Avera Funding for Community Health Passes $4.5 Million 

Cancer patients and individuals facing the end of life will benefit from alternative healing-touch therapies. Two area elementary schools will have playground improvements. Individuals without access to health care will find help through an innovative collaboration.

These are just some of the 32 projects that will receive 2008 grants from the Avera Community Service Fund. Sr. Mildred Busch, chair of the Avera Health Board of Directors and System Member, announced the grants today. Awards total $295,900 this year.

In keeping with the Avera mission, the fund targets start-up projects that promote community health and wellness. “Avera partners with people who have developed plans for improving the health of their communities and need help getting started. Many of this year’s programs address health care workforce development. We are especially pleased to be able to impact the health and vitality of rural communities,” explained Sr. Mildred

Since the fund’s inception in 1999, Avera has given more than $4.5 million for some 200 health and wellness initiatives throughout the region. Avera’s regional centers pooled resources to create the Avera Community Service Fund in order to stimulate health initiatives at the local level. The fund entertains grant requests from facilities and communities for programs or projects that might otherwise be lost due to a lack of initial development dollars.

Projects must support the Avera mission and be compatible with Avera’s core values of compassion, hospitality and stewardship. Applicants must indicate feasibility and soundness of approach, as well as demonstrate the community’s need for the project and the project’s assistance for those who cannot afford health or wellness care. Projects should promote relationships and a sense of community, foster collaboration with other health and human services providers, and be able to demonstrate results. Grant recipients allow Avera to glean practical applications, disseminate information and replicate successful programs. Grant requests must have a letter of support from an Avera facility, but the projects do not need to be in communities where an Avera hospital or clinic is located.

Enhancing Patient Care in Rural Communities Through Telehealth for Sioux Falls, S.D., $8,000. The project will increase the number of patients accessing specialty care through telemedicine by providing general examination cameras in three rural clinics, training clinical contacts and site coordinators, and evaluating the effectiveness of the general examination camera.

Defibrillators, IV Pumps and Hazardous Materials Gloves for Dell Rapids, S.D., $10,000. Dell Rapids Community Ambulance Service will place a defibrillator in each of the community’s seven churches, add an IV pump to two vehicles and purchase hazardous materials gloves for members.

Healing Touch Program for Cancer Patients for Sioux Falls, S.D., $10,000. Quality of life for persons diagnosed with cancer and at the end of life will be improved by training Healing Touch practitioners to offer services at the Avera Cancer Institute, Dougherty Hospice House and Avera McKennan Fitness Center.

Community Center and Playground Equipment for Oscar Howe Elementary in Sioux Falls, S.D., $5,000. The school will replace outdated and aging equipment and improve access to an adjacent park in order to improve wellness and exercise opportunities for school and neighborhood children.

Community Playground Without Limits for John Harris Elementary in Sioux Falls, S.D., $5,000. Students with special needs will reap the benefits of physical fitness and peer interaction, and have greater opportunity to develop fine and gross motor skills, and vision and communication skills through the availability of specially tailored playground equipment.

Diabetes Prevention Program “Kids STOP” for Sioux Falls, S.D., $7,000. “Kids STOP” will educate children about healthy lifestyle habits and monitor nutrition and activities with the ultimate goal of preventing type 2 diabetes.

Health Care Access Project for Sioux Falls, S.D., $20,000. Sioux Falls CareNet, a collaborative two-year pilot developed by a broad base of community health care entities, will enroll qualifying low-income, working residents (up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level) through an application process, and provide case management to ensure appropriate access to primary and hospital care.

First-Aid Station Upgrade for Plymouth County Fairgrounds in Le Mars, Iowa, $5,000. The updated “Habitat for Health” will provide fair attendees with a safe, clean, sanitary and modern first-aid station and baby-care area.

Fitness Center Updates for Hull, Iowa, $2,500. Updating cardio equipment and building awareness of the benefits of exercise will provide a healthy option for area residents during the cold winter months.

Mentoring Program for At-Risk Youth in Emmet County, Iowa, $2,500. The lives of pre-K through 12th grade at-risk youth will be improved through supportive, stable adult mentor relationships.

Stand-Up Gardens for Nursing Home Residents in Rock Valley, Iowa, $3,000. The residents of Whispering Heights/Valley Manor Senior Living Community will enjoy the independence and social stimulation made possible by indoor, stand-up gardens.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for the Schools in Rock Valley, Iowa, $1,400. AEDs will be placed at both Rock Valley Community School and Rock Valley Christian Elementary, staff will be trained, and students and staff educated on cardiac arrest symptoms.

Reinbows, Inc., Horse-Assisted Therapies for Youth and Elderly in Windom, Minn., $10,000. Horse-assisted therapies will give hope and happiness to at-risk youth by teaching the skills needed to deal with real life issues and stresses, and offering healing outreach to area nursing homes, schools and social service agencies.

Weight-Training Equipment for Students With Disabilities at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn., $10,000. Avera Marshall will work with the university to provide weight-training equipment and an environment conducive to physical strengthening for student with disabilities, as well as measure results of the program.

“Living Well With a Disability” Project for Prairie Freedom Center in Mitchell, S.D., $2,500. Display boards and travel cases, speakers on health topics and a catalog of health and wellness DVDs will be made available to address the unique wellness needs of individuals with disabilities.

Community Soccer Project Expansion for Mitchell, S.D., $20,000. The improvement of current fields and addition of more will provide increased recreational and competitive soccer opportunities for area youth.

Walking Courtyard and Healing Garden for Avera Brady in Mitchell, S.D., $10,000. Quality of life for elders and their families will be improved by the creation a safe, pleasant area for visiting and walking.

Municipal Pool and Bathhouse Renovation for Artesian, S.D., $10,000. Upgrades to the pool and bathhouse will provide the residents of the area with a healthy, safe place to gather and exercise.

Nutrition Program for Students Living in Food Insecurity for Parkston, S.D., $3,000. The Parkston Community Food Bank plans “Sack it! Fridays,” which send nutritious meals home for the weekend with students who lack access to a healthy diet.

Autism Evaluation Clinic for Aberdeen, S.D., $4,500. The availability of the clinic will save travel and wait times currently experienced to obtain evaluation and diagnosis, and allow for earlier intervention and treatment.

Medical Application and Assistance Program (MAAP) for Uninsured and Underinsured Families for Aberdeen, S.D., $15,000. Avera St. Luke’s Social Work Services Department will provide a patient-focused program that assists vulnerable populations to enroll to receive timely access to medical care and related services.

Hippotherapy Horses for SPURS Therapeutic Riding Center for Individuals With Disabilities and Disadvantaged Children in Aberdeen, S.D., $5,000. SPURS will secure four or five specially trained horses for use in hippotherapy sessions.

Patient Simulators for Nursing Program at Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D., $23,000. High-fidelity patient simulators will offer an innovative approach to nurse training by providing the opportunity to work with a wide array of diagnoses, thereby better preparing nurses for the rural health care environment where they are often first to intervene in emergencies.

Renovation and Exercise Equipment for Wellness Center in Eureka, S.D., $10,000. Buildings will be renovated and exercise equipment and programs provided for the Eureka area as part of plans for improving community health.

Adults and Children Together Against Violence (ACT) Training for Yankton, S.D., $4,500. A nationally researched education program will lessen stress for the area’s youngest children and their caregivers through violence prevention.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Institute for High School Students in Yankton, S.D., $10,000. High school students from around the region will have the opportunity to receive the required 75-hour CNA training at the Yankton Area Health Education Center, an opportunity that prepares a young person to transition to a career in health care.

Person First™ Support for Residents With Dementia for Avera Sacred Heart Senior Services in Yankton, S.D., $18,000. Person First™ will support life worth for those with dementia through a philosophy of care that includes the concept of regaining memory, abilities and connections to the world formerly lost through the disease process.

Improvements to Marne Creek West Park in Yankton, S.D., $5,000. The project will create a community garden where families can produce nutritious, home-grown vegetables, as well as establish an off-leash dog park to promote socialization and exercise for dogs and their owners.

Suspected Abuse Response Team (SART) for Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health Services, Inc., in Yankton, S.D., $6,000. SART training will provide an effective response to sexual behavior problems among pre-adolescent children, treatment for children displaying sexual behavior, sexual abuse prevention and a safe setting for children to provide testimony and have medical examinations in a non-traumatizing environment.

Traumatic Brain Injury Unit for South Dakotans in Irene, S.D., $25,000. Equipment, a facility, staff and training will be provided at Sunset Manor/Avera Health for the first community residence for individuals from South Dakota who have experienced a traumatic brain injury.

Basketball Court and Program for Niobrara, Neb., $10,000. The court and program will offer a positive recreational activity for youth and adults in the community in an effort to combat obesity and diabetes.

Community Center for Health Education for O’Neill, Neb., $15,000. A community center with a 400-person capacity will be used to host health care education events and community events.

For more information, contact:
Daryl Thuringer, Marketing and Public Relations Director, (605) 322-4733
Jerry Soholt, Avera Foundation President, (605) 322-4752

For more information about a specific grant project, please contact:
Sioux Falls Area Health Care Access Project – Deb Fischer-Clemens, (605) 322-4668
Avera Telehealth – Mary DeVany, (605) 322-6038
Dell Rapids Community Ambulance Service – Barbara Angerhofer, (605) 428-3080
Healing Touch Program for Cancer Patients – Kris Gaster, (605) 322-3048
Oscar Howe Elementary – Lisa Von Bergen, (605) 362-2752
Community Playground Without Limits – Shelly Harms, (605) 339-4853
“Kids STOP” Diabetes Prevention Program – Mary Lobb Oyos, (605) 322-8996
First-Aid for Plymouth County Fairgrounds – Marlys VanOtterloo, (712) 546-3388
Fitness Center in Hull, Iowa – Les Van Roekel, (712) 439-1521
Emmet County Mentoring Program – Hillary Clarey, (712) 362-2828
Stand-Up Gardens for Rock Valley Nursing Home – Glenn Zevenbergen,
 (712) 476-8010
AEDs for Rock Valley Schools – Glenn Zevenbergen, (721) 476-8010
Reinbows, Inc., Horse-Assisted Therapies – Dr. Mary Olson, (507) 831-1665
Weight Training for Southwest Minnesota State University – Mary Maertens,
 (507) 537-9106
Prairie Freedom Center – Kathie Tupper, (605) 995-8141
Mitchell Community Soccer Project – Denise Werner, (605) 999-5859
Walking Courtyard and Healing Garden – Veronnica Smith, (605) 996-7701
Artesian Municipal Pool Renovation – Susan Richard, (605) 527-2650
Parkston Nutrition Program – Constanze Hagmaier, (605) 928-3752
Autism Evaluation Clinic – Lisa Reich, (605) 622-5885
Medical Application and Assistance Program – Diane Boekelheide, (605) 622-5523
SPURS Therapeutic Riding Center – Kristi Lechner, (605) 226-1099
Patient Simulators for Presentation College – Linda Burdette, (605) 229-8473
Eureka Community Wellness Center – Wanda Jundt, (605) 284-2130
ACT Training – Craig Sherman, (605) 665-4659, Ext. 218
Certified Nursing Assistant Institute – Sandy Viau, (605) 668-8478
Person First™ Support for Residents – Anthony Erickson, (605) 668-8920
Marne Creek West Park/Dogs-R-Us 4-H Club – Mike Gillis, (605) 260-0633
Suspected Abuse Response Team (SART) – Thomas S. Stanage, PhD, (605) 665-4606, or
 Paula Hendrickson, (605) 665-4659, Ext. 218
Traumatic Brain Injury Unit – Becky McManus, (605) 263-3318
Niobrara Basketball Program – Gina Johnson, (402) 857-3724
Community Center for Health Education – Ron Cork, (402) 336-5140