Mercy Foundation's Healthy Kids Outreach Program Receives Ford Family Grant

Mercy Foundation’s Healthy Kids Outreach Program (HKOP) has been awarded a grant from the Ford Family Foundation. HKOP is the recipient of a three year grant totaling $558,110 from the Ford Family Foundation to support the Healthy Kids Outreach Program. About half of our Douglas County children and families live at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. Many of the families served by Mercy Foundation face transportation and financial barriers to updating health and wellness services that HKOP helps overcome, especially in rural communities. HKOP helps improve the basic health of children in Douglas County in three ways: Dental Screenings And Treatments - With generous grants from the Douglas Community Fund, Oregon Community Foundation, Ford Family Foundation and Advantage Dental, Healthy Kids staff started rolling out the addition of onsite dental clinics in 2011. Students receive a dental screening, sealants, and fluoride varnishes to protect them from getting cavities and they go home with a report card and dental kits that include a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. Healthy Education - The Healthy Kids Outreach Program provides comprehensive health education at area schools, teaching kids how to stay healthy and make healthy choices. Educating kids on the fundamentals of personal and dental hygiene, communicable disease prevention, nutrition, exercise and heart health, and character development ensure a healthier community long into the future. Building on preventative dental care, HKOP’s Dental Learning Lab teaches students the how’s and why's of adopting good oral habits through brushing, flossing, avoiding tobacco products and eating healthy foods. Connection To Care - The Healthy Kids Outreach Program provides connection to appropriate community health care resources for children and families right at school, removing barriers that many families face. According to Mercy Foundation President, Lisa Platt, “The Ford Family Foundation’s funds will allow the HKOP team to continue to not only support our programs but ensure we are growing to meet the changing needs of our kids. This program helps Douglas County kids be at their very best: happy, healthy and productive. We are so thankful to have this investment by the Ford Family Foundation for the next three years.” “These funds are very much needed in our rural county,” says Trina Gwaltney, HKOP Manager. “Having this partnership with the Ford Family allows our program to continue to connect with our community kids. We are very grateful for this grant!” For more information about Mercy Foundation, please call 541-677-4818 or visit www.mercygiving.org Via CHI Mercy