Healthy Kids Outreach Program

Thanks to the creativity of the Mercy Foundation Board Task Force, we're proud to introduce the Healthy Kids Outreach Program. The task force was created to identify the health care needs of our children in Douglas County, and the barriers of meeting those needs. Sadly, we realized that approximately 50 percent of our South County children lack medical insurance. They come from families whose household income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. This program will reduce the need for children to travel for prevention or acute services, providing health care services right at school, which to many, has become their "home away from home."

Another huge barrier to care is trust. Many of these families live in rural and remote areas of Douglas County and they don't have contact with anyone except the school systems their children attend.

The task force came up with the idea to help schools provide a nurse from their own community who can be on-site and available when needed. It is much easier for families to develop a trusting relationship with someone who is familiar with the families and the culture of the community.

A number of community partners helped us build this program. They unanimously agreed that putting a nurse back into the schools would be a good start to building trust and rapport with these families in need. The nurse will be able to perform a number of routine health services, such as evaluations for sinusitis, urinary tract infections and minor headaches, while having a physician or nurse available for phone consultations. In addition, a physician provider will be equipped with a van full of diagnostic equipment to treat more serious health issues and to dispense medication. Increased physician time will be provided as demand dictates and increased funds are raised.

By partnering with The Physicians of Douglas County and Mercy Medical Center, we will be able to provide a physician already on staff, all administrative support, access to diagnostic equipment and primary medical supplies as well as medications, and all liability and malpractice insurance. In addition, we'd like to thank the following community partners for their time and input into this project:

· Allyn Ford from Ford Family Foundation
· Lee Paterson from Roseburg Public Schools
· Douglas ESD
· Nine Roseburg Public School counselors
· Umpqua Community Health Center
· Sue Shaffer,from Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
· Ron Preston from DCIPA
· School administrators from
· Glendale, Riddle, Myrtle Creek, Canyonville, Tiller, Days Creek, and Tri-City
· The Physicians of Douglas County

For information please contact us at:

Mercy Foundation
2700 Stewart Parkway
Roseburg, OR 97470
(541) 677- 4818

info@mercygiving.org