North Penn Community Health Foundation
Awards $443,000 in Grants
The North Penn Community Health Foundation has awarded eight grants totaling $443,000 to local nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of at-risk populations in the North Penn communities.
Responding to the recently published recommendations in the Montgomery County community needs assessment (see our website for a copy of the complete report) recommending fluoridation of all public water systems, the foundation awarded $50,000 to the Pennsylvania Dental Foundation to lead a collaborative, statewide effort designed to foster a better understanding of the science and technology related to public water fluoridation projects. The foundation spearheaded the formation of a coalition of other philanthropic organizations across Pennsylvania that has awarded additional funds to the Pennsylvania Dental Association. “There is overwhelming and generally accepted scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of water fluoridation in preventing tooth decay for children, adolescents and adults. It is the most effective method of preventing ‘baby bottle’ tooth decay that seriously affects babies and toddlers, especially children in low socioeconomic groups. And, numerous studies have shown that water fluoridation may be the most significant step toward reducing the disparities in dental decay based on access to care, notes Russell Johnson, president of the foundation. Over the next year a statewide educational campaign targeted to local residents and community groups will take place. The goal is to build a broad base of knowledge and support for a mandate to fluoridate all public water systems serving 500 or more households. Through this educational effort communities across the state will embrace what public health experts have known and endorsed about the value of fluoridated public water as a cost-effective strategy for promoting good health and reducing the incidence of cavities.
The North Penn Visiting Nurse Association received a grant for $40,000 over one year in renewed support of its Community Health Education Program. This is the fifth year the foundation has supported this community education program which provides disease prevention and health promotion programs including free health education and health screenings. The programs are available to all area residents. Special partnerships with Manna on Main Street, Community Housing, Indian Creek Foundation and other community organizations target low-income and at-risk children and adults. Over the past few years community education nurses have identified community members with undiagnosed and/or untreated hypertensions, various forms of cancer and other serious health conditions. Nurses counsel patients and assist in making appropriate referrals to confirm diagnoses, arrange treatment and or secure needed services. With this grant, two new programs have been added that will provide nutritional counseling for those individuals identified with high blood glucose levels and youth at risk for obesity.
The Greater North Penn Collaborative for Health and Human Services received a grant of $16,000 over six months to design an evaluation plan for the North Penn Nonprofit Academy. Over the past four years the Academy has provided free local educational programs, led by experts in the field, for executive directors and members of nonprofit leadership teams and board members. Topics have included leadership, management, human resources, fund raising, board development and succession planning. The foundation continues to invest in the Academy as its primary strategy to strengthen the leadership and organizational effectiveness of local nonprofits. Through this grant the Academy leadership and key stakeholders will work with the TCC group, an evaluation consulting firm with more than two decades of experience in designing and performing evaluations, to develop a logic model linking educational content to results, develop and design data collection tools and secure the input and commitment from Academy participants to the evaluation.
Other grants awarded include:
- $190,000 over one year to the Health Promotion Council in renewed support and expansion of the WISE SNAC Program;
- $50,000 over one year to Indian Creek Foundation in support of the Esteam Total Record Training and Implementation Project;
- $47,000 over one year to The Free Health Clinic of Montgomery County, Inc. in continued support of Medical and Oral Health Services;
- $45,000 over seven months to Northwestern Human Services of Montgomery County, Inc. in renewed support of bridge funding for the Supported Employment for Individuals with Mental Illness; and
- $5,000 over one year to the Delaware Valley Grantmakers in support of a Study to Define Opportunities/Models for the Integration of Physical and Behavioral Healthcare Services.
