July 24, 2007

Foundation Grants Strengthen Public Health Programs

Hayden, ID - A Sandpoint clinic for people with no health insurance and a program that helps infants have a positive start to life are the recipients of the Panhandle Public Health Foundation's (PPHF) first grant awards.

"We're so pleased that foundation grants can help two such significant public health programs," said Kay Kindig, PPHF chairman. "The foundation's goal is to expand the reach of public health and we're just getting started."

Bonner Partners in Care and the Panhandle Health District's Public Health Nurse Home Visiting Program each received $1,000 from the foundation.

Bonner Partners in Care provides health care for minor and chronic problems and helps patients get needed medications, lab tests and other specialized services. Nearly 800 people use the clinic's services, which are provided by volunteer doctors, mid-level practitioners, nurses and support staff.

Partners in Care will use the PPHF grant to help patients pay for doctor-recommended specialized tests, procedures, labs and medications.

"One of the most frequent referrals we get from PHD is for help with women's pelvic and abdominal ultrasounds," said Lora Cartelli, director of Bonner Partners in Care. "We're delighted to get these funds and thought we'd use them explicitly for women's ultrasounds."

Public Health Nurse Home Visiting Program links registered nurses with families in the five northern counties struggling for any reason with their newborns. Nurses visit families in their homes once or twice, then stay available for phone consultations for up to three years. Nurses assess family support and baby health and offer parenting education that builds family strengths and minimizes harmful behaviors.

The Home Visiting Program relies on grants to operate. The PPHF grant will enable the program to serve about 15 additional families.

"The foundation's grant gives us the ability to continue to see families," said Theresa Hylsky, Home Visiting Program coordinator. "To me it's such an honor and privilege to go into a family's home and offer research-based education that helps them to be better parents. This program has proved it's effective."

PPHF was founded in 2004 as a non-profit corporation. It encourages and supports non-profit and governmental organizations that improve the health of the public in the five northern counties. Panhandle Health District employees raise money for the foundation with an annual silent auction. This year, the foundation also will raise money for grants with a benefit bike ride August 25 on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. The event will occur annually and grow in scope over the years.

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