|
DELTA
STATE UNIVERSITY'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM RECEIVES $60,965 GRANT FROM THE BAXTER
INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
Grant
Will Support Initiative to Improve Health and Health Awareness of Children
and Families in Bolivar County
CLEVELAND, Miss.,
March 18, 2003 -- The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic
arm of Baxter International, Inc., has awarded a $60,965 grant to the
Delta Volunteers, a group of more than 1,000 Delta State students focused
on addressing poverty-related issues and promoting positive social change.
The grant will support the Volunteers for a Healthy Community initiative,
which will center on improving the health and health awareness of children
and families in Bolivar County.
The state of Mississippi leads the nation in heart disease death rates
and in the prevalence of diabetes. In the country, it is first in population
most underserved by primary care physicians and second in the number of
hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The Mississippi Delta is the
poorest region in the state and contributes disproportionately to the
statewide statistics on ill health. The Delta region is challenged with
high rates of joblessness, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, minimal
access to health care and entrenched poverty.
The Volunteers for a Healthy Community initiative is one of the first
formal efforts in the Bolivar County area to address the Delta State Health
Initiative.
"We hope that this program will impact and create a positive change
in health statistics in Bolivar County, and specifically in the Cleveland
area," said Anna Long, director of Delta Volunteers, "Funding
from The Baxter International Foundation will allow us to establish a
formal effort to address the health needs of our community."
The project will mobilize students and community members to carry out
a three-pronged approach to improve community health:
- The Healthy Baby
Mentoring Program will focus on reducing low-birth weight babies and
infant mortality by pairing 20-30 families with a mentor who will work
with the families throughout the pregnancy and into the first 12 months
of the babies' lives. The mentors will work with the families to promote
and support healthy behavior, knowledge about pregnancy and parenting.
- The Healthy Child
program will focus on health promotion for early
childhood centers. Volunteers will compile 60 traveling trunk tool kits
that will include intensive lesson plans that focus on particular health
issues. Each lesson will have instructions for the childcare provider,
a child component, and a take-home parent component. The tool kits will
be distributed to 29 centers in Bolivar County, currently serving 1,900
children ages birth to five.
- The Kindergarten
Family Nutrition Partners program will focus on providing nutrition
classes to encourage healthy eating habits. Delta Volunteers will visit
each of the 14 Cleveland School District Kindergarten classes once per
week throughout the course of the year. Volunteers will use an integrated
health and nutrition curriculum that targets nutrition and physical
activity behaviors.
"We are pleased
to support the Delta Volunteers in this unique program," said Patricia
Morgan, executive director, The Baxter International Foundation, "The
incorporation of these three initiatives will provide for a comprehensive
approach to impact a larger number of community members and significantly
affect primary health issues."
Delta Volunteers support volunteer projects that address poverty-related
issues, promote positive social change, and develop cross-cultural understanding.
Students and community members logged over 30,000 volunteer hours in 2001
working in and through agencies throughout Bolivar County. Volunteer efforts
impact hospice care, early childhood centers, mental health, area hospitals,
schools and other agencies. For more information or to volunteer call
(662) 846-4311.
As the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc., The Baxter International
Foundation helps to increase access to health care in the United States
and other countries. In 2002, foundation grants totaling $3.6 million
improved access to care for children, the uninsured and the elderly, helped
prevent child abuse and neglect, promoted health education, expanded education
opportunities for health-care providers, and helped victims of global
disasters.
Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists health-care
professionals and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions,
including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma.
The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals
and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives.
Baxter employs more than 1,100 people at its facility in Cleveland.
FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:
 |
- Media Contacts:
- Raquel Powers,
Baxter, 847-948-4557
Anna Long, Delta Volunteers, 662-846-4311
-
|
|
