health care for Kansans.
With a grant of $7,830, the United Methodist church in the rural Butler County community of Benton will establish a Kansas Benefit Bank site. Area residents who may qualify for a variety of state and federal benefits will be invited to use the assistance of the web-based Kansas Benefit Bank to determine eligibility and apply for such benefits as food assistance, health insurance, childcare subsidies, utilities assistance, and tax credits or refunds.
The grant from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund will pay for computer equipment, supplies, and materials necessary to establish the service at the church. Volunteer counselors assist individuals using the Benefit Bank system.
The Kansas Benefit Bank offers an entry point for low-income Kansans to determine their eligibility for such benefits as food assistance, health insurance, childcare subsidies, utilities assistance, and tax credits or refunds and then complete applications for any benefits for which they may be eligible. Trained counselors assist individuals one-on-one using the system. Training and support for establishing a Kansas Benefit Bank is available through Inter-Faith Ministries of Wichita.
Robin Couey, a member of the Benton United Methodist Church, said the Kansas Benefit Bank is an extension of the church's community assistance programs which already include such assistance as the Angel Food Ministry. "The Kansas Benefit Bank assists individuals struggling with hunger, health, and income issues by providing them with a person who will help them in applying for public assistance to address those needs and others," she explained. "By providing counselors trained in the Benefit Bank software, we will become a 'one-stop shop' for applying for public assistance, tax preparation, and providing information about other programs that may be available to help."
A separate grant of $11,524 has been awarded to establish new Kansas Benefit Bank sites at two Catholic schools in low-income areas of Wichita. The grant will allow Saint Patrick and Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Schools to purchase computer equipment necessary to serve as a Kansas Benefit Bank site and will help pay stipends for four AmeriCorps members to staff the service as well as coordinate trained volunteers.
Theresa Lam, Principal of Saint Patrick Catholic School, said many struggling families don't apply for the benefits that are available to help. "There are many reasons including forms that are difficult to understand, processes that seem overwhelming, or simply not knowing what it takes to qualify," she explained. "The Kansas Benefit Bank overcomes these barriers and we are glad to be able to begin offering this service at Saint Patrick and Saint Margaret Mary Catholic schools."
Great Plains Health Care Foundation of Phillipsburg receives a grant of $50,000 to assist in the establishment of dental services in Greensburg, Kansas. The new dental services to be delivered by Dr. Bob Sweet of Hutchinson will be located in specially designed space at the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital. Dr. Sweet anticipates providing services at least two days each month. The support from Great Plains will be in the form of a forgivable loan requiring services for at least four years in Greensburg. Dr. Sweet's practice will include persons insured by Medicaid. The grant continues Health Ministry Fund work of improving access to dental services in rural Kansas and for underserved populations.
Based in Hutchinson, the mission of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund is “Healthy Kansans through cooperative and strategic philanthropy guided by Christian principles.” Funded through an endowment established in 1986 by the Kansas West Conference of the United Methodist Church from a portion of the proceeds of the sale of Wesley Hospital in Wichita, the Health Fund has since awarded grants totaling more than $53 million, supporting projects to improve the health of all Kansans.
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