United Way of the Midlands awards Community Care Funds and ARPA Funds to Visiting Nurse Association
Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) has been awarded $794,200 from the United Way of the Midlands’ (UWM) Community Care Fund and $113,392 in ARPA Community Grant funds over the next two years to support multiple programs in Douglas and Sarpy counties in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa. For 99 years, VNA has partnered with UWM to improve the quality of life for our community.
“Much gratitude to United Way of the Midlands’ donors and the city of Omaha. With these vital contributions, you are helping VNA improve the life and health of all people in our community,” said Sandy Spicciati, VNA Vice President of Health Services. “United Way funding allows VNA’s Community Care services to meet the unique health needs of individuals and families regardless of their circumstance, the complexity of care or their ability to pay. We are proud to be a helping hand to those who are most vulnerable in the communities we serve.”
The grant funding will be distributed across three program areas as outlined below:
$345,000 for Parenting Support services that offer skilled nurses, parent coaches/family support specialists and social workers who deliver intensive home visitation services for low-income, under-resourced families. The services promote a healthy pregnancy and teach important parenting knowledge and skills, providing babies with the best possible start to life. VNA’s Parenting Support programs are Project WIN (Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties), Love & Learn (Douglas and Sarpy Counties), Nurse Family Partnership (Pottawattamie County) and Healthy Families America (Douglas County). The services will be expanded this year thanks to an additional award of $56,696 from the City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant program. In 2021, VNA served 3,434 Parenting Support clients.
$240,000 for VNA’s Physician-Ordered Family Home Visitation program that provides services for low-income, under-resourced families including physician-ordered nurse home visits, shelter nursing and lactation consultants who provide breastfeeding assessment, support and education. Nurses conduct home visits with women experiencing high-risk pregnancies and children who have acute illness or injury, and provide postpartum health assessment and safety education. VNA uses a strength-based approach with families, while teaching interventions that reduce child maltreatment and improve the health, parenting skills and self-sufficiency of families.
$209,200 to VNA’s Home Care services, which provides home health aide and personal care services such as assistance with bathing and hygiene and light housekeeping (meal preparation and laundry) for un/underinsured community members who have little to no financial resources. Assistance with personal care (bathing and personal hygiene) and homemaking (household tasks, meal preparation and laundry) helps individuals maintain their safety, independence, a healthy home environment, and overall well-being. These services also help to delay and prevent the need for a transition into a skilled nursing facility, decrease caregiver burden and, ultimately, minimize healthcare expenses.
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