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Funded Projects In December 2001, the Ventura County Public Health Department announced
the funding of 31 community health projects for a total of $1,251,383.
These projects have been funded for a twelve-month period beginning January
1, 2002. In February 2002, after re-opening the Chronic Disease, Oral
Health, and Communicable Disease Request for Applications process, an
additional $247,411 was awarded to 8 organizations bringing the total
amount awarded to $1,498,794. The eight new grants are for a period of
ten months beginning on March 1, 2002. Healthy Communities Program funding is made possible through local Tobacco
Settlement Fund proceeds. The 39 projects that have been awarded funding
to date will provide services in the areas of Tobacco Prevention and Education,
Chronic Disease, Communicable Disease, Oral Health, Elder Care, Bioterrorism
Services, and Health Access for Special Populations. The projects are
described below. CHRONIC DISEASEAdult Prevention Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation (VCMRF) ($99,690): The Ventura County Cervical Cancer Early Detection Project will cover the cost of an annual Pap test for up to 2,500 women meeting the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program criteria. This is a collaborative project between VCMRF and the Ventura County Cancer Task Force, a countywide committee of 31 cancer diagnostic and treatment facilities. The Salvation Army - Oxnard/Port Hueneme ($45,000): The Salvation Army Diabetes Control Program will enhance the Salvation Army's existing diabetes screening procedures to develop a more complete diabetes control program. The program will promote awareness and provide outreach services related to the prevention and control of diabetes among under-served, low-income and homeless adults through out Ventura County. Services will include screening, treatment, post-diagnosis follow-up, clinical services, and home visitation. Ventura County Commission on Human Concerns and Community Development ($28,444): The Healthy Eating Long Life Program (HELLP) will provide outreach and education to low-income adults in the Oxnard area including migrant and seasonal farm workers. The program is aimed at reducing the incidence of heart disease and diabetes and will include community-based workshops, the development of educational and resource materials, and the training of community health mentors. Child Prevention Ventura Unified School District ($72,000): The Healthy Schools Project will consist of garden-enhanced nutrition education and a school salad bar lunch program to encourage students to make life-long healthy eating choices and reduce the incidence of obesity and associated health risks. Landon Pediatric Foundation ($34,373): The KidShape Oxnard Expansion Project is a family-based pediatric weight management program for families with children ages 6 to 14. The goal of the program is to prevent and/or control the epidemic of childhood obesity and the other medical conditions related to childhood obesity. Ventura Family YMCA ($20,493): The Child Obesity Prevention and Youth Fitness Program will expand the YMCA's existing school youth and fitness program. The goal of the project is to provide Ventura schools with staff, services, activities, and curricula appropriate to serve the unmet physical fitness needs of their student bodies. COMMUNICABLE DISEASEQuality of Life Ventura County Rainbow Alliance ($20,000): AIDS Project Ventura County - Mental Health will increase mental health care provided for individuals living with HIV or AIDS in Ventura County. This grant will provide for mental health professionals who serve the HIV and AIDS-affected population of Ventura County. Ventura County Rainbow Alliance ($10,000): AIDS Project Ventura County - Case Management - Housing Assistance Project will help men and women living with AIDS in Ventura County avert eviction, utility shutoff or homelessness by providing funds to assist in paying rental, mortgage, emergency lodging or utility obligations. Ventura County Rainbow Alliance ($15,000): AIDS Project Ventura
County - Food Pantry will provide additional supplies of nutritious,
ethnic appropriate foods to accommodate the increasing number of HIV-infected
people accessing the Food Pantry. Improving the nutritional wellbeing
of people living with HIV or AIDS improves the effectiveness of their
medications. Medical Services Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation (VCMRF) ($30,000): La Familia Sana, a collaboration including VCMRF and four rural clinics will implement a screening program that will result in early detection and treatment for agricultural farm workers and their family members who are at risk for and/or living with communicable disease. Funding will also be used to purchase medical supplies to perform health screenings for TB, Hepatitis C, Chlamydia and HIV and will provide adult agricultural workers with immunizations against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
Testing and Treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Teenage
and Young Adult Populations Conejo Free Clinic ($12,000): The Communicable Disease Project will implement a testing and treatment program for sexually transmitted infections for under-served teenagers and young adults. These services will be publicized in radio spots, newspaper ads and other local publications, and at music, video and convenience stores. Ventura County Community College ($38,000): Project Get Smart will provide screening, education and treatment for sexually transmitted infections at the Ventura College Student Health Center at no cost to low-income students selected to participate in this program. ELDER CARESafety Ventura County District Attorney ($45,525): The Elder Abuse Investigation Program will increase staffing to help the District Attorney meet the increasing demands of elder abuse cases by videotaping victim testimony, researching and recreating financial profiles of abuse, and providing transportation and special assistance to elderly victims. Ventura County Area Agency on Aging ($48,000): Servicio Especial para Personas Majores de Edad will make available bi-lingual, bi-cultural staff to provide extensive outreach and case management for the growing frail, elderly monolingual Spanish Speaking population. Simi Valley Hospital ($10,000): The Lifeline Program will
provide additional home Lifeline units to meet the needs of an expanding
senior population in the Simi Valley and Moorpark communities. Quality of Life Livingston VNA ($25,000): The Respite Care Program will provide temporary, in-home care for a greater number of elderly, disabled and chronically and terminally ill people in order to relieve their primary caregivers of the responsibilities and stresses associated with providing constant care to their loved ones. HELP of Ojai ($15,275): Oak Tree House - A Time of Respite will provide respite care for fifty senior caregivers in the Ojai Valley. During initial caregiving respite, caregivers will observe the senior day support services available at Oak Tree House. Afterwards, up to three free sessions at Oak Tree House will be made available for potential attendees and an additional 100 days of respite care will be provided to allow low-income seniors access to this service. Senior Concerns ($16,200): Community Support for the Frail Elderly and Their Caregivers helps seniors remain in their home environment for as long as possible by helping them to access therapeutic, social and nutritional services through their two day care programs and by providing support to their caregivers. This grant will provide subsidies to selected families and increase the number of clients served. Among Friends Adult Day Care Center ($20,000): The Day Care
Health Program provides a variety of health, social and related support
services to the frail elderly in order to maintain them in their own community
at optimal functioning capacity. This grant will enable the Center to
expand their hours of operation and extend services to a greater number
of participants with early stages of Alzheimer's disease. ORAL HEALTHTreatment Salvation Army ($50,000): The Oral Health Project will expand dental services, provided through the Salvation Army Medical and Dental Clinic, specifically related to treatment for dental infection and disease causing pain and disability. These are free services offered to indigent and low-income families from throughout Ventura County. Preservation of Molars in School Age Children Santa Barbara-Ventura Counties Dental Care Foundation ($50,000): The Seal Out Decay project will be implemented for 2nd grade students in elementary schools demonstrating the greatest need. Dentists will examine, x-ray, clean, restore if necessary, and seal the first molars of participating children. PRIORITY HEALTH CAREAccess Ventura County District Attorney ($17,000): The Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center will bring government and community services and professionals to one place for a coordinated delivery of services for child victims of sexual or physical abuse. Services providers will include medical, psychological, and legal specialties. This grant will fund a high-resolution camera that takes detailed images to document sexual abuse. Westminster Free Clinic (WFC) ($99,980): Health Matters, a partnership between the WFC and Many Mansions will bring basic medical services to an increased number of people in east Ventura County with limited transportation options, limited income and cultural and language barriers. The Health Matters program is a multicultural approach, driven by the community, which brings healthcare to people where they live. Interface Children/Family Service ($86,341): The Children's Resource Program will match donor doctors, dentists, anesthesiologists, orthodontists, therapists, and other specialists with uninsured and underinsured children whose families are not otherwise able to gain access to the treatment and services they need. Community outreach, education and advocacy for culturally sensitive health care and human services assistance will also be provided. Salvation Army ($45,679): The County Outreach and Education Project will focus on assisting and educating the homeless, under-employed, seniors, and migrant farm workers to access medical, dental and other social service programs provided by both County and public organizations. The project will also focus on enrolling qualified individuals into insurance programs such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. Bioterrorism Ventura County Terrorism Working Group (TWG)/ Public Information Officers ($11,000): A Public Information Campaign will provide residents and businesses of Ventura County with bio-terrorism health-related information. A TWG Internet site will be established and brochures in English and Spanish will be published. Ventura County Terrorism Working Group (TWG) / Fire Protection District
($25,000): Mass Decontamination Equipment: The Ventura County
Fire Protection District will purchase and equip a mobile trailer with
equipped with decontamination supplies for use on large-scale hazardous
materials/bio-terrorism incidents when large numbers of the public are
contaminated. The equipment will also be made available to local hospitals;
and training on its use will be provided by the Fire Protection District. TOBACCO EDUCATION AND PREVENTIONCommunity/School Based Education Campfire Association, USA ($15,000): Campfire will deliver Self Reliance courses, with a module on tobacco use prevention, to elementary school students. Count on Me Kids (First and Second Graders) motivates young children to take responsibility for their own healthy lifestyles. I'm Peer Proof (or Third - Sixth Graders) teaches effective methods of dealing with peer pressure, and Smoke Signals is the tobacco education component of the program. El Concilio del Condado de Ventura ($83,456): Targeting middle school ESL students with life skills and anti-tobacco advocacy training, the Youth for Healthy Families Program will assist participants in the development of a community mobilization plan which will include 3-4 anti-tobacco education and advocacy activities, and target local merchants to voluntarily remove tobacco advertising from their stores. Ventura County Rainbow Alliance ($25,060): This comprehensive program will educate the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered community about tobacco marketing towards the LGBT communities and tobacco use by minors/youth; target tobacco environments on high school and college campuses; and work to change the culture of tobacco addiction in this high-risk community. American Lung Association of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties ($30,000): The ALA will provide Lungs for Life, a five-session program that education Fourth, Fifth and Sixth grade students on the importance of keeping their lungs healthy. A variety of strategies are used including real lungs, videos, quizzes, and classroom exercises. Mad Science of Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties ($9,645): Through hands-on science experiments and activities, Grade 5 students will learn and understand the harmful effects of Tobacco use- physically, psychologically and financially. Students grades K - 6 will be introduced to the harmful effects of tobacco use and encouraged "To Be Tobacco Free" through high-energy events with lots of audience interaction. Higgy Foundation ($51,606): The development of Life Clubs, targeting bilingual and Spanish speaking adults and youth in the Santa Clara Valley, is the focus of this program. Life Clubs will plan and implement community actions to promote tobacco free lifestyle, promote smoke free environments, encourage compliance with current tobacco laws and the development of policies to protect the community from second hand smoke. Boys & Girls Clubs of Ventura County ($99,950): A consortium of Boys & Girls Clubs in Ventura County will provide SMART (Skills Mastery And Resistance Training) Moves to youth aged 6-18 years as a means to discourage tobacco use. SMART Moves is a peer-facilitated program of education, training, and self-esteem development. Clubs from Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Santa Clara (Fillmore, Santa Paula, Piru), Ventura, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme are participating in this consortium. Community/Youth Empowerment American Lung Association of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties ($15,136): Educating Key Opinion Leaders (EKOL) Project will develop and train a "resource team" to educate key opinion leaders (elected officials, law enforcement personnel, and others) about local tobacco control activities. A Tobacco Control Report Card will be created to show overall picture of tobacco control legislation in Ventura County and to promote actions that further protect residents. Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Office (VCSSO) - Special Projects ($85,000): The "Youth As Resource" (YAR) project addresses the issue of increased tobacco use among youth by "empowering" youth and community allies to decrease the availability of tobacco products to minors, and changing community standards and policies correlated with underage use of tobacco. This project involves a direct collaboration between a local community-based organization, Community Action Resource Exchange-Ventura County, dedicated to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs prevention, and the Oxnard Police Department, Oxnard Union High School District and Elementary School District, Ventura Human Services Agency, Business and Employment Services Department and VCSSO. Ojai Valley Youth Foundation ($50,046): Hear the Hype!, a media literacy program, recognizes the importance of involvement to allow youth to choose for themselves, uses the power of peer influence by including teens as role-models and messengers and helps diffuse the tobacco industry's youth-targeted marketing; develops the capacity of students and teachers through encouraging them to create their own anti-tobacco messages and providing opportunities to learn and be recognized. Quit Assistance American Lung Association of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties ($24,794): The national American Lung Association has a new website, Freedom From Smoking Online, which provides free smoking cessation services. In addition to the online cessation services, the Santa Barbara/Ventura ALA will provide local participants with an education packet (educational brochures, relaxation tape, and referral information) and telephone support and follow-up. To increase access to the online program for those with a computer at home or at work, a "Favorites" link to the web site will be created at local library terminals. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS [ Back to top ] [ Back to VCHC Home ] |
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