The Missouri Foundation for Health has awarded $237,974 in grants across the Ozarks, including $200,000 to eight public health departments, as well as grants to local nonprofits.
The local grants are part of $3.2 million in grants approved for nonprofits statewide by the foundation's board of directors, according to a news release.
Provided through MFH’s Basic Support Program, the health department grants are intended to help purchase equipment and supplies to assist the departments in serving the health care needs of residents.
The following local health departments received one-year $25,000 grants: Christian County, Ozark; Dallas County, Buffalo; Hickory County, Hermitage; Polk County, Bolivar; Stone County, Galena; Taney County, Forsyth; Webster County, Marshfield; and Springfield-Greene County, Springfield.
To help establish communities where healthy behaviors are prevalent, MFH’s Community Health and Prevention Program awarded Springfield-based CoxHealth $10,000 to help raise awareness of community food barriers, food pantry needs and increase consumption of fresh produce. It also awarded Isabel’s House $8,243 to purchase freezers for food and medication storage.
In addition, Isabel’s House was awarded $19,731 to improve its human resources management system through MFH’s Strategic Organizations Development Program, which supports specific, short-term interventions that help organizations and coalitions build capacity, improve operational efficiency and become more effective in improving Missourians’ health.
According to
IsabelsHouse.org, the crisis nursery at 2750 W. Bennett St. is a partnership through the Junior League of Springfield with Burrell Behavioral Health, the city of Springfield, CoxHealth, Community Partnerships of the Ozarks, Missouri State University, Mercy Springfield Communities, the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and United Way of the Ozarks.
The St. Louis-based Missouri Foundation for Health awarded more than $5.1 million in statewide grants in August, according to
Springfield Business Journal archives. Since its founding in 2000, MHF has provided more than $470 million in grants and awards in 84 Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis, the release said.
