MEDIA ADVISORY
ATSC 2009 Community Health Grant Awards –Event Date August 18, 2008; Release Date August 21, 2008 Commission Contact: Aaron Parish Black (501-683-0074)
Little Rock, Arkansas – The Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission (ATSC) is proud to announce the awards for its 2009 Community Health Grant Program. In a ceremony at the Arkansas State Capitol with Governor Mike Beebe, the ATSC Commissioners presented checks totaling $500,000 to 13 organizations around the state. This funding will be used to improve the health and lives of thousands of Arkansans through projects as varied as smoking cessation programs to diabetes education to health screening services. “Providing access to preventative care and services is critical to building healthy communities across Arkansas,” Governor Mike Beebe said. “We have made tremendous strides in creating a healthier state by using 100% of our tobacco settlement money on health related activities, the only state in the nation to do that.”
Funding for this grant came from the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act – an Act passed by 64% of Arkansas voters in 2000. This Act specified that tobacco settlement funds received by Arkansas should be used exclusively to improve the health of Arkansans through smoking prevention and cessation, increased access to health care, educating Arkansans on healthier lifestyle choices, and important medical research.
The St. Francis Clinic of Siloam Springs received $38,370 in a grant from the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission Community Health Grant Program to operate their grant program titled, “Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure.” Project “Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure” will improve and optimize the health status of Arkansans in Western Benton County by establishing a long-term program targeting chronic health conditions among low income medically uninsured and underserved persons with special emphasis on the diabetics and Hispanic/Latino population. The goal is to reduce the rate and effects of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, COPD, and tobacco use through a screening, early detection, and education program that will lower the death rate and improve the quality of life of persons suffering from these debilitating conditions. St. Francis Clinic will achieve this goal by increasing accessibility of medications through the Pharmaceutical Assistance Program; purchase of diabetic lab tests and supplies; health screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, lipid profile, weight/BMI, and overall health risk appraisal; health education for patients and self-management classes, and nursing disease management for at-risk persons with chronic conditions.
PHOTO CUTLINE (Left to Right): The Honorable Kim Hendren, State Senator; Stacey Rowley, Jepson Drugstore Pharmacy Technician; Melanie Brakeville, Siloam Springs Regional Health Cooperative Network Director; Raquel Beck, St. Francis Clinic Director; ATSC Vice Chairman Dr. Omar Atiq, Director of the Arkansas Cancer Institute; The Honorable Mike Beebe, Governor of Arkansas; ATSC Commissioner John Selig, Director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services; Bettie Skelton, St. Francis Clinic Board Member; Carol Roberts, Jepson Drugstore Assistant Manager; ATSC Chairman Dr. Bill Lefler, Major General USA (RET); ATSC Commission Designee Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, Arkansas Department of Health.
St. Francis Clinic of Siloam Springs is a Network Partner in the Bridges to Wellness Coalition. Raquel Beck is also on the BTW Board of Directors.
Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission101 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 460 ♦ Little Rock, Arkansas 72201Phone: 501-683-0074 ♦ Fax: 501-683-0078 ♦ www.atsc.arkansas.gov
If you know me, you know that I am often out & about, running, walking, or letting my dogs take me for a stroll. On my walk last night, I was looking around & thinking about how lucky we are here in Siloam Springs to have such a vast system of safe trails and sidewalks. I walked more than 5 miles & never had to walk on the street. I know I could have easily gone more than twice that without having to worry about a thing.
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