Partner Agencies focused on Health

In 2011, United Way of Bemidji Area invested $134,700 in programs and services that improve people's health and social well-being and provide basic need/emergency services through the following Partner Agencies: 
 

Adult Day Services

Bemidji Community Soup Kitchen

Churches United

Family Advocacy Center - Child Advocacy Center

Hope House

Lutheran Social Services

Northern Dental Access Center

Red Cross Emergency Disaster Services

Northwoods Caregivers

Paul Bunyan Amateur Radio Club

Paul Bunyan Senior Activity Center

Rural Aids Action Network - RAAN

Sanford Hospice

Sexual Assault Program 

Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center - Child and Adolescent Therapeutic Services

Village of Hope - Ours to Serve House of Hospitality

Venture Grants focused on Health

North Star Chapter American Red Cross was awarded a Venture Grant in the amount of $1,375 for Citizen CPR Day.   The purpose of the new America Red Cross “Citizen CPR” course is to teach untrained bystanders to perform hands-only CPR.  Having more citizen bystanders trained in this simple skill will save lives by putting more cardiac arrest victims within a few steps of lifesaving assistance.  In October 2010, the America Red Cross announced a campaign to train 5 million people nationwide in hands-only CPR.  The North Star Chapter proposes to train 100 area residents during the Beltrami Country Fair, August 10-14, 2011.  Successful implementation of the Citizen CPR project will result in 100 people prepared to respond correctly in the event they witness a sudden cardiac arrest.  Each participate will be tested for proper use of skills during the training.   The Chapter will survey participants within one year to evaluate their continued state of readiness to respond. 

Beltrami Area Service Collaborative (BASC) was awarded a Venture Grant in the amount of $2,390 for the Family Toybox project at Sanford Health Clinic.  BASC, along with Sanford Health, the Thrive Initiative and Prime West Health, have partnered together to create a model that focuses on integrating mental health within the primary care setting.  The mission of the Share Care program is to provide a continuum of care in regards to the social-emotional health of young children/adolescents and their families and to bridge the gap between primary care doctors and mental health providers.  This is being accomplished through: early intervention using screening tools, providing care coordination, and consultation between primary care providers at the Sanford Health Clinic and area psychiatric providers.    In addition to these service provisions a parenting component will be added in 2011 through collaboration with Stellher Human Services by adding a Family Toybox and parent empowerment group at Sanford Clinic.  The three main goals of the Family Toybox are:  1) To teach skills to the parents as they are the child’s most important relationship.  2) To use play to teach as it is a child’s mode of learning, and 3) To facilitate a family centered approach.  Children and their parents who are identified through the screening process or who are referred through their pediatrician will be able to participate in these groups.   Parents will learn how to structure a play session, reflective listening, limit-setting and child-centered imaginary play.  In implementing a Family Toybox and parenting empowerment groups to the Shared Care model (in addition to the screening, care coordination and consultation being provided) families will benefit by: having a better relationship with each other, reducing stress and conflicts, learning to have more fun together, gaining trust and respect with each other, understanding their child better, learning skills to communicate more effectively with their child, practicing setting limits and getting support from other parents. 

Northern Dental Access Center was awarded a Venture Grant in the amount of $2,500 for non-enrolled patient access.  The Venture Grant will provide funding for Community Resource Connections (CRC) to offer intake services on behalf of Northern Dental Access.  The intake services will be used to determine if clients who are currently not enrolled in Minnesota Health Care would be eligible to receive care under Northern Dental’s new Non-Enrolled Patient Schedule.  The Non-Enrolled Patient Schedule offers discounted rates for basic dental services, available to eligible people on a cash basis.  With Community Resource Connection’s expertise in a wide variety of social service programs and their current location of a satellite office at the dental clinic, it makes them the perfect partner in managing the eligibility process.   In addition, CRC can offer additional help in identifying fuel assistance, food stamps, child care subsidies, insurance counseling and more.  In the end of the first four months, more than 60 people will have received help in accessing dental care, who could not before; this will improve their health and life outcomes; and, policies and procedures will be refined to allow for successful expansion of the program.  

Backpack Buddies

Coats for the Community

FamilyWize FREE
Prescription Discount Card

Stamp Out Hunger