July 11, 2008

News From The Commonwealth     

COMPASS--Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services--is a web site that allows individuals and community based organizations access to screen for, apply for, and renew a broad range of social programs.  COMPASS serves as a single point of application and renewal of healthcare coverage, food stamp benefits, cash assistance, long term care, home and community based services for individuals with mental retardation, Low Income Home Energy Assistance (seasonally) and SelectPlan for Women (family planning services). In addition, organizations such as hospitals, church groups and other community based groups that help Pennsylvania residents apply for social services can apply to be a COMPASS Community Partner. The COMPASS Community Partner View allows organizations to initiate and actively track applications they submit. Community Partners also have access to Power User, which is a streamlined version of the COMPASS application.  From the home page, click on Community Partner Information to learn more.

Upcoming events               

Culture & Health Literacy Online Training
This free online training discusses how inequalities in health information contribute to unequal treatment and health outcomes for some populations (health disparities) and what communities can do to close the gap and improve health literacy. The training includes two modules, Beyond Access and Case Studies in Culture and Health Literacy. Registration on the website is required to take this training.

Getting Ready for Foundation Fundraising
This free on line course provides an overview of the first steps nonprofits need to take to become viable, effective organizations in preparation for fundraising. It is intended to provide guidance for those planning to establish a nonprofit organization and seek funding from foundations.

Resources and Tools   

Child Safety in Pennsylvania: An Advisory Committee Report with Recommendations 

An advisory committee and staff of the Joint State Government Commission reviewed applicable existing State law and regulations that pertain to child safety, analyzed data on child injuries and deaths inside and outside of Pennsylvania, and reviewed data and programs of states with lower injury death rates than the Commonwealth’s in search of guidance for lowering Pennsylvania’s rates of death and injury among children. The advisory committee considered all of the aforementioned and proceeded to discuss funding issues, best practices, public education, and various means for improving data collection, among other issues, topics, and themes within the expertise of its members and, ultimately, offered the recommendations which appear in this report.

2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet and County Level Estimates of Diagnosed Diabetes

The Division of Diabetes Translation within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that both the 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet and County Level Estimates of Diagnosed Diabetes have been released.  The fact sheet can be used to learn about diabetes incidence, prevalence, deaths, and complications.  County level estimates can be displayed in either percentage or number of diagnosed cases and is displayed in both text and visually.  The county information is available currently for years 2004 and 2005. 

Early Childhood Experiences: Laying the Foundation for Health Across a Lifetime
Outlines current research on how factors such as parents' education, income, and race/ethnicity affect children's development and health throughout life, as well as how early childhood development programs can mitigate socioeconomic disadvantages. 

Food for Thought

From the Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network, this quarterly newsletter provides a variety of nutrition education and nutrition related information.  Be sure to also visit the website and click on the SNAP link to see the free materials that have been developed in Pennsylvania that can be reproduced and distributed to increase the nutritional knowledge of consumers.  Materials include bookmarks, recipes and other materials related to particular fruits and vegetables.

Funding Opportunities

Disney Minnie Grants

Application deadline: August 30, 2008 and projects must take place October 15-November 15, 2008.

Youth Service America and Disney are pleased to launch a second round of Disney Minnie Grants to engage children and youth, ages 5-14 as community volunteers. The selected applications will receive $500 to support their youth-led service projects. The on line application is available on the above website.

Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program

Application deadline: September 15, 2008
Qualified faith-based and other applicants may apply for the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program. The intent of the program is to bring together key parts of a rural health care delivery system so they can work together to improve local capacity and coordination of care, particularly those entities that may not have collaborated in the past. This support may be sufficient to jumpstart a network into becoming operational and developing strategies for becoming sustainable. The grant program supports one year of planning to develop and operationalize health care networks, consisting of at least three health care providers in rural areas; identify potential collaborating network partners in the community/region; convene potential collaborating network partners; and conduct planning activities, which could include undertaking a community assessment identifying the most critical need of potential network partners to ensure their viability.

PPL Offers Environmental Education Grants

Application deadline: October 15, 2008

Energy company PPL is accepting grant proposals for energy and environmental projects at schools located near PPL facilities. The company's Project Earth Environmental Education Grants program directs focus toward renewable energy projects and energy conservation projects to encourage action in schools located near PPL facilities. Through these competitive grants, teachers can receive $500 to $5,000 each in funding for school projects that focus on energy issues like renewable energy demonstrations, energy conservation, and the greening of schools.

Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation Offers Pennsylvania Child Care Center Enhancement Grants

Application deadline: December 31, 2008

The Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation awards Child Care Center Enhancement Grants to child care programs for the purpose of implementing specific changes designed to improve the quality of care provided to children. Nonprofit, non-sectarian child care facilities in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties are eligible to apply. Individual centers can request a grant up to a maximum of $4,000. Applicant child care centers must have been in operation and licensed a minimum of five years. Centers must serve preschool age children (infant to five years of age). Kindergarten and school age (i.e., before/after school) programs will not be considered.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Philadelphia Affiliate Invites Breast Health Grant Applications
Application Deadline is September 5, 2008
All potential applicants are required to attend a briefing at 12:00pm on  July 16, 2008 in Philadelphia

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Philadelphia Affiliate seeks applications for its 2009-10 breast health and breast cancer education and screening grant program.  Applications for promoting breast health, breast cancer screening, treatment, education, and support projects serving medically underserved populations in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Berks, Chester, Lehigh, Delaware, York, and Lancaster counties will be considered.  Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to apply for funding.  Visit the web site for complete program information and RFP briefing details.

Please contact the funder directly for the most complete and current information, including eligibility criteria.

Partnership Spotlight     

Tell us about your partnership accomplishments

We would like to use this section of our weekly bulletin to highlight your accomplishments and allow you to share them with other SHIP Partners. If you have news, successful programs, new plans, or other important milestones that you would like to share please send a condensed, print-ready article to Amy Rothenberger.

Comments? Suggestions?        

Please send any comments or suggestions for this and future Bulletins to Amy Rothenberger. Your input is valued and appreciated.

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this bulletin is intended to be of general information to the Pennsylvania's SHIP-affiliated partnerships.  It is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any specific process, service, product, company or funding source outside of the Department of Health auspices.  Further examination and research of information is recommended.