February 11, 2010
The News Review

Mercy Foundation Receives Generous Grant from the Whipple Foundation Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation

Mercy Foundation's Healthy Kids Outreach Program (HKOP) recently received a generous grant of $20,000 from Whipple Foundation Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation. The funds will be used to support expansion of the Health Kids Outreach Program.

"We are honored to have HKOP selected to receive this grant from Whipple Foundation Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation," said Pam Frank, HKOP Coordinator. "This funding will make it possible for our program to expand to more area schools and help provide children and families with the best opportunities for improved health and well-being."

Mercy's HKOP offers a unique medical model which was designed specifically to reach Douglas County children and families who lack access to regular medical care. A needs assessment, which was conducted almost four years ago, revealed that more than 80 percent of families in Douglas County's most rural communities experience significant barriers to accessing medical care for their children. Barriers included limited knowledge of available medical resources, limited funds, and limited transportation options. From the assessment, the Health Kids program was designed to meet two critical needs: provide health education at schools, where children already spend most of their day, and assist families in accessing appropriate medical care for their children. HKOP nurses and health educators, who are employeed by Mercy Foundation (not the school districts), provide prevention and education services at several schools in south Douglas County. The nurses and health educators work alongside school staff to provide health education to children of all ages, from kindergartners to high school seniors, on a variety of topics including proper hygiene, communicable disease prevention, nutrition and healthy life choices. HKOP nurses also assess children for acute or ongoing health care needs and assist families with referrals to health care providers and access to transportation.

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