The largest grant award to date funds a community partnership promoting healthier lifestyles led by the public school system
Greater Williamsburg Medication Access Program | Historic Triangle Public Access to Defibrillation
Perinatal Care | RIDES | School Health Initiative Project
The WCHF Board of Trustees determined that the Foundation should undertake pro-active grantmaking. This type of grantmaking involves the Foundation identifying areas of need or population groups in the greater Williamsburg area that would benefit from projects or programs initiated by the Foundation. The following WCHF initiatives have recently received funding:
Virginia chapter of
the
arthritis
foundation
The Virginia Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation has received a national Arthritis Foundation award for Public Health Innovation for the Williamsburg Arthritis Project. The award was presented at the Arthritis Foundation’s annual staff conference, held this year in Tucson, AZ. Only five national awards were give to recognize programs or services that demonstrated creative and innovative means of reaching different, diverse, or underserved populations, working with a new partner, or implementing a preventive message in a community or chapter area.
The Williamsburg Arthritis Project was initiated in 2002 to increase public awareness about the nature of arthritis and all the ways individuals can control and/or improve their condition. The project targeted a selected geographic entity (the Greater Williamsburg Area of Virginia) and has successfully introduced Arthritis Foundation programs to a previously underserved community. Since its inception with funding from the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation, the program has assisted over 1300 people, offering 25 free educational seminars, daily exercise classes, self-help programs, and free literature.
Upcoming Events:
The Williamsburg Arthritis Project, in collaboration with the Williamsburg Area Learning Tree, will be launching a course this fall entitled Step-by-Step. The 5-week (10 module) classes are designed for people with arthritis. Local health care providers will help teach the course, exploring behavioral changes that improve life quality. Topics will include: medical care, exercise, nutrition, weight loss, modifications in the home and office, and relaxation techniques. For further information, please contact Laura K. Lawrence, Coordinator, Williamsburg Arthritis Project, 220-1811, llawrence@arthritis.org.
Greater Williamsburg
Medication Access Program (GWMAP)
By supporting efforts of state, regional, and local organizations, the Foundation has funded a grant of $830,000 over two years to improve access to needed prescription medications. The GWMAP is designed to connect uninsured, low income residents of the region with free drug programs already provided by private drug companies. The Virginia Health Care Foundation is administering the program for seven local health care providers to coordinate the process using “The Pharmacy Connection” software to distribute vital medications.
Historic Triangle
Public Access to Defibrillation (PAD) Program
“Saving Lives in the Historic Triangle” and creating a heart-safe community through early defibrillation are the goals of a task force convened by the Foundation in 2004. The PAD Task Force has led the effort to make Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) as accessible as fire extinguishers throughout the community and train community individuals how to use them. With $450,000 in grant funds, this Task Force has distributed 245 AEDs and provided CPR/AED training to more than 1,000 employees and residents in the Williamsburg area. Learn more from the program’s website.
Perinatal Care
The goal of this project is to provide access to care for women with Medicaid or no health insurance who currently cannot find affordable obstetrical services in the Williamsburg area. WCHF funding provides a physician and a case manager to staff a prenatal clinic at Olde Towne Medical Center to serve the residents of James City County, the City of Williamsburg, and York County.
RIDES
With start-up funding of $300,000 from the Foundation, the Senior Services Coalition implemented RIDES, a coordinated transportation system, which will improve access for seniors and disabled residents in the greater Williamsburg area. The RIDES program is designed to simplify the process for the resident who has no means of transportation by offering one phone number that links people to a coordinated transit system. It provides low cost transportation by trained volunteer drivers to non-emergency primary health care services.
School Health Initiative Project (SHIP)
A $2.3 million, multi-year commitment to support a year-round effort to encourage all local school students, staff, and families to achieve sustainable healthy lifestyles was initiated by WCHF in 2004. SHIP is the result of 18 months of collaborative planning with numerous community partners, such as the Parks & Recreation Department, College of William and Mary, and Sentara Williamsburg Community Hospital. This initiative involves a multifaceted program to impact the health status of the community by developing and encouraging better nutrition and more physical activity beginning in the public school systems.
Last Updated: Thursday, May 18, 2006