MEDIA ALERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2006

Contact: Lora Ullerich, Alegent Health
(402) 398-6604 (office) or (402) 618-0693 (mobile)

Alegent Health’s Fourth Round of Community Benefit Trust Awards $5.5 Million

Omaha, Nebraska –- As part of its Mission to provide high quality care for the body, mind and spirit of every person, Alegent Health is pleased to announce that more than $5.5 million dollars in grants have been awarded to 34 nonprofit organizations from the Alegent Health Community Benefit Trust. The Trust was created three years ago by the Alegent Health Board of Directors to support special health-related projects and services that benefit the community’s most vulnerable and underserved populations.

Agencies benefiting from the grants work tirelessly to help strengthen the safety net to provide health and wellness for the community’s underserved and disadvantaged populations - including infants, seniors, low-income families, the uninsured, minorities and patients with behavioral health issues. This round of grants will reach beyond the borders of Omaha and Council Bluffs, benefiting communities including Dunlap, Iowa and Norfolk, Neb.

“We are delighted to begin working with these 34 agencies to address additional health needs in our communities,” said Anne Hindery Camp, operations director of the Community Benefit Trust. “As the Community Benefit Trust continues to reach out to our community partners, we are making a significant difference in the lives of thousands of people."

Some of the most notable projects receiving funds this round include $178,550 awarded to the Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska to strengthen the community continuum of care for immigrant and refugees, $175,268 awarded to Together Inc. of metropolitan Omaha to develop a Food Security Net that will create partnerships with local restaurants to donate excess food to be distributed to homeless shelters and food pantries and $20,579 awarded to the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council to explore the possibility of creating a full-service Family Justice Center for domestic abuse victims and their families.

“Domestic violence has once again become front page news due to at least two tragic deaths in our community; it’s time for the community to realize that the silence must stop. Each and every resident can play a role to end domestic violence. We support the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council’s initiative and believe it’s a critical step in the right direction,” said Camp.

The following is the full list of the organizations receiving grants, along with proposal names and grant amounts: (Organizations with an asterisk are receiving second year grant funding.)

• Alegent Health: IMC Level III/School Program - Integrated Mental Health Services to Elementary Schools—develop and implement Mental Health Services in four local elementary schools - $143,809
• Alegent Health Mercy Hospital - Southwest Iowa Hospice House— collaborative effort to address end-of-life care in Southwest Iowa - $500,000
• Archdiocese of Omaha - Hispanic Outreach— providing Hispanic parents the necessary tools and education to discuss human sexuality with their children - $45,163
• Camp Fire USA and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands - Juntas Viviendo Una Vida Saludable (Together Living a Healthy Life) — promoting healthy lifestyles for Hispanic girls through asset-based group programming and one-on-one mentoring - $110,110
• Center for Holistic Development, Inc. (CHD) - Childhood Mental Health Consultation— comprehensive effort to address behavioral needs of preschool children - $97,072
• Child Saving Institute (CSI)* - First Time Parents— continue maintenance and success of current Young Parents Program, a prevention and early intervention service for young parents - $135,000
• City of Dunlap - Community Wellness Center— provide a quality indoor fitness center for Iowa residents within 30 miles of the Dunlap community - $50,000
• College of St. Mary* - Grant for Health Care Professional Education— strengthen several education initiatives geared towards internationally trained and minority healthcare professionals - $115,000
• Council Bluffs Community Health Center, (CBCHC) Inc. - Enhanced Clinical Outcomes and Access for the Underserved— assist in providing high quality care for all clients - $202,746
• CPAC/UNO - Substance Abuse Training Initiative—develop a methamphetamine treatment training program for substance abuse treatment and criminal justice professionals - $198,979
• Domestic Violence Coordinating Council of Omaha (DVCC) - DVCC Family Justice Center Initiative—explore creating a facility that houses all critical healing services under one roof that victims of domestic violence and their families can turn to for help - $20,579
• Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) - Latinas en Accion: Talking Health Promotion to Immigrant Women— promote a health and fitness program among Latina women - $121,230
• Essential Pregnancy Services* - Essential Pregnancy Services Medical Clinic— maintain success and growth of the medical clinic - $24,000
• Hope Medical Outreach Coalition* - Access to Affordable Medication for the Uninsured— assist in expanding the pharmacy program and providing health information for the uninsured - $192,500
• Leavenworth Neighborhood Association - Diabetes Prevention through Community Partnership— implement a neighborhood diabetes prevention program - $33,789
• Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska - Community Capacity and Resource Strengthening for New Americans—develop the community continuum of care for immigrants and refugees - $178,550
• March of Dimes Nebraska Chapter - NICU Family Support— develop and implement a family support program specifically for critically ill newborns - $20,915
• Mary Catherine McAuley Center for Women and Children - Mental Illness, A Growing Problem, A Creative Solution— provide an on-site Licensed Mental Health Practitioner to better serve the needs of the guests - $70,200
• Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless - Care for the Homeless— provide funding for an umbrella organization that will coordinate community resources for Omaha’s homeless population - $854,200
• Mills County Public Health*Mills County Health Seniors - — improve the cardiovascular health of Mills County Seniors through exercise and education - $13,500
• NAF Multicultural Human Development Corporation* - Viva Sano— continue to strengthen the educational programs targeting Hispanics residing in Schuyler, NE - $30,879
• Nebraska AIDS Project - One Community Outreach Program— offer outreach programs aimed at reducing risk of HIV infection among minority and disadvantaged communities - $303,052
• Omaha Area Co-Occurring Task Force - Treatment of Co-Occurring Disorders in Persons Who are Homeless— provide training and assessment to improve treatment for those who are homeless with severe psychiatric and substance use disorders - $98,925
• Omaha Hearing School - New Generation Educational Resources Fund— develop and implement a fund for deaf children to be able to access sound and appropriate educational resources - $170,000
• OneWorld Community Health Centers* - Behavioral Health Care Project— continue access to behavioral health services to individuals and families affected by multiple cultural, linguistic, economic and transportation barriers by increasing behavioral health system capacity - $241,860
• Our Healthy Community Partnership* - Club Possible: Building Attitudes Today for an Active Tomorrow— continue strengthening the program that improves the health of youths by encouraging activities and behaviors that shape healthy lifestyles - $646,805
• Partnership in Aging - Omaha Metro Area Assessment of the Aging Population - conduct a thorough examination of the needs of older adults through a variety of data sources - $53,742
• Stephen Center* - HERO Treatment Program— expand program for Homeless and low income Individuals with a Co-Occurring Diagnosis - $322,889
• Together Inc. of Metropolitan Omaha - Metro Food Security NET — create partnerships with local restaurants to allow excess food to be redistributed to homeless shelters and food pantries - $175,268
• Visiting Nurses Association of Omaha* - MCH Home Visitation Program in South Omaha — expand its Maternal Child Health Home Visitation Program to the Spanish-speaking population - $120,824
• Volunteers Intervening for Equity - Seniors Helping Seniors Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program — expand insurance counseling and assistance services for senior citizens by Senior citizens - $30,000
• Women’s Care Center of the Heartland - Journey to Birth — provide a safe haven and support for homeless pregnant women in need - $75,000
• Women’s Fund of Greater Omaha - STD Public Information Campaign — implement a comprehensive STD Public Information Campaign, designed to raise awareness about STDs and the importance of getting tested - $127,250
• YWCA* - Lay Health Educators Program — provide education and support to minority women through culturally specific information for breast and cervical cancer, heart disease and diabetes - $40,000

###