CEDAR VALLEY UNITED WAY ANNOUNCES INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH PROGRAMS

WATERLOO, IA—Cedar Valley United Way is investing $869,830 to improve health in the community for 2014-2015. In addition to these grants targeting health, funding will be distributed to programs working to improve education and income in the Cedar Valley.

“Health impacts every aspect of a person’s life,” said Bruce Meisinger, chair of the community impact team for health and director of the Black Hawk County Health Department. “Poor health prevents people from maintaining a good quality of life. Health impacts families’ economic situations and keeps children out of school. By investing in the health in the Cedar Valley, we can make the Cedar Valley a stronger, more productive community.”

Grant applications were reviewed by a community impact team of volunteers in each of the focus areas of education, income and health. Programs were evaluated on their program descriptions, performance measurements, collaboration and effective use of budgeting as well as need for the service in the community.

“The volunteers on our three community impact teams work closely to identify the most pressing needs facing the Cedar Valley and find the most effective was to combat these issues,” said Sheila Baird, Cedar Valley United Way president. “Together, these teams have identified that dental disease and asthma are the two biggest health factors that lead to chronic absenteeism in our schools. The volunteers are working to uncover ways we can build a healthier community and ultimately increase quality of life in the Cedar Valley.”

The money invested is being distributed to programs in the following target areas:

Maternal Health and Infant Well-Being

$11,667 for the maternal health program at UnityPoint Health--Allen Hospital

$33,191 for Young Parents Together through UnityPoint Health—Allen Hospital/Together for Youth

$22,000 to the Buchanan County Healthy Families program at Operation Threshold

$8,143 for the Healthy Babies program at Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County

$30,786 to HOPES at Lutheran Services in Iowa                                                                                    

Basic Health Care Prevention and Access

$25,000 to the ACE-SAP Free Clinic through Allen College

$36,000 for elderly transportation through the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging

$44,667 for Burmese interpretation at Peoples Community Health Clinic

$53,000 for dental care through Peoples Community Health Clinic

$13,000 for SHIIP through RSVP/Wheaton Franciscan Health System

$85,286 for Community Home Nursing through Waterloo Visiting Nursing Association                                                                                     

Healthy Youth and Adults/Healthy Body Mass Index

$11,000 for the Know Your Numbers program at YWCA of Black Hawk County

$16,047 for ReCharge at YWCA of Black Hawk County

Healthy Youth and Adults/Overall Good Health

$15,000 for the Blue Zone Project through Success Link

$21,714 for the therapeutic riding program through Aspire Therapeutic Riding

$10,000 for Grundy before and after school care through Family YMCA of Black Hawk County    

$2,800 for the SPLASH program at Family YMCA of Black Hawk County

$5,000 for services for people with mental illness through NAMI

$32,714 for the perishable foods program at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank                                                                                   

Healthy Youth and Adults/Sexual Health

$95,217 for adolescent pregnancy prevention through UnityPoint Health—Allen Hospital/Together for Youth

$12,000 for Wise Guys at Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County

$20,000 for Wize Girlz at the YWCA of Black Hawk County                                                                                    

Healthy Youth and Adults/Drugs and Alcohol

$42,000 for adolescent substance abuse intervention from Pathways Behavioral Services                                                                                                     

Healthy Youth and Adults/Violence

$30,000 to the Child Protection Center at UnityPoint Health--Allen Hospital

$24,000 for domestic violence shelter services through Cedar Valley Friends of the Family

$20,000 to the Court Appointed Special Advocate program through Friends of CASA

$29,025 for children’s services through Exceptional Persons, Inc.

$15,147 for the Parent Connection/Empowering Parents program at Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County

$5,140 for the Parent to Parent program at Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County

$25,000 for sexual abuse prevention through Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County  

$30,286 for the Nest Program at Operation Threshold

$45,000 for domestic violence victim services through Waypoint Services

Money from these grants was raised as part of the 2013 annual campaign with donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals. In addition to the health grants, funding will also be distributed to programs working to improve education and income in the Cedar Valley.

Cedar Valley United Way is committed to leveraging resources including financial contributions, community expertise, in-kind contributions and partnerships to fuel impact here in our community. Their focus is to improve and promote education, income and health within the Cedar Valley. For more information about Cedar Valley United Way and how you can give, visit www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org.

 

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