Grant approved for Mercy Health program
Grant approved for Mercy Health program
YOUNGSTOWN
The William Swanston Charitable Fund, in partnership with Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley and working to improve birth outcomes and decrease childhood obesity in the Mahoning Valley, has approved a $25,000 grant for the Mercy Health Foundation’s Resource Mothers program, a collaborative effort aimed at reducing infant mortality and other negative birth outcomes.
According to the Ohio Department of Health’s 2015 Ohio Infant Mortality Report, Mahoning County’s 11 percent infant mortality rate was the highest in the state. The ODH also reported black women have a 56 percent higher pre-term birth rate than the population as a whole, and black babies are dying at nearly three times the rate as white babies.
Resource Mothers outreach staff conduct regular at-home visits, help participants obtain medical care, assist with transportation and interpreters if necessary and offer support during emergencies.
In 2016, Resource Mothers achieved a zero percent rate of infant mortality among the babies born to women in the program.
Breast-feeding awareness month
YOUNGSTOWN
To recognize August as Breast-feeding Awareness Month, Mercy Health-Youngstown is focusing on advocating for a network of support for mothers who wish to breast-feed.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says professional support is “particularly critical in the first few weeks after delivery, when lactation is being established.”
Anna M. Klejka, vice president of women’s services for Mercy Health-Youngstown, said Mercy Health is committed to being part of the network of breast-feeding support for mothers.
Activities scheduled are Aug. 29 to Sept. 4, breast-feeding education and support, Mercy Health-Youngstown booth at the Canfield Fair; throughout August, breast-feeding education and support from certified lactation consultants at St. Elizabeth Boardman and St. Joseph Warren hospitals; throughout August, gifts for new moms to encourage and support breast-feeding at St. Elizabeth Boardman and St. Joseph Warren hospitals.
Monthly acupuncture
BOARDMAN
Improve your physical and mental well-being by joining Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center’s monthly acupuncture “happy hour” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Wind down from the work week and daily hustle with an acupuncture session with Valentina Khoury Dubasik, ND, LOM. Call 330-729-1350 or go to OhioND.com to reserve your spot. Cost is $20. Seating is limited. The center’s address is 755 Boardman-Canfield Road, Suite D3, in the Southbridge West Complex.
Homelessness program
YOUNGSTOWN
The local Continuum of Care Program is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; to provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, states, and local governments to quickly re-house homeless individuals, families, people fleeing domestic violence, minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness; and promoting access to and effective use of mainstream programs by the homeless.
Eligible project applicants for the CoC Program Competition grant are nonprofit organizations. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply. Applicants must complete and submit their applications in e-snaps at www.hud.gov/esnaps.
Interested parties should contact Colleen Kosta, Continuum of Care Program manager, at 330-746-3042 or ckosta@helpnetworkneo.org by Friday.