Posted on September 4, 2012

Missouri Foundation for Health Awards $5.1 Million in Grants

The Missouri Foundation for Health has announced grants totaling $5.1 million to sixty-two nonprofits working to improve the health of uninsured and underserved Missourians.

The funds will be used to help nonprofits meet their ongoing operational expenses, bolster the healthcare workforce, and provide health services for women. Fifty-six grants totaling more than $4 million were awarded through MFH's Basic Support program to fund operational expenses such as salaries, benefits, equipment, and supplies. Recipients of two-year Basic Support grants include the Child Center Marygrove ($150,000), which provides medical and crisis services for homeless youth; Nurses for Newborns Foundation ($75,000), which offers home-based nursing services for at-risk families; and Volunteers in Medicine Lake Saint Louis ($26,800), a free healthcare clinic.

Four grants totaling $843,501 were awarded through the foundation's Health Care Workforce Development program to boost the number of practitioners in underserved areas, encourage youth to consider health careers, and increase enrollment and graduation capacity at health professional schools. Grants include $250,000 to the Freeman Health System in support of efforts to increase nurse retention.

In addition, the foundation awarded two grants totaling $199,694 through its Women's Health program to help reduce infant mortality and improve the health of women of childbearing age. Grantees include the Queen of Peace Center, which received $100,000 to develop a primary care home model for reproductive-age women and provide behavioral health services.

For a complete list of grant recipients, visit the MFH Web site.