UCare Announces UCare Fund Grants for 2009

Funds support organizations and innovative programs working to reduce obesity and promote healthy lifestyles in Minnesota

UCare announced today that its UCare Fund has made 19 grants totaling $266,400 to Minnesota organizations working to reduce obesity and promote healthy lifestyles among people of all ages. A $100,000 grant also was made to a program that offers companion services to seniors in order to help them maintain optimal health and live independently.

The UCare Fund is a community-directed initiative of UCare, the fourth-largest health plan in Minnesota. Established in 1998, the Fund provides grants and staff support to projects that advance UCare's mission to improve the health of UCare members through innovative services and partnerships across communities, and reduce health disparities for disadvantaged populations in the Twin Cities and throughout Greater Minnesota.

Grant applicants must be Minnesota-based organizations; private nonprofit or public tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organizations; city, county, and other governmental agencies eligible to receive funding; tribal governments and agencies; and research and faith-based organizations addressing the needs of underserved populations. Grants are determined by members of the UCare Fund Council, which includes representatives of the UCare's Board of Directors, and a Consumer Board Representative. The upcoming 2009 funding cycle occurs Sept. 1, 2009-Aug. 31, 2010.

UCare Fund grant criteria in 2009 focused on two major goals:

- Obesity reduction: Projects addressing obesity intervention, reduction, and prevention in communities across Minnesota.

- Promoting healthy lifestyles: Projects with a goal of addressing wellness issues, especially those that deal with physical activity, healthy nutrition, and lifestyle behavior changes.

"The UCare Fund supports innovative efforts by health care, social service, and community-based organizations to address pressing health issues," says Ghita Worcester, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing, UCare. "We're pleased to distribute grants this year to programs that help people avoid a wide range of life-disrupting diagnoses and costly care by increasing their physical activity, learning about healthy nutrition, and making positive lifestyle and behavior changes."

Following is a list of the 19 UCare Fund grants:

Volunteers of America-Minnesota (VOA) - The grant will fund a 12-week Health-A-Thon program to improve the physical health of seniors living at three VOA sites in Minneapolis: Southwest Senior Center, Horn Towers, and Monroe Village.

YWCA of Minneapolis - Funds will support the "Strong Fast Fit Youth" program, which provides culturally-specific fitness and health education programming to 120 Native American and Latino youths and their families.

Cedar Riverside People's Center and Clinic - The grant will support a new "Shape Up!" program, which will provide a registered dietician and a bilingual patient educator to work with 125 individuals whose weight issues are leading to pre-diabetic conditions and diabetes.

Mille Lacs County Public Health - Funds will help Mille Lacs County improve the nutritional intake of elementary school-age children, and educate the children and their parents about healthy food choices.

*santi County Public Health - The grant will help fund Isanti County's "Teen-Age Parent Program," which offers prenatal care, well-child care, nutrition counseling, and parenting education to pregnant and parenting teens.

Special Olympics Minnesota - The UCare grant will help enhance and expand the "Healthy Athletes" program, which works to increase the health and fitness of people across Minnesota with intellectual disabilities (a medically underserved population) by providing free screenings, making referrals to local health practitioners, and training health professionals and students about the needs of people with intellectual disabilities.

Fremont Community Health Services, Inc. - UCare funds will help the Fremont clinics deliver a family-centered healthy lifestyle project targeted to low-income racial/ethnic minorities in north and northeast Minneapolis, and surrounding communities.

Benton County Human Services - Benton County's public health unit will use the grant to help neighborhoods, agencies, and service groups sustain a network of community gardens growing produce bound for low-income populations.

Resources for Child Caring - UCare funds will help the agency launch the "Healthy Learners: Obesity Reduction and Healthy Lifestyles" pilot project, which seeks to impact the health of at least 100 Twin Cities children enrolled in early childhood programs.

City of Bloomington - Bloomington's Division of Public Health will use the grant to increase the incorporation of obesity prevention messages and strategies into policies, practices, and programming of community organizations and schools serving high-risk residents.

Dakota County Public Health Department- The grant will enhance Dakota County's "Promoting Health Families Across the Lifespan" project that offers outreach and health promotion efforts to pregnant women, children, and families.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Minnesota Chapter - UCare dollars will support the "Living Well with MS" program, which helps Minnesotans with Multiple Sclerosis enhance their physical health, practice healthy nutrition, and maintain maximum independence.

South Washington County Schools Community Education - The grant will help conduct the Kids International Wellness Initiative (KIW) at two Kids Club sites in summer 2010 to address nutrition/fitness issues for children living in Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, and Woodbury.

Washburn Center for Children - The grant will support the community mental health center's "Family Focused Program," which supports the healthy development of children in Washburn's Minnesota service area, and provides intensive, early intervention services to reduce risk factors for child abuse and neglect.

Fillmore County Public Health - UCare dollars will support the healthy development and lifestyles of Fillmore County youth through county efforts to target risk factors and work with sectors that positively influence, educate, and care for young people.

Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis Community Health Board - The grant will help support the Board's new, health-focused "UMD Voyageurs: Pirates of the Carrot Bean" program directed at children in grades Kindergarten-6th in 10 regions.

Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) - UCare funds will help support culturally competent efforts by CLUES' Community Health Worker Services to alter social norms of sedentary lifestyles and overindulgence in unhealthy foods among members of Minnesota's Latino community.

Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota - The grant will help support the "Vietnamese and Karen Health is Gold Fitness and Nutrition Project" to increase community awareness of the need for physical activity and nutrition, and promote exercise and healthy eating.

Health Improvement Partners, Inc. - UCare dollars will support efforts to advance physical activity and educate more than 500 people in the Greater Mankato area about the benefits of exercise and good nutrition.

The $100,000 UCare Fund grant to Lutheran Social Service of Minnesotawill support its Senior Companions program

. Senior Companions serve lonely and/or isolated adults who need support when other family members cannot be there; caregivers in need of respite; mentally or physically impaired individuals; or people recovering from an illness. The Senior Companion Program also is funded by the National Senior Service Corps and the Minnesota Board on Aging, and sponsored by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.

About UCare

UCare (www.ucare.org) is an independent, nonprofit health plan providing health care and administrative services to more than 175,000 members. UCare partners with health care providers, counties, and community organizations to create and deliver innovative health coverage products for:

- Individuals and families enrolled in income-based Minnesota Health Care Programs, such as MinnesotaCare and Prepaid Medical Assistance Program. - Adults with disabilities and Medicare beneficiaries with chronic health conditions. - Minnesotans dually eligible for Medical Assistance and Medicare. - Medicare-eligible individuals throughout Minnesota and in western Wisconsin.

UCare addresses health care disparities and care access issues through its UCare Fund grants and a broad array of community initiatives.

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