Health

When you join other community members in investing in United Way, your donation improves local lives and our entire community. Our priority Health community issue is creating a healthy community. Thanks to the work of local volunteers, the following Health Programs were selected to receive an overall investment of $344,100 from the United Way campaign for 2022:

American Red Cross of East Central Ohio

  • Blood Services $8,000

The Knox County Blood Services program collects, processes, and distributes blood and blood products. The program supplies all the hospital in Central Ohio, including Knox Community Hospital, with 100% of the blood they need to treat injured and ill patients. American Red Cross hosts 170 blood drives annually in Knox County with approximately 5,000 blood donors attending, including more than 400 first-time donors. The staff and volunteers greet each blood donor, register them for the drive, and conduct a mini-physical to ensure they are healthy enough to give blood. After their donation donors are encouraged to enjoy snacks and refreshments before leaving. Collected blood is transported and processed at our lab in Columbus then distributed back to local hospitals.

Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio, Inc.

  • School Intervention   $53,200 

 

 

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Centerburg Senior Services, Inc.

  • Health and Wellness for Seniors   $5,000

Centerburg Senior Services serves seniors 60 years and old living in the Village of Centerburg, Hilliar, Liberty & Milford Township. Many of these seniors are on a fixed income and can not afford a gym membership. This program helps ensure that seniors can participate in free classes led by certified instructors, accesss equipment as well as healthy snacks and plenty of fresh water for clients. For the months that the center limits access in an abundance of caution, activity kits will be sent to clients.

Hospice of North Central Ohio, Inc.

  • Grief Groups   $15,000

Grief Groups are specialized bereavement services that provide assistance in our community to those surviving sudden traumatic loss as well as death after an extended illness. Individuals of any age who have had a loved one die can share their grief journey in a confidential setting with a skilled bereavement specialist. Children grieve differently than adults and are served by grief counseling and, when appropriate, collaboration with school personnel. Program funding also goes toward supporting Camp Hope, which occurs each summer for children experiencing loss. Camp is provided for children and teens age 6 to 17 for a small cost with scholarship available.

Kno-Ho-Co Ashland Community Action Commission

  • Women's Reproductive Health Screenings $22,384

Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland CAC, Women's Reproductive Health program provides Comprehensive Reproductive Health Screenings to those who are without health coverage or underinsured. Women, who reside in Knox County and seek services, either through self-referral or provider referral by other health care professionals and/or social service providers will be provided appointments in less than 2 weeks. Clinical Pap/Breast Exams and Mammogram appointments will be provided.

Knox County Head Start, Inc.

  • Child and Family Health and Wellness Promotion   $36,516

The Child & Family Wellness program promotes healthy development and learning by ensuring that pregnant moms and children birth to five receive health, dental and nutrition screenings, case management to support preventive care, and follow up treatment. All KCHS parents receive practical health and wellness strategies in support of improving child social-emotional development, child and adult health and encouraging healthy environments and choices. Direct service staff create positive environments in support of healthy development, with leadership from the school nurse & the health data specialist who provide health screenings, support families in accessing follow up, and coordinate health education and trainings.

  • Parents Support Initiative    $40,000

The Parent Support Initiative (PSI) is a county-wide initiative of the Resilience Team, a sub-committee of the Knox Health Planning Partnership, promoting prevention efforts to reduce mental health and substance abuse.The PSI provides parenting education and develops providers across multiple agencies to deliver Triple P (Positive Parenting Program)to over 500 parents and guardians annually. The PSI offers parent education via seminars, group discussions, 6-8 week courses, and individual support sessions utilizing trained providers and curricula from Conscious Discipline for Parents and Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) to promote positive parenting strategies and to manage challenging parenting issues. Triple P seeks to develop healthy parents who create engaging environments for children, and develop consistent routines promoting healthy child development and effective problem solving, resulting in resilient children and families. 

Public Health Partnership of Knox County

  • Knox Out Tobacco Program    $20,000

Tobacco control and prevention is a top public health priority. Knox Out Tobacco Program makes tobacco cessation counseling and support services available for those in need. The use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) through nicotine patches, gum and lozenges doubles the chances of quitting successfully. Two ongoing, tobacco cessation counseling/support groups are held every week at KCH and KCHD. In addition Knox Out Tobacco offers cessation support for individuals (one-on-one), businesses and agencies as requested. 

  • Senior Health and Wellness $10,000

 

 

Alcohol and Drug Freedom Center of Knox County

  • Empowering Recovery with Wellness $10,000

Empowering Recovery with Wellness provides a community for adolescents and adults of any age and gender who seek a healthier lifestyle at any stage in their recovery journey. The Freedom Center plans activities around the needs and/or interest of the consumer and by coordinating with local businesses and other community partners. This program provides healthy activities that will empower clients to continue on their path of recovery.

  • Program Care Management $50,000

This program provides case managers to coordinate services in the community to assist in facilitating needed resources to meet basic needs and promote health and wellness. The case managers assist in reducing barriers to attending treatment and assist in engaging individuals to be more successful in their treatment. The case manager providing services for adolescents works closely with parents/guardians to establish healthy home environments that foster recovery and resiliency. 

  • Strengthening Families/Families in Recovery $29,000

Freedom Center's Strengthening Families (SF) program is designed to support adult family members and children of addicts (COA's) with a focus on navigating the challenging situations common in relationships between children of all ages and their addicted family members. Services target understanding family member's addiction, how to navigate maintaining a more healthy relationship and learning positive communication and coping skills. Program Objectives include: - Family members of addicts of all ages will better understand addiction and their role in recovery - Family members will better understand healthy boundaries and ways to provide self care - All participants will learn skills to find and utilize supports and manage relationship dynamics

YMCA of Mount Vernon

  • Community Wellness Program $45,000

The Community Wellness Program is comprised of three parts. The three parts include community events, a goal and wellness tracking component, and financial assistance.

  • Community Events - are held held in partnership with KCH,
  • Goal and Progress Tracking - in which YMCA staff sits with members in order to set and track goals for ultimate success
  • Financial Assistance - allows the YMCA to not turn anyone away due to an inability to pay for programs or membership.

These items work together to make a cohesive program for the community.

 

Read more about United Way of Knox County's Health Framework

To access Knox County programs, information and crisis services, dial 2-1-1, call 1-800-544-1601, text your zip code to 898-211, or visit Pathways of Central Ohio.