5/16/2014

The Home Nursing Agency Foundation, a community benefit, non-profit organization, recently awarded 27 Mission Grants totaling $163,860 to Agency programs and services. The grants will directly impact patient care and services that are provided in the home and in the community for the fiscal year 2014-2015.

The Foundation’s mission is to provide financial support to create, improve, or enhance the Agency’s programs and services that ultimately results in a benefit to the individual, the family and the community. The Foundation uses individual and community contributions and proceeds from fundraising events, like Mercedes Moment, to annually award Mission Grants. Since 2005, the Foundation has awarded 228 grants totaling $1,164,563.

All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law and all dollars remain in the community—close to home within the cities, towns and boroughs served by the Agency.

For more information about the Home Nursing Agency Foundation, how your support can make an impact, or to register for a tour of Agency community facilities that benefit from Foundation Mission Grants, please visit www.homenursingagency.com or contact Pam Seasoltz, Director of Development, (814) 946-5411, ext. 2565 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The following Agency programs and services were awarded Mission Grants for the 2014-2015 fiscal year:

Hospice Emergency Fund – To help individuals who are facing a life-limiting illness with emergency one-time funding for utility or fuel costs, medications, air conditioners and other emergencies to ease the emotional and physical challenges occurring at the end of life.

Hospice Educational Resources – To purchase educational booklets to be used by the family as a resource for the signs and symptoms of what to expect during the various stages of dying. Two booklets to be specifically purchased include:  A Different Season (The Hospice Journey) and Hard Choices for Loving People.

Hospice Bereavement – To purchase stationery items (cards, grief support literature) for the extended support mailings to bereaved families.

Hospice Volunteers – To provide smocks for hospice volunteers serving the General Inpatient Unit at UPMC Altoona to identify them as HNA Hospice volunteers. Also to purchase seasonal items to provide a cheerful environment – holiday decorations and flower arrangements; and, to purchase reading materials to be housed in the family waiting area.

Hospice Volunteers – To provide funds to support the comfort and care of Hospice patients who need bed sheets, neck pillows, hospital gowns, baby monitors, reading materials and comfort bags comprised of lotions, portable CD players, portable projectors to provide images to bed bound patients. Additional purchase would be holiday gift item, such as fleece blankets.

Hospice Emergency Ongoing Medications/Durable Medical Equipment Funding - To help cover ongoing expenses of medications, treatment, equipment and supplies that are not covered by the Medicare Hospice Benefit (the primary payer for these services) or because the patient does not have private or other insurance to cover expenses.

Hospice Bridge Services - To provide supplies for in-home bereavement support visits with children and their families of hospice patients to create activities and projects that will assist in “memory making” between the Hospice patient and the child –  items such as memory boxes and supplies, educational materials, and comfort bags to assist with the “attachment” to the person who had died.

Healing Patch - Children’s Grief Center –To supplement overhead costs, including staff time/facility costs, craft/activity supplies and food. In addition, to cover expenses for staff to facilitate six-week in-school groups with children who would not otherwise have access to a center or grief resources.

Home Health Emergency Fund – To provide funds for Home Health patients and their families who have need beyond normal circumstances and need assistance to purchase life’s basic necessities, i.e. nutritional supplements, bathing/safety aides, bedding and emergency medications.

Pediatric Home Connection – (formerly Pediatric Private Duty) – To pay for additional shifts of nursing care, respite and social services support for children who are technology-dependent and suffer from chronic, life-limiting disabilities.

Pediatric Home Connection – To purchase therapeutic items needed by children with chronic, life-limiting disabilities that will help to ensure/maintain the child’s comfort and provide education and stimulation.

AIDS Intervention Project – To assist individuals and families dealing with HIV/AIDS with personal care/hygiene items, cleaning supplies, vitamins and dietary supplements.

Center for Counseling – To assist in providing treatment to more than 300 children and 1,000 adults experiencing behavioral health issues who otherwise would not receive services due to having no insurance, high co-pays/deductibles or private insurances that will not pay for counseling services.

Adult Group Blair (Art Therapy) / Adult Partial Hospitalization – To support the art therapy program with supplies, i.e. paints, clay, paper products and easels and for planning and implementation of art therapy sessions.

Nurse-Family Partnership® – To help with a required 10% match of a Department of Public Welfare Office of Child Development grant ($1 million). This is an evidence-based community health program that transforms the lives of first-time, low-income mothers in seven counties. Care is provided to 300+ families each year.

ACEL – Adult Center for Exceptional Learning – To support the continuation of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art (SAMA) Artists-In-Residence program that provides ACEL individuals the opportunity to experience art, painting, dancing and storytelling, which can improve their quality of life.

Adult Day Services – To provide additional days of support to help families caring for a loved one who cannot remain safely at home alone. These families do not have access to insurance but need daytime services for their loved one, allowing them to work and have respite care.

Adult Day Services - To support the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art (SAMA) Artists-In-Residence program that provides Adult Day Services individuals with art experiences, i.e. painting, dancing and storytelling to improve their quality of life.

Blended Case Management/Children and Adolescents – To purchase personal/hygiene products, cleaning products, food, seasonal clothing items and other daily living needs for children and adolescents in the Children’s Behavioral Health Program and to be used for start-up costs for community and school-based activities, i.e. intramural sports, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.

Blended Case Management/Resource Coordination – (Behavioral Health Care for adults diagnosed with a mental illness)
To be used for unexpected emergencies or when an individual has minimal income. Helps to fund household and personal hygiene products, clothes for employment/school and bus passes for those starting employment.

Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS) (Provides therapeutic support to children with Bipolar Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders) - To assist with community activity fees for children receiving behavioral health services and to purchase therapeutic activities and games, pool passes to area pools, weighted vests, teddy bears for children who are experiencing sensory issues and a sensory table to be used at the Children’s Behavioral Health Center.

Children and Adolescents Partial Hospitalization (Blair & Centre counties) – To stock the “Rewards Store” (acute/individual outpatient program) and “group store” (Hearts and Strides – Centre County), a therapeutic incentive-based program that changes negative behaviors into positive ones with the use of a rewards system. Items to include basic school items and activity items to encourage family cohesiveness and participation. 

Multi Systemic Therapy (MST) – MST is an intensive family and community-based treatment program that focuses on encompassing the environment of the chronic and violent juvenile offender. Funding to purchase gas for families to attend appointments (psychiatric, psychological, school and court hearings), seasonal clothing and basic household items, such as bedding, cleaning supplies, groceries, etc.

Peer Support - Peer Support facilitates recovery by pairing individuals with a severe mental illness with a staff person who has overcome a mental illness and is trained to use their personal experience to encourage others.  Funds are needed to purchase groceries to teach healthy meal preparation within a small group setting, which would encourage participants to learn to manage health issues, cook healthy meals and buy groceries within a budget. 

Lexington Clubhouse (Pychiatric rehabilitation program) - To support the growth of the “wellness movement” with Clubhouse members. Clubhouse has 51 active members with 50% attending weekly wellness meetings, focusing on nutrition and health. Funds are needed to purchase 6 additional gym memberships to KNT Fitness Program that would be shared among participants, as well at monies needed to purchase healthier food items for the Sheetz Shank Shack that is open to all Clubhouse members. 

WIC (Women, Infants and Children) - To provide incentive items to stock the “Stork Store” that encourages pregnant women to seek early, regular prenatal care. Through the Stork Store, women are rewarded for achieving positive behaviors that contribute to the delivery of healthy full-term infants. The items for the store are considered basic items needed by WIC families and include diapers, wipes, infant clothing, crib sheets, blankets, etc.

Opportunity Club - The Club provides a stress-free, stigma-free atmosphere for people 18 years and older who are diagnosed with a mental illness or co-occurring disorder. Funds needed to support four special events/holidays that approximately 150 individuals attend. Funds would be used to purchase decorations/prizes, food, DJ services and room rental.