Salem Health awards major community grants: 50K to Salvation Army and 41K to Family Building Blocks

09 Jul 2017

By: Sharon Heuer, CHEC director

 

Salem Health recently presented two major Community Partnership Grants. The program began in 2014 and will grant a total of $306,382 in 2017. It has two main goals: to serve those most at risk in our community and to decrease the need for catastrophic care and its associated social, emotional and economic costs. 

$50K to the Salvation Army will fund an alcohol and drug professional mentor for the Salvation Army Lighthouse Shelter.  

"At the Lighthouse Shelter, the ADP mentor walks alongside those with addiction and supports them as they make strides toward sobriety," said Sharon Heuer, Director of Community Benefit at Salem Health. "The mentor knows the road to recovery and helps clients navigate the way."

Since 1966, The Lighthouse Shelter has provided the Salem community with a six-month transitional shelter for men and women looking to become self-sufficient. In 2016, the shelter housed 361 individuals in need. The shelter, located at 1901 Front Street in Salem, believes in meeting the needs of the whole person, including the physical, emotional and spiritual. During their stay, residents have access to three meals a day, laundry facilities, showers and warm beds.

$41,370 to Family Building Blocks will fund a pilot project to electronically conduct developmental screenings for children in a family's home.

"This pilot project will make a difference in the lives of our community's most vulnerable citizens -- our children," said Patrice Altenhofen, Executive Director of Family Building Blocks. "The use of tablets by our staff during home visits allows us to address needs immediately and offer on-demand resources. With the support of Salem Health, we are providing local children more opportunities to thrive."

Community Partnership Grant funding encourages collaboration among community organizations that share a common vision for better health and meet community health needs identified by the Salem Health Board of Trustees. Current priorities for projects include obesity prevention, tobacco and substance use and early childhood health.