HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealthy Beginnings RequestEconomic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program Organization: Deschutes County Healthy Beginnings Organization Description: This organization provides accessible, preventative screenings, referrals and follow-up services for children in Deschutes County from birth to age five. This organization serves as a single point of contact for parents, providing parental education and information regarding their child's health, nutrition, social - emotional and developmental progress. On an annual basis, 14 free, comprehensive health and development screenings are provided in five communities — La Pine, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver and Bend. Project Name: Expanded Healthcare and Early Intervention Project Description: These grant funds will support costs associated with three additional summer screenings, two to be held in Bend and one in Redmond. This will result in one additional screening being added to the schedule and providing services to 120 additional children. Project Period: August 1, 2009 to July 31, 2010 Amount of Request: $2,300 Previous Grants: • June 2008 - $1,750 expand services ($1,000 Baney; $750 Daly) • FY 2009 Community Grant - $10,000 • FY 2010 Community Grant - $5,000 Every child. Every year. July 21, 2009 Dave Inbody Deschutes County Administration 1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 200 Bend, OR 9770 1-1 960 Dear Mr. Inbody: On the recommendation of County Commissioner Tammy Melton and Al Unger and behalf of the Healthy Beginnings staff, Board of Directors and our volunteers please accept the following proposal for funding from the Discretionary Grant Program. We feel that Healthy Beginnings is the best suited to provide this service successfully as we are the only program in Deschutes County that provides free health and developmental screenings to children with no eligibility requirements. Further, these 15 screenings are provided in convenient community locations in all 5 cities in Deschutes County. Our 15 years of service has provided over 7,000 children with a level of service unduplicated in Deschutes County or anywhere throughout the state of Oregon. We estimate the value of this service is over $1750 per child but because of our professional volunteers providing screening, referral and education in health, dental, hearing, developmental, nutrition, speech and language, vision and behavior, our program provides this service at under $300 per child. Although this program has a long history of success and acknowledgement, with the economic downturn we are struggling to keep up with community need and our fast growing population of children birth through five years. This proposal will increase this service significantly. We feel that this proposal is in line with the focus and objectives of economic development for the county and appreciate the opportunity to submit this project for possible support from your discretionary funding opportunity. Further we realize that this year especially, funding is tight and any contribution the county can make to sustain our effort will be used to support other leverage opportunities and any amount will make a difference to our program and our service. Thank you for your consideration in this effort. Sin rely, oily Rflrr er Program Director VIE C' EOUE F) Li JUL 2 1 2009 I BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ADMINISTRATION 1029 NW 14th Street, Suite 102 ♦ Bend, Oregon 97701 • Ph: 541-383-6357 ♦ Fax: 318-6265 www.healthybeginnings.info United Way Community Partner t02_,(Dc Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION Direct Application to: Commissioner Tammy Baney Commissioner Dennis R. Luke Date: Project Name: Project Beginning Date: Amount of Request: Commissioner Alan Unger All Three Commissioners ✓t),QA 'Occe - 2; '11 A/0.._ nx CZAt k) 3-10leevve124. 42-13© 0, 00 Applicant/Organization: Address: Project End Date: Date Funds Needed: Tax ID It - City & Zip: Telephone: Email: LS LlS �a h,1 1L2' NO -',1 lytL 5 t. SA&. 1 02_ Contact Name(s): Fax: t-VoLLI - €vv seJ✓ Alternate Phone: tJ" \."" 1 '311 20 tL q?,Lk- - IZ34-1 -lob T1161 9-1 - gs• - 5� L'Lcds_i. rkgykeYeptcL SS On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. * Applicant may contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget. Tammy Baney: Amount: Signature: Dennis Luke: Amount: Signature: Alan Unger: Amount: Signature: Deschutes County Healthy Beginnings, Inc. Proposal to DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION For EARLY CHILDHOOD SCREENINGS - IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND EARLY INTERVENTION 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. In accordance with our mission, Healthy Beginnings (HB) provides the opportunity for early childhood health and developmental screenings, referral, and follow-up services for all children in Deschutes County, aged birth through five years. The purpose of this program is to provide accessible, preventative screenings to confirm the well being of children or, in working with the parents, to identify and refer concerns in specific areas. HB acts as a single point of access for parents, providing parent education and information regarding their child's health, nutrition, social -emotional, and developmental progress. These services are provided at no cost to families. HB is a starting point for many underserved families to connect with needed community resources and services. Our program provides screenings that check children's physical health as well as their social, emotional and physical developmental progress. If any problems are uncovered during the screenings, parents are referred to the appropriate professional or agencies that can furtherassess and treat the problem. Without these screenings and referrals, many health and developmental concerns would not be identified or treated and resources would remain unknown or unfamiliar to parents. Sadly, research shows that many children do not have their problems diagnosed until two years after the child has started school. The damage and difficulty caused by these lost early years to a child's development are devastating. This damage impacts the family and the community for years to come. Healthy Beginnings' activities comprise fourteen free comprehensive health and development screenings rotated from January through December in the five Deschutes County communities of LaPine, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, and Bend. This program is offered to all children, aged birth through five. With the help of professionals and paraprofessionals and age-appropriate diagnostic tools, our single point of access services consist of assessments of the children's hearing, speech- language, vision, motor and cognitive abilities. Additionally, nutrition counseling, behavior, dental and physical health consultation as well as information on developmental stages, literacy, lead exposure and car seat safety are also provided. Families, by appointment, rotate through the screening stations, for approximately two hours. Should concerns arise out of any of these assessments, referrals are made to health -serving agencies for more in-depth evaluation. HB has 3 staff members (2.45 FTE) and is governed by an active and dedicated Board of Directors that includes Helen Eastwood, President, Dr. Gabby Marshall, Vice President, Deborah Padgett Coehlo, PhD, Secretary, Arden Dettwyler; Treasurer and an Umpqua Bank associate. Other board members include: Laurie Anderton, Garrett Bergby, Rob Johnson, Kari Strang, Carolyn Jarschke, Bristolyn Lamar, Robin Kenney , and Char Reynolds. To provide the screenings the program relies on a volunteer corps of over 350 individuals — most professional volunteers (audiologists, speech pathologists, dentists or dental hygienists, retired educators, therapists, nurses and nurse practitioners, and early childhood specialists as well as a varied group of trained volunteers. Deschutes County Healthy Beginnings, Inc. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. Healthy Beginnings is seeking support in the addition of three screenings to be held in the Summer 2009 — one scheduled on Saturday, June 13th in Bend, one on August 7th in Redmond and one on August 18th in Bend. For the past 14 years the program has offered 12 screenings with limited wait time for families. With the downturn in the economy, and the growth of young children in Deschutes County, or screenings in both Bend and Redmond are over capacity. This funding will support our effort to serve an estimated 120 additional children and their families, for a total of 600 Deschutes County children and families served . This funding will also support pre-screening services as well as the program's follow- up case management as indicted at the screening. Our project goal is: ➢ To increase the number of at risk families we serve in Deschutes County by providing them with access to developmental, behavior, health and dental care through screening, improved outreach and follow-up With the objectives of: > Offering enhanced access to Early Intervention, health, mental health, and dental services to Deschutes County families Providing much needed developmental, behavioral, health and dental care and referrals to families currently not able to access appropriate health care and services in our communities. This project will work to connect with high need families with services that exist in the community. We have developed a reciprocal referral process with many other agencies in the community including teen parent programs, homeless shelters, families under Department of Human Services, Health Department, WIC, and many others. According to the data collected through HB, nearly 1/3 of the children we serve are without medical or dental insurance and nearly 1/3 do not currently have a medical or dental home. Our program is the starting point for essential services that many families are not able to access on their own. Funding will also support our outreach and site screenings at the Bethlehem, Healy Heights and Saving Grace shelters and facilities. Funding will also support our participation in the Homeless Connect Event scheduled for September 2009 were we will provide on site screenings for developmental and social emotional concerns of young children. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. DATE ACTIVITY 9/09 — Ongoing Continue outreach activities in Deschutes County (with a focus on at -risk families including children and families in homeless shelters) 9/09 Healthy Beginnings provides a comprehensive universal Saturday screening in Bend (Early Intervention Child -find system) offering 40+ families access to research bases/ science based assessments, 12 volunteer professionals, parent information and referrals to community services. 9/09 - Ongoing Healthy Beginnings provides 15 comprehensive universal screening clinics in Redmond, Bend, La Pine, Sisters and Sunriver (Early Intervention Child -find system) offering 40+ families at each clinic access to research bases/ science based assessments, 12 volunteer professionals, parent information and referrals Deschutes County Healthy Beginnings, Inc. 9/09- Ongoing to community services. Using the Ages and Stages, and the Social Emotional/Ages and Stages Questionnaires provide developmental and behavioral screening for children and families attending the Homeless Connect Event with referral and follow-up case management provided to those identified and needing additional services. Ongoing Provide follow-up services for families receiving referrals to take place 6 weeks and 6 months after the screening Ongoing Periodic Evaluation of system (assisted by OSU-Cascades Campus) 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. Universal community screenings, like the screenings Healthy Beginnings offers provides consistent, reliable, valid, evidence based/science based screening for young children. Children who are identified with questionable or abnormal results can than are referred to evidence -based services. This is important because when children receive appropriate services before age five it has been documented that only 25% will need special education services once entering the K-12 system. When children do not receive referral and needed services before entering school, 77% are found to require special education services once entering school. Further, parents who are connected with needed services are shown to have improved parenting skills, including appropriate developmental stimulation, recognition of cues and appropriate response and encourage self regulation. There are many reasons why universal screenings are important to a young child and the community it lives in. The following 10 points represents some of the research the program has identified. 1) Comprehensive health and developmental screening is not being done in all pediatric offices — further less than 25% of pediatric offices use valid developmental screening tools. 2) There is a growing number of children who do not have a pediatrician or a family practitioner as their primary health care provider. In our community, less than 50% of families could identify a regular health care provider when asked at a Healthy Beginnings screening. 3) 43% of all children across the United States are underinsured having no health insurance for well child care. 4) Vision impairments are increasing, prompting the American Pediatric Association to recommend a vision screening in the first year of life. 5) Hearing impairments are being missed, prompting the American Pediatric Association to recommend a hearing screening twice before age two. 6) Nationwide, over 400,000 young children are afflicted by prenatal drug exposure, which is 400% increase since 2001. Alcohol and methamphetamine are the leading cause of this major disability. 7) Behavioral and social emotional problems are also increasing and have become the number one cause of pre -Kindergarten academic failure. This area is rarely screened by pediatricians. 8) In the last 15 years brain studies have documented the negative impact of poor parenting and neglect on life long learning. Parenting skills, like other areas, are rarely screened by pediatricians. Deschutes County Healthy Beginnings, Inc. 9) Dental decay, also on the rise with young children, can impact speech, development, nutrition, and success in school - 40% of children in Head Start have significant dental decay. 10) Less than 20% of all parents attend parenting classes. Community universal health and developmental screenings provide an important first step in improving the outcomes of children and their families. The benefits are profound and have long reaching impacts on the entire lives of these children, their families, and their communities. Deschutes County families are struggling with the cost of health care and many young families have little or no access to health care for themselves or their young children. Many children with special needs are not identified until after age five (or later) in spite of clear evidence that early identification of health, speech and hearing and other sensory impairments and environmental deprivation can positively impact learning skills throughout life and decrease dramatically the cost to the community. Healthy Beginnings is the gateway for families to learn about and receive needed services. Oregon's state budget commitment to the Oregon Health Plan has declined in recent years. The number and rate of Oregonian children without health insurance has steadily increased. Our region is ranked number one for the number of children without health insurance — 19% of the children are without this basic level of care. With young children age birth — 5 one of the fastest growing segments in our community, this staggering statistic will rise. According to Deschutes County Community Impact Report from the United Way our county ranks 2nd worst in the state for meeting "readiness" standards for kindergartners. HB's program data continues to document an alarming community trend. The number of children seen in our screening program without insurance has grown from 17% in 2001-02 to 27% in 2008-09. In 2001-02 97% of the children we screened HAD a primary health care provider. In 2007-08 only 75% or the children we saw had a primary health care provider. Screening clinics fill up months in advance with some families having to wait months to receive service. To meet this community demand last year the program increased service by 25% by adding 2 screenings last year. With an additional screening clinics scheduled for August of this year, the program will provide 15 screenings, up from 12 in 2007-08. Last year 85% of the children screened required a referral and 91% were identified with risk factors — many of these had multiple risk factors including living in a shelter, having a teen parent, being referred from a high risk agency such as foster parents or DHS, having no primary health care provider and not having health insurance. These trends have devastating affects on the families and the community. With the lack of access children go without needed services. Parents miss work and children are not able to enter kindergarten at their highest potential. Statistically, these children are at higher risk for school failure and falling into the juvenile justice program. Studies indicate that 70% of the children in juvenile justice system have untreated vision concerns; this is in comparison to less than 25% in the general public. The current estimate indicates that for every dollar spent on early intervention for high-risk families, seven dollars is saved through prevention of long-term negative outcomes (Children's Defense Fund). In addition, the Academy of Pediatrics estimates that early intervention provides "savings to community of $30,000-$100,000 per child." Deschutes County Healthy Beginnings, Inc. We estimate the value of our screening at $1,750.00 per child (estimated on the cost of office visits to specialists providing similar services in the area). The program is on track to serve nearly 600 children this year (an additional 20%) engaging over 375 professional volunteers to meet our community's growing needs. This represents an estimated market value of over a million dollars. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. These screenings provides children, aged birth through 5 years and their family access to 12 volunteer professionals, with referrals and follow-up as indicated. Assessments include: Health, nutrition, dental, behavior, hearing, vision, motor and cognitive development, speech, and car seat safety. This service is offered to all families living in Deschutes County — there are no other eligibility requirements. Spanish interpreters are provided at no cost whenever a family needs this service. We estimate the number of children screened this year will be 500. This reflects a nearly 30% increase in service to the families of Deschutes County. Community need has driven this growth — and our need to expand our services. Screenings are filling up months in advance and children are not able to receive an appointment in an appropriate amount of time thus delaying the ability of the family to connect with needed services. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. All funding will be dedicated to support and provide the upcoming screenings in Deschutes County. Lottery Funds Matching Funding Sources Direct Services Personnel HB Screening Organization Staff 1,000.00 16,500.00 In -Kind Staff 0 10,500.00 Materials and supplies: Project Supervision 0 3,500.00 Consumable Materials 300.00 0 Printing and Binding 0 200.00 Assessment Tools and Protocols 250.00 250.00 Contract Services (Interpreters needed for screenings) 550.00 2,000.00 Office Supplies 0 125.00 Local Travel (300 miles x .550mile) 100.00 65.00 Postage 100.00 100.00 Sub Totals $2,300.00 $31,753.00 Healthy Beginnings currently benefits from: ➢ United Way of Deschutes County Partner Funding ➢ Annual Fundraiser activities including: ■ Health Wise Flu Shot Clinics Deschutes County Healthy Beginnings, Inc. • Girls Night Out • The Grin and Bear It Fun Run • HB Board fundraising activities ➢ Extensive local corporation and community service club support > Grant writing activities > In-kind donations last fiscal year that included: • Volunteer In-kind valued at over $50,000 • Staff In-kind valued at nearly $25,000 • Facility donation valued at nearly $5,000 The HB Board of Directors has addressed this project in its strategic plan and is working with consultants and grant writers to sustain this project and expand the program providing direct screening services to children throughout Deschutes County and beyond. The Board is also expanding its fundraising efforts to provide expanded services to specific high risk populations. Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. * Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget. Amount Approved: By: Date: Declined: By: Date: INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE P. O. BOX 2508 CINCINNATI, OH 45201 Date: OCT 232002 DESCHUTES COUNTY HEALTHY BEGINNINGS INC 520 NW WALL ST BEND, OR 97701 Dear Applicant: DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Employer Identification Number: 93-1234708 DLN: 17053257734002 Contact Person: MICHAEL A LUDWIG Contact Telephone Number: (877) 829-5500 Our Letter Dated: May 1998 Addendum Applies: No ID# 31470 This modifies our letter of the above date in which we stated that you would be treated as an organization that is not a private foundation until the expiration of your advance ruling period. Your exempt status under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) is still in effect. Based on the information you submitted, we have determined that you are not a private foundation within the meaning of section 509(a) of the Code because you are an organization of the type described in section 509(a) (1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi). Grantors and contributors may rely on this determination unless the Internal Revenue Service publishes notice to the contrary. However, if you lose your section 509(a)(1) status, a grantor or contributor may not rely on this determination if he or she was in part responsible for, or was aware of, the act or failure to act, or the substantial or material change on the part of the organization that resulted in your loss of such status, or if he or she acquired knowledge that the Internal Revenue Service had given notice that you would no longer be classified as a section 509(a)(1) organization. You are required to make your annual information return, Form 990 or Form 990 -EZ, available for public inspection for three years after the later of the due date of the return or the date the return is filed. You are also required to make available for public inspection your exemption application, any supporting documents, and your exemption letter. Copies of these documents are also required to be provided to any individual upon written or in person request without charge other than reasonable fees for copying and postage. You may fulfill this requirement by placing these documents on the Internet. Penalties may be imposed for failure to comply with these requirements. Additional information is available in Publication 557, Tax -Exempt Status for Your Organization, or you may call our toll free number shown above. If we have indicated in the heading of this letter that an addendum applies, the addendum enclosed is an integral part of this letter. Letter 1050 (DO/CG) -2- DESCHUTES COUNTY HEALTHY BEGINNINGS Because this letter could help resolve any questions about your private foundation status, please keep it in your permanent records. If you have any questions, please contact the person whose name and telephone number are shown above. Sincerely yours, Lois G.` !Lerner Director, Exempt Organizations Letter 1050 (DO/CG)