Health Fundamentals

June 2010
Sections: News | Funding and Resources | Events

News

Health Fund issues $500,000 RFP to combat childhood obesity in Kansas

Because of escalating concern about child obesity, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund has launched a Fit for Kansas Kids: Calling Communities to Action request for proposals (RFP) backed with a half million dollars in funding for grants.

"Child obesity is a worldwide threat, and that definitely includes Kansas," said Health Fund President Kim Moore. Approximately 30% of Kansas children are considered overweight, and nearly 31% of low-income children in Kansas ages two to five years are overweight or obese. Early intervention addressing the factors influencing child overweight is believed to be the most effective in supporting lifelong health.

The goal of this Health Fund initiative, as expressed in the RFP, is "to develop community resources, practices, and policies supporting young children and their families in increased physical activity and healthy nutrition." Prenatal to age six children, and their families, are the target beneficiaries.

Qualified organizations may apply for a grant of up to $100,000. However, Moore said more modest requests are certainly encouraged. Applicants for the grants do not have to be affiliated with the United Methodist church; eligible grantees are existing collaborations in Kansas which are working on community health issues, desire to address the targets of this RFP, and have a 501(c)(3) public charity or governmental entity to serve as the fiscal agent for the grant.

The deadline for submitting a Fit for Kansas Kids proposal is September 30. Grant awards will be determined by November 15th, with funding available starting January 1, 2011.

Three informational webinars for interested parties are planned, with two sessions June 30th and one July 16th. See related article under "Events" for more information, or sign up at www.healthfund.org/rfp/register.php.

The Who, What, When, and How of Health Reform: A Guide for Kansans

Everyone knows something about the new federal health reform law. But most of us need a little help sorting through it and understanding what it will mean to us as consumers.

The Health Fund has published The Who, What, When, and How of Health Reform, A Guide for Kansans based on a summary prepared by the Kansas Health Institute, Topeka, to help make sense of how Kansans will be affected by the federal health reform law. The guide is available in a downloadable pdf format, and limited quantities of printed brochures for distribution are available while supplies last. Please email healthfund@healthfund.org to request copies.

Health Fund Annual Report Reaching Out published

The Health Fund's 2009 Annual Report is available on our website www.healthfund.org. The report contains several personal stories illustrating the array of health issues being addressed by the Health Fund, listings of 2009 grants awarded, and much more. Read about:

The family who used to have to drive nearly three hours for their children's dental care, while going without adult care due to financial barriers.
The woman diagnosed with breast cancer who couldn't afford dental care required before her cancer treatments could proceed.
A family buried in medical debt due to their children's hospitalizations for cystic fibrosis, even though they were insured at the time.
The troubled child, expelled from preschool for severe aggression, who learned to express his feelings verbally instead of physically and entered kindergarten with the school hardly able to believe this was the same child they were unable to manage before.

We hope you'll take the opportunity to learn more about our work to fulfill our mission of healthy Kansans through cooperative and strategic philanthropy guided by Christian principles and how you can be a part of improving health in Kansas.

Study shows high obesity rate for clergy

The United Methodist News Service recently reported on a study published this May in "Obesity," the journal of the Obesity Society, which showed an obesity rate of nearly 40 percent among North Carolina United Methodist clergy ages 35 to 64, 10 percent higher than the general prevalance of obesity in other state residents. Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell, research director of the Clergy Health Initiative, a program of Duke Divinity School, said she was shocked at the results of what she called the first fair comparison of North Carolina clergy to the people living in communities around them. The study also found that middle-aged male and female clergy were diagnosed with diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, and asthma at "significantly higher rates" than other state residents.

Clergy face a unique combination of stress factors, including mobility, low financial compensation, inadequate social support, high time demands, and intrusions on family boundaries, which often undermine efforts at self-care and decrease engagement in healthy behaviors. The report is available on the United Methodist News Service site here.

Early this year, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund launched its Clergy Wellness Program, which seeks to empower Kansas United Methodist clergy to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles providing a solid foundation for a balanced, sustainable life of ministry. For the Clergy Wellness Program pilot, 32 clergy were randomly selected and invited to participate. The pilot includes participation in a two day health retreat where participants will meet with a consulting physician, nutritionist, spiritual advisor, financial advisor, and wellness coach and develop personalized plans to address individual health needs.

Call for nominations: Health Champion of the Year Award

The Governor’s Council on Fitness is seeking nominations for the Kansas Health Champion of the Year. This award will go to one outstanding individual or organization best exemplifying Kansas efforts to model, encourage and promote fitness. The deadline for nominations is June 15. The nomination form and additional information may be found at www.kansasfitness.org

Funding and Resources

Fit for Kansas Kids RFP offers $500,000 in grants to prevent childhood obesity

The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund has issued a Fit for Kansas Kids: Calling Communities to Action Request for Proposals (RFP) to prevent obesity in young children through physical activity and healthful nutrition. See the full article under "News" above or go directly to the RFP and related information on our website to learn more. A news release providing a brief overview of the initiative is available here.

The deadline for submitting a Fit for Kansas Kids proposal is September 30. Grant awards will be determined by November 15th, with funding available starting January 1, 2011.

Events

Fit for Kansas Kids RFP webinars offered for Q&A about funding opportunity

The Health Fund is offering webinars/teleconferences to review Fit for Kansas Kids: Calling Communities to Action guidelines and to provide the opportunity for interested persons to ask questions of our program staff. Due to capacity limits, pre-registration is required. Please visit www.healthfund.org/rfp/register.php to register for one of the three scheduled conferences:

June 30 at 10:00 a.m.
June 30 at 1:00 p.m.
July 16 at 1:30 p.m.

Additional conferences may be scheduled if needed. Those who pre-register for a webinar/teleconference will receive a registration confirmation and participation instructions via email.