The University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Nebraska Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) have awarded 28 small community grants to fund projects aimed at improving community health and introducing Nebraska youth to health care careers. The grants, which total nearly $45,500, range between $1,500 and $3,000.
They were awarded through UNMC’s Rural Health Education Network (RHEN) Office and four area health education centers around Nebraska — the Central Nebraska Area Health Education Center (CN-AHEC), the Northern Nebraska Area Health Education Center (NNAHEC), the Nebraska Panhandle Area Health Education Center (NP-AHEC), and the newly formed Southeast Nebraska Area Health Education Center (SE-AHEC).
The small community grant program was started in 1998 by Roxanna Jokela, director of RHEN, to make funds available so Nebraska communities could develop programs to benefit their local areas.
To be considered for funding, the applicant agency must partner with at least one additional, local organization/institution.Funds can be used for improving community health, promoting health care career awareness, or providing continuing education programs.
CENTRAL NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES – RHEN/CN-AHEC FUNDED
Aurora- Memorial Community Health, Inc. received funding to assist with the “Memorial Community Health Fair,” which was held the second weekend of February and offered the general public health care education and affordable screenings. The partnering organization is the Hamilton County Ag Society.
Grand Island – Saint Francis Medical Center Foundation received funding for “Hall County Healthcare Provider Lifesaving Project,” which will offer CPR training to medical professionals and their staff. The partnering organization is the Hall County Medical Society.
Hastings – Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital received funding for “Nurse Career Camp,” a three-day event in June, which will provide an opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to explore careers in nursing. The partnering organization is Creighton University School of Nursing, Hastings campus.
Holdrege – Phelps Memorial Health Center received funding for “Choose to Save-A-Life Community CPR Training,” a one-day CPR training program for community members. CPR Anytime for Family and Friends training kits will be distributed. The partnering organization is the Two Rivers Public Health Department.
McCook – Community Hospital of McCook received funding for a one-day “Public Health Fair” offering free health information and affordable screenings to area residents. The partnering organization is the Red Willow County Health Department.
Palmer – Palmer Public School received funding for “First Aid/CPR Training for Palmer Public School Employees.” The partnering organization is the Red Cross – Central Plains Chapter.
Red Cloud – Red Cloud Schools received funding for a “Visitation to UNMC” providing opportunities for high school students in the Red Cloud area to become more informed about health care careers. The partnering organization is Webster County Community Hospital.
Wauneta – Wauneta-Palisade Public High School received funding to continue “Opportunities in Health Care Professions,” which gives junior and senior high school students an opportunity to explore various health careers. Partnering organizations are the Chase County Clinic and Chase County Community Hospital.
NORTHERN NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES – RHEN/NNAHEC FUNDED
Fremont – Fremont Area Medical Center received funding to take “Health 4 Life” to a higher level. The program promotes physical activity and healthy eating habits for elementray school students.
The partnering organization is Trinity Lutheran Elementary School.
O’Neill – Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital received funding for “Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital Colorectal Test Kits,” which will be offered to health fair participants over age 50 along with educational materials. The partnering organizations are the North Central District Health Department, Northeast Community College, O’Neill Public High School, and St. Mary’s High School.
O’Neill – University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension – Holt & Boyd Counties received funding for “Voices for Rural Health,” which will offer a health fair providing hands-on demonstrations, health career awareness and opportunities to sophomore, junior and senior high school students in the two counties. Partnering organizations are O’Neill Public Schools, North Central District Health Department, Bright Horizons, Holt County – Hometown Competitiveness Coalition, Central Nebraska Community Services, Inc., and 4-H Youth Council of Boyd County.
Pender – Pender Community Hospital received funding for “Pender Community Health Fair 2006” to increase health awareness, provide health screenings, educational materials, and identify health services and resources. The partnering organization is Pender Mercy Medical Clinic.
Scribner – Scribner-Snyder Community Schools received funding to offer “CPR Training/AED (Automated External Defibrillation) Training” to area residents. The partnering organization is Dodge Public School.
Thedford – Central Sandhills Area Extension received funding for “Health Lifestyles for Rural Elementary Students,”a program designed to help students identify and choose healthy foods.
Partner organizations are Mullen Public Schools, Whitman Elementary School, Thedford Elementary School and the Sandhills District Health Department.
Valentine – Minnechaduza Foundation received funding for “Child Maltreatment Awareness” to provide a continuing medical education course to increase knowledge of regional health professionals regarding domestic violence and child abuse. The partnering organization is North Central Quad Counties.
NEBRASKA PANHANDLE COMMUNITIES – RHEN/NP-AHEC FUNDED
Alliance – Box Butte General Hospital received funding to continue its “Health Professions Club.” Monthly meetings and field trips help local high school students learn about careers in health care. The partner organization is Alliance High School.
Bridgeport – Morrill County Community Hospital received funding for “C-SHOP,” a program to educate students in fifth and eleventh grades about the risks and prevention of cardiovascular disease. The partner organization is Bridgeport Public Schools and Bayard Public Schools.
Chadron – Crossroads received funding to focus on gambling awareness and education in northern Panhandle communities. The partner organization is the Northern Panhandle Emergecy Response Program.
Chadron – The Chadron Native American Center received funds to provide t-shirts at the “5-K Run and Fun Walk” during the 7th Annual Intertribal Gathering. The partner organization is Panhandle Resource Conservation and Development, Inc.
Gering – The Panhandle Community Services/Minority Health Initiative received funds to hold a “Minority Health Job Fair” in the spring of 2006. The partner organization is the UNMC College of Nursing, West Nebraska Division.
Gering – Save Kids Scottsbluff County received funds to train people to become Child Passenger Safety Technicians. The partner organization is Safe Kids of the Sandhills.
Scottsbluff – The Crisis Respite Center received funds to develop staff training programs on major mental illness and substance abuse disorders. The partner organization is the Panhandle Mental Health Center.
Sidney – Kids Plus Inc. received funding for the “Cheyenne County CPR Initiative” to provide CPR training to community members. The partner organizations are Memorial Health Center, Cheyenne County Community Center, 21st Century Community Learning Center, and the Western Nebraska Community College, Sidney campus.
SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES – RHEN/SE-AHEC FUNDED
Crete – Crete Area Medical Center received funding to offer “Health Career Choices,” which involves two-day summer workshops to expose area youth to careers in health care. The partner organization is the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension-Saline County.
Fairbury – Jefferson County Health Center received funding for “Health Career Exploration Day,” which will provide health career education and exploration to 20-30 local high school students. The partner organization is Fairbury Junior-Senior High School.
Friend – Warren Memorial Hospital received funding for the “Warren Memorial Hospital Health Club” to allow students from area schools to learn about different departments in the hospital and invite the youth to a summer program involving the Star Care V Air Ambulance from Lincoln. The partner organization is Johnson’s Pharmacy.
Tecumseh – Johnson County Hospital received funding for “Johnson County Hospital Health Careers Project,” which will involve workshops at three Johnson County area schools to teach 100 high school students about the variety of health care careers. The partnering organizations are Tecumseh Public School, Sterling Public Schools, and Nemaha Valley Public School.
York – York General Health Care Services received funding for “Young or Old: Get in the Mix – Check Your Health in ’06,” which will provide a community health fair on Saturday, April 29. The partner organization is Four Corners Health Department/Cancer Control Coalition.
"Working together to shape healthy communities”– An Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is a cooperative venture between a medical school and community centers. Funded through a federal grant from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the centers may be rural or urban but must be geographically removed from the actual medical center and all of its campuses. The goal of each AHEC is to meet the health care needs within its area. Each Nebraska AHEC has an executive director, is staffed with local people, and is an independent nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors made up of area community people.
The Central Nebraska AHEC, established in 2001, is located in Grand Island and covers 35 counties. The Northern Nebraska AHEC, established in 2002, is located in Norfolk and covers 26 counties. The Nebraska Panhandle AHEC, established in 2004, is located in Scottsbluff and covers 14 counties. A Southeast Nebraska AHEC and an Omaha Urban AHEC are being formed in 2006.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology, ophthalmology and arthritis. UNMC’s research funding from external sources is now more than $72 million annually and has resulted in the creation of nearly 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state.