AJ News

Four organizations providing prenatal and healthy infant programs for at-risk mothers have received a boost from The Blue Ribbon Foundation of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Since 2008, The Blue Ribbon Foundation has awarded more than $150,000 in grants to provide health services and education programs for expectant and new mothers who otherwise might not receive them. Recent Blue Ribbon Foundation grants have helped the following community partners improve pre- and post-natal health: Moses Taylor Hospital, in partnership with Maternal and Family Health Services and the Scranton Primary Health Care Center, received a $74,400 Foundation grant to provide depression and anxiety screenings to un- and underinsured prenatal women across eight counties. Community Medical Center Healthcare System, also partnering with Maternal and Family Health Services, received $61,500 for the Circle of Care Prenatal Case Management Program. Foundation funding will be used to provide intensive physical and behavioral prenatal services to an estimated 300 high-risk patients this year.

Volunteers of America received a $10,000 Foundation grant for its Caring Alternatives Program. The grant will help provide health education, counseling, life skills training, and developmental screenings during the mother’s pregnancy and during the first year of the baby’s life to an estimated 150 low-income families.

A $7,000 Foundation grant was awarded to Partners in Family and Community Development to support the expansion of the Bradford County Nurse-Family Partnership. The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) Program provides in-home nurse visits, health education, life skills training, and developmental screenings to low-income expectant and new mothers and their babies. Foundation funding will help NFP serve 20 additional families this year.

The funding cycles for The Blue Ribbon Foundation run quarterly. For more information on the funding priorities, application deadlines and eligibility criteria, please visit www.bcnepa.com and click on the Blue Ribbon Foundation tab.