June 22, 2007

The elderly, physically disabled or mentally challenged can access the proper assessments, training and modifications to begin or continue driving safely.

Equipment to obtain and transmit 12-lead ECG’s from the field or hospital will help standardize treatment for acute myocardial infarction, triage patients before arrival at the emergency department and reduce time from onset of pain to treatment.

Matching dollars up to $25,000 are available for communities in the Avera region to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

These are just some of the 28 projects that will receive 2007 grants from the Avera Community Service Fund. Sr. Mildred Busch, chair of the Avera Health Board of Directors and system member, announced the grants on June 13, 2007. Awards total $353,500 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. The funds from this Avera Foundation endowment help them get started. 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 awarded more than $3,834,545 in funding for health and wellness initiatives throughout the region. 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.

Free clinic for Sioux Falls , S.D. , $10,000. Funds will be used to expand the current Coyote Community Clinic program, a free, after-hours clinic staffed by volunteer medical students under the guidance of licensed physicians.

Behavioral health distance learning training for Sioux Falls , S.D. , and rural clinicians, $5,000. Funds will be used to install sound panels in the distance learning room and provide training opportunities on psychiatric disorders and treatment.

Health literacy initiative for Sioux Falls , S.D. , $5,000. Updates to the Health Connect website that allow for natural language translation will mean increased resources to promote the elimination of health literacy disparity in Sioux Falls and the region.

Driving assessment for Sioux Falls , S.D. , $24,500. Making DriveSmart available to the area through Avera McKennan means that the elderly, physically disabled or mentally challenged can access the proper assessments, training and modifications to begin or continue driving safely.

Health education materials for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, Sioux Falls , S.D. , $10,000. Funds will be used to translate health education materials into American Sign Language (ASL), disseminate ASL health videos to health care organizations and clinics in South Dakota and develop the concept of deaf community health workers.

Body/mind/spirit healing therapies for cancer patients, Sioux Falls , S.D. , $15,000. The Therapeutic Healing Institute will use funds to offer integrated mind, body, spirit therapies to aid the healing process for cancer patients of all ages, genders, ethnicities and economic backgrounds at no charge.

Remote technology for early recognition and intervention of acute myocardial infarction, Sioux Falls , S.D. and the region, $20,000. The purchase of equipment to obtain and transmit 12-lead ECG’s from the field or hospital will help standardize treatment for acute myocardial infarction, triage patients before arrival at the emergency department and reduce time from onset of pain to treatment.

Pilot study to reduce childhood obesity using music, movement and outreach in Sioux Falls , S.D. , $15,000. The Avera Research Institute will use the grant to conduct a pilot project aimed at reducing childhood obesity by using music, movement and outreach to children ages 3 to 12, their families and child care staff at three Apple Tree Children’s Centers.

Parish Nursing, Sioux Falls , S.D. , $50,000. Funds will be used to expand the Avera Parish Nursing Program, which helps congregations start parish nurse programs; facilitates communication among parish nurses in the region; develops resources for use by parish nurses, hospitals and church organizations; helps nurses and congregations find ways to fund parish nurse programs; and supports and publicizes courses and workshops that prepare nurses for parish ministry.

Dollar-match for AED purchases in Avera communities, $25,000. Avera will provide matching dollars up to $25,000 for communities in the Avera region to purchase automated external defibrillators.

Assistance for patients needing frequent medical treatment by the Team of Angels Foundation, Flandreau , S.D. , $3,500. The Team of Angels Foundation reimburses mileage at $.20 per mile up to $500 per calendar year for frequent out-of-area travel for medical treatment.

Recreational trail for Sioux Center , Iowa , $10,000. Funds will help to finish a 1,200-foot stretch of the proposed Sioux Center/Sandy Hollow Recreation Trail, providing a means of physical activity for the community, which reports 36 percent of the population is overweight.

West Lyon Wellness Center renovation and wellness promotion, Larchwood, Iowa, $5,000. Renovations to the West Lyon Wellness Center and equipment updates will improve health and exercise opportunities for students and the community.

Fitness equipment, curriculum and sports medicine care for Sibley-Ocheydon Community Fitness Center , Sibley , Iowa , $5,000. The current fitness facility is unsafe and needs replacement, including the addition of a girls’ locker room, training room and equipment.

Hispanic and Latino services including health fair for Osceola, Iowa, $7,500. Grant dollars will fund a collaborative project between the Osceola Community Hospital , Osceola Community Health Services, local legal representatives and law enforcement personnel. The goal of the project is to educate the Hispanic and Latino populations about the importance of regular health screenings, health insurance coverage and access to health services.

Park improvements for the town of Utica, S.D., $2,500. The community park is the only location for outdoor recreation in Utica . Improvements will include a new slide, benches and picnic tables and a shelter wired for electricity.

Pool bath house improvements for Menno , S.D. , $10,000. Funds will be used to remove plumbing from the masonry walls and repair them, fix the cracked and heaved flooring, build a roof over the facility and make the facility handicap-accessible.

Exercise equipment and lighting for Frontier Fitness Center , Freeman , S.D. , $7,500. The addition of additional exercise equipment, better lighting, sound-deadening ceiling materials, and new wall and floor coverings will improve the facility, which fosters spiritual, physical and emotion well-being.

Mentoring program for adolescents by North Central Retired and Senior Volunteers, Aberdeen , S.D. , $3,000. Ten at-risk youth will engage with retired senior volunteer mentors in a program that seeks to improve self-esteem and confidence, develop respect for others and improve academic performance.

Outdoor recreation improvements at child care center in Chamberlain, S.D., $5,000.

Rug Rat Resort is the only licensed, nonprofit child care center in the city of Chamberlain . The funds will be used to resurface the existing play area and install age-appropriate toddler climbers,  kid-alert signage and fencing to separate age groups.

Modern playground equipment for Tripp Delmont School playground, Tripp , S.D. , $5,000. In a joint project with the local Girl Scout Troop, funds will be used to replace asphalt with safety materials and install multi-station playground equipment.

Pool bath house improvements for Miller, S.D., $10,000. Upgrades to the City of Miller pool bath house will address safety concerns at the facility, which is used by individuals of various ages, incomes and abilities.

Helicopter landing pad for Platte , S.D. , $50,000. Patients at Platte Health Center Avera will receive top-notch health care in their community while benefiting from quick access to health care to Avera tertiary facilities because of the presence of the helipad.

Expansion for the Gregory Community Wellness Center , Gregory , S.D. , $5,000. Residents of the Rosebud area will enjoy an affordable, enhanced exercise facility through upgrades and programs made possible by these funds.

Suicide prevention materials, staff training and after school activities for Gregory , S.D. , $10,000. Funds will support ‘CONNECT’, a local nonprofit organization that provides suicide prevention speakers and publications, and conducts safe, supervised activities for students.

Walking path for Howard , S.D. , $10,000. The present track at Howard High School is rough and uneven, posing a safety hazard. Funds will be used to renovate the track and develop community exercise programs for all ages.

Stryker PowerPro stretcher and AED monitor for Bennett County Ambulance, Martin, S.D., $5,000. Proper equipment is vital for this rural ambulance service, which responds to more than 600 calls a year, many which are 30-to-60 minutes transport to the nearest hospital.

Cancer support group for Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge, S.D., $20,000. The “For the Heart of the People” program will provide cancer education, advocacy, travel assistance and support groups for members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

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:

Free clinic for Sioux Falls , S.D. , Catherine Hajek, (605) 366-5295

Behavioral health distance learning training for Sioux Falls , S.D. , Steve Lindquist, (605) 322-4051

Health literacy initiative for Sioux Falls , S.D. , Fran Rice, (605) 371-1000

Driving assessment for Sioux Falls , S.D. , Mary Wilson, (605) 322-5007 

Health education materials for deaf and hard-of-hearing for Sioux Falls , S.D. ,

Ben Soukup, (605) 367-5759, use relay 7-1-1 

Body/mind/spirit therapies for Sioux Falls , S.D. , Tom Luke, (605) 330-9634 

Remote technology for acute myocardial infarction for Sioux Falls , S.D. , Lisa Lindgren ,

(605) 322-2077

Childhood obesity outreach in Sioux Falls , S.D. , Darin VanderWell, (605) 322-3052

Parish Nursing for Sioux Falls , S.D. , Carol DeSchepper, (605) 322-4706

Dollar-match for AED purchases in Avera communities, Misty Miller, (605) 322-4750  

Team of Angels Foundation, Flandreau , S.D. , David Bennett, (605) 997-2098

Recreational trail for Sioux Center , Iowa , Benj Van Donge, (712) 722-8181

West Lyon Wellness Center Renovation for Larchwood , Iowa , Yvonne Rozeboom,(712) 447-2185

Community Fitness Center , Sibley , Iowa , Doug Miedema, MD, (712) 754-3658

Hispanic and Latino services for Osceola , Iowa , Janet Dykstra, (712) 754-2474, ext. 218

Park improvements for Utica , S.D. , Cherie Hoffman, (605) 665-4181, ext. 312

Pool improvements for Menno , S.D. , Larry Tolzin, (605) 387-2427

Exercise equipment for Freeman , S.D. , Vernetta Waltner, (605) 925-4237  

Mentoring program for Aberdeen , S.D. , Dawn Rabenberg, (605) 229-8318

Outdoor recreation in Chamberlain, S.D., Melanie Adcock, (605) 234-6390

Playground equipment for Tripp , S.D. , Lynn Vlasman, (605) 935-6766

Pool bath house improvements for Miller, S.D., Tom McGough, (605) 853-2455

Helicopter landing pad for Platte , S.D. , Mark Burket, (605) 337-3364

Community Wellness Center for Gregory , S.D. , David Kotrba, (605)835-9692

Suicide prevention for Gregory , S.D. , Sue Hogue, (605) 835-8740  

Walking path for Howard , S.D. , Julie Clark, (605) 772-4289

Bennett County Ambulance for Martin , S.D. , Suzette Orth, (605) 685-6622, ext. 140 

Cancer support for Pine Ridge , S.D. , Lisa Schrader-Dillon, (605) 867-1705