The University of Nebraska Medical Center has awarded 27 small community grants to fund projects aimed at improving community health and introducing Nebraska youth to health care careers. The grants were awarded through UNMC’s Rural Health Education Network (RHEN) Office, the Central Nebraska Area Health Education Center (CN-AHEC), and the Northern Nebraska Area Health Education Center (NNAHEC).
The small community grant program was started in 1998 by Roxanna Jokela, director of RHEN. “As I traveled across Nebraska, people kept telling me about their ideas to introduce local students to health care careers,” Jokela said. “Over and over, I kept hearing that no one had any money available in their budgets to support these types of programs. We decided 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 organization/institution. “For example, we encourage schools and local heath care providers to develop programs together,” Jokela said. “Everyone benefits when partnerships develop at the local level.”
The creation of Nebraska’s AHECs makes it possible to increase the number of grants awarded. The Nebraska Panhandle AHEC (NP-AHEC) is currently seeking additional requests for community grant projects in the 14 counties located in the panhandle of Nebraska. April 29 is the deadline to submit applications. For more information, contact NP-AHEC executive director, Dr. William Zitterkopf, at (308) 635-6713.
CENTRAL NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES – RHEN/CN-AHEC FUNDED
Eustis – Eustis-Farnam School received funding for “Health Professions,” which will introduce students to a variety of careers in health care. The partner organization is Cozad Community Hospital in Lexington.
Grand Island – Wellness Works received funding for “Exploring Health Career Camp.”
The weeklong camp will be held in June 2005 and will introduce 30 students to health care careers. Their partner organization is the nursing program at Central Community College in Grand Island.
Grant – Perkins County Health Services received funding for “Show Me.” The program will acquaint and educate 30 young men and women of high school age (preferably freshmen and sophomores) on the number of career possibilities as well as the education required. The partners are Grant Public Schools and Wallace School District 65-R.
Hastings – Central Community College-Hastings campus received funding for “Summer Health Occupations Academy.” Interested students will learn about several health care careers over a three day period in June. Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital is the partner organization.
Hastings – Mary Lanning Hospital received funding for “Pre-Professional Workshop with a focus on the 5 Cs.” High school juniors within a 30-mile radius can apply to attend the one-day workshop and learn about allied health professions in relation to the 5 Cs: caring, confidentiality, communication, culture and career/college planning. The partner organization is the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
North Platte – Great Plains Medical Center received funding for “Health Career Academy.”
The four-day program scheduled for July will increase awareness of the health care professions among area students. The partner organization is the North Platte Public Schools.
Roseland – Silver Lake Public Schools received funding for “Silver Lake Wellness Project.”
The program will educate junior high students about wellness and healthy lifestyles. The partner organizations are Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
ADDITIONAL GRANTS FUNDED SOLEY BY CN-AHEC
Aurora – Edgerton Explorit Center received funding to provide at least three educational activities to spark an interest in health care for the students and adults attending “Kearney Kidz Explore.”
Farnam – Eustis-Farnam Middle School received funding for “President’s Challenge”
which will improve the health of students and teachers through a multifaceted approach including nutrition, President Bush’s Eight-Week Fitness Challenge and health education. The same program will be available to the local senior citizens center. The partner organization is the Cozad Community Wellness Center.
Grand Island – Grand Island Public Schools received funding for “Introduction to Medical Career Training in Central Nebraska.” Students enrolled in the senior high’s introduction to medical careers course will participate in two one-day tours of Central Community College in Grand Island and Hastings, as well as Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital’s Radiologic Technology Program. The partnering organizations are the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation, Central Community College-Grand Island, and Central Community College-Hastings.
Grand Island – St. Francis Medical Center Foundation received funding for “A Year of Opportunity — English/Spanish Health Career Calendars.” A bilingual poster calendar featuring health careers will provide information to students and those who may be considering a career change. The partner organization is Central Community College-Hastings.
Kearney – Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation received funding for “Kearney High Students Preceptorship Program in the Health Care Sciences.” The purpose of the project is to encourage junior and senior students to consider careers in health care. The partner organization is Kearney High School.
Kearney – Kearney High School Health Care Sciences and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) received funding for “Scrubby Bear.” Students from the Kearney High School HOSA Chapter will develop a hand washing program for preschools and Head Start programs in the Kearney area. The partner organization is Good Samaritan Hospital.
Lexington – University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension – Dawson County received funding for “Health Kicks.” As part of an after school program, area youth will experience hands-on exploration of health careers presented by a variety of local health professionals. The partnering organizations are Lexington Middle School, Tri-County Hospital, and Jerry Remmenga, D.D.S.
Wauneta – Wauneta-Palisade Public Schools received funding for “Opportunities in the Health Care Professions.” Junior and senior high school students will expand their knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, human health and nutrition, and microbiology. The partnering organization is Chase County Community Hospital.
NORTHERN NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES – RHEN/NNAHEC FUNDED
Concord – University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Dixon County received funding for “Teaching Teens and Teens Mentoring Youth for Better Health.” Approximately 30-50 area teens will learn about health related topics and then create presentations to provide to elementary and pre-school students. The partner organization is Allen Community Schools.
Center – University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Knox County received funding for “Knox County Kids Career Health Fair,” which involves a health and career fair at Creighton High School, as well as a speaker for Creighton and Verdigre schools on how to enhance a health behavior, prevent violence and substance abuse. The partner organization is Goldenrod Hill Agency.
Hartington – Cedar County Catholic Schools received funding for “CPR Education.”
Staff and students will be trained and certified to perform CPR. The partnering organizations are Hartington Public Schools, Wynot Public Schools and Crofton Community Schools.
Osmond – Osmond Community Schools received funding for “Senior Focus on Careers in Health and Summer Academy” which will expose students to health careers through field observation, job shadowing and laboratory/clinical experiences. The partner organization is Osmond Community Hospital.
Wayne – Wakefield Community Schools received funding for “Anatomy Class and CPR Certification,” which will provide CPR training and certification for 10 students and one instructor. The partner organization is Wakefield Community Schools.
Wisner – Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department received funding for “Ventures in Health.” Two health career fairs will be held in Stanton and Madison high schools and target Spanish-speaking parents in Madison County. The partner organization is Stanton Public Schools and Madison Public Schools.
NEBRASKA PANHANDLE COMMUNITIES – RHEN FUNDED
Box Butte – Box Butte General Hospital received funding for “Health Professions Club.”
Monthly meetings and field trips will help local students learn about careers in health care. The partner organization is Alliance High School.
Kimball – Kimball Health Services received funding for “Medical Experience Day for Students (MEDS)” to expose area students to health care professions. The partnering organizations are Kimball Public Schools, Banner County Public Schools, Potter-Dix Public Schools, and Kiimball Health Services Rural Health Clinic.
SOUTHEASTERN NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES – RHEN FUNDED
Beatrice – Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center received funding for “2005 Careers in Health Care” and plans to offer a one-day health care careers experience to students from Wymore Southern, Lewiston, Diller-O’Dell, Tri County, and Freeman schools. The partner organization is Southeast Nebraska TECH PREP.
Crete – Crete Area Medical Center received funding to offer “Health Career Choices” which involves two day-long 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 careers education and exploration to 20-30 local students. The partner organization is Fairbury Jr.-Sr. High School.
Friend – Warren Memorial Hospital received funding for “Warren Memorial Treasures Your Health.” In August, children and their families can learn about the importance of healthy living activities and programs. The partner organization is Johnson’s Pharmacy.