VNA Foundation Annual Report VNA Foundation Annual Report number

VNA Foundation | Annual Report 2008 VNA Foundation | Annual Report 2008 number s LEttER FROm thE chAIR LEttER FROm thE dIREctOR letters 2008 StAtEmEnt OF FInAncIAL POSItIOn VnA FOundAtIOn BOARd OF dIREctORS Letter from the chair Julia Cowell, PhD, RNC, FAAN Chair, VNA Foundation Board of Directors “The common thread linking my first experiences to the recent ones lies in the difficulty people have connecting with a health care home that provides continuity of care.” The pasT year has been a Time of reflecTion as my second term as Chair of the VNA Foundation Board of Directors comes to an end, and nearly simultaneously, I retire from my position as a professor of nursing. My early experiences in nursing helped shape my career path, and that path had many twists and turns along the way. Shortly after graduating from nursing school, I had the fabulous experience of working at the Cincinnati Department of Public Health when it became a combined agency, that is, providing both public health and home health services. At the health department our primary focuses were health promotion for new mothers, and communicable disease control. I then worked for a year with Care-Medico in Algiers, Algeria after the Algerian revolution in 1964, and guess what: we also focused on programs for new mothers and communicable disease control. Although I have been in academia since 1971, I have been fortunate to have throughout that time an active practice and clinical research program in public health nursing, and I have continued to focus on health promotion for school-aged children and their families. I have also considered my services to the VNA to be part of my nursing practice since I have had the chance to contribute to many important healthcare-related decisions. Not the least of these decisions was the transition of VNA from a home health agency to a grantmaking foundation, albeit with the same mission: to provide health services to the medically underserved of Chicago and neighboring communities. The medical breakthroughs that span my professional lifetime have been simply astounding and range from the development of life-saving drugs to robotic surgeries. Sadly, the enormous amount of money spent on research to treat and cure preventable diseases dwarfs the comparatively small amount of resources and research focused on prevention. I am struck by the persistence of horrific health disparities that I saw in the ‘Over the Rhine’ neighborhood of Cincinnati, in post colonial Algeria, and still in Chicago and the collar counties today. More than 40 years ago in Cincinnati, one of my patients was a young 12 year-old mother of twins living with her own mother who suffered from grave mental illness. In a sadly similar situation just this past year, a teen mother who sought care at one of the school-based health centers with which I worked could not continue mental health services because she was homeless, and did not have the means to keep her appointments, care for her baby and stay in school. The common thread linking my first experiences to the recent ones lies in the difficulty people have connecting with a health care home that provides continuity of care—from simple ailments to complex health problems that challenge everyday lives. In fact, as health care has become corporatized, families today have more difficulty accessing care than they did in the 1960s. Former Surgeon General David Satcher recently warned the public health community that the health disparities currently faced by America’s underserved populations are a threat to the future of our country. The VNA Foundation embraces the challenge to continue to support community and home-based health services, and is committed to exploring solutions for the nursing workforce deficiencies that limit access to care. Letter from the director On the preceding page, VNA Board Chair Julia Cowell, PhD, RNC, FAAN, reflects on her 40+ years in nursing and academia. As she states in her message, many of the health challenges and inequalities she first saw 40 years ago are, sadly, just as prevalent today. As a foundation, what can we learn from this observation? Rob DiLeonardi Executive Director VNA Foundation one lesson we can learn is that many of the past methods to address health disparities have not been successful. So, at VNA Foundation, we are attempting to apply new solutions, new technologies and new partnerships to old problems. For example, this year we provided several grants to implement Electronic Health Records Systems (EHRS) at clinics serving the underserved. We believe that such systems have the potential to lead to more efficient, safe and consistent care, particularly for those with the kind of chronic illnesses disproportionately represented among the poor and uninsured. EHRS allow the tracking of patient data on both an individual and population level, and facilitate improvement in preventive care and disease management. Providers can gain instant access to patients’ lab results, receive automatic reminders to order preventive or disease management diagnostics, and more easily track key measures like blood pressure and glucose levels. EHRS also facilitate communication among the multiple providers that often assist those with chronic illnesses. Another new technology VNA is investigating is telemedicine, a promising and rapidly evolving area of health services delivery. In particular, VNA is investigating funding a new “telepsychiatry” program in local school-based health centers. (Telepsychiatry uses electronic communication technology to eliminate or reduce barriers to accessing psychiatric services, and has increasing applications; nationally, psychiatry is now the third largest user of telemedicine, second only to radiology and dermatology.) The creation of a school-based telepsychiatry network may be one of the best ways to address the needs of young people with serious mental health conditions, due to its proven clinical efficacy, substantial cost reductions, and improved access to a level of expertise often not otherwise possible. Telepsychiatry has a variety of potential applications, ranging from assessment and diagnosis, to treatment and consultation, to site-specific programs and education. Last but far from least, the nursing shortage is a longstanding problem that VNA continues to address in ways we hope are innovative. The shortage has many faces, but our interest is in helping to ensure that there will always be nurses to provide care in a home- or community-based setting to those who need it most—the medically underserved. Our Super Star in Community Nursing Award seeks to highlight the normally unrecognized efforts of frontline community health and public health nurses, reinvigorating existing nurses and attracting new ones; our nursing scholarships encourage young nurses to make a career of care to the underserved; and our general grantmaking includes unique programs to mentor new nurses and encourage their continual development and commitment. All of our initiatives have the same goal: to address the most critical needs of the Chicago area’s medically underserved, and create a healthier and more equitable future for metropolitan Chicago. By utilizing the most current and innovative methods available to us, we believe we maximize our chances of achieving our goal. current statement of financiaL position thirteen years of financial support 06.30.08 06.30.07 Assets Investments Cash Other Total Assets Liabilities and Fund Balance Accounts Payable Fund Balance Total Liabilities and Fund Balance 51,628,902 58,655 6,294 51,693,851 55,912,122 59,106 22,486 55,993,714 21,066 51,672,785 51,693,851 313 55,993,401 55,993,714 Revenues and Expenses Revenues Investment (Losses) Gains Investment Income Contributions Income Total (Losses) Revenue Operating Expenses General and Administrative Investment and Management Fees Total Operating Expenses Excess of Revenues Before Other Items Other Income Expenses Program Grants Paid Excise Tax Excess (Expense) Revenues (2,180,909) (73,433) (4,320,616) (2,083,469) (114,979) 6,676,867 478,926 213,722 692,648 (2,066,274) 467,271 204,227 671,498 8,875,315 (2,700,696) 1,307,919 19,151 (1,373,626) 8,401,593 1,131,044 14,176 9,546,813 Board of directors Julia Muennich Cowell PhD, RNC, FAAN – Chair Professor Emeritus Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing Rush University College of Nursing Brigid E. Kenney – Vice Chair Business Consultant Nancy Jones Emrich – Treasurer President LilFest LLC Consultant Sue McWilliams, RN, MSN – Secretary Community Volunteer Janet Cabot President, Central Region Edelman Anne M. Davis Community Volunteer Marie W. Harris Community Volunteer Dian Langenhorst Vice President Planning, Marketing & Communications Sinai Health System Katherine H. Miller Community Volunteer Brenda L. Bortnick, RN, BS Community Volunteer M. Catherine Ryan Senior Vice President Philanthropic Management Bank of America Sandra Wilks, MS, RN Director for Community Relations and Physician Referral Metro South Medical Center staff Robert N. DiLeonardi, Executive Director Claudia A. Baier, Program Officer Ann C. Schaefer, Program Associate honorary Board Mrs. Frank D. Mayer* Mrs. Carl A. Hedblom Mrs. John H. McDermott *Mrs. Frank D. (Kay) Mayer, 1910-2008, past board member, board chair and honorary board member. Her spirited volunteerism spanned six decades of VNA’s work. She will be missed by all those associated with VNA. N u r se s, we applaud you. 2008 Super StarS in Community nurSing 2008 aBSn SCholarShip reCipientS Chicagoland nurse receives $25,000, celebrated as “Super Star” among community health nurses Super StarS in Community nurSing After more than a decade of grantmaking focused primarily on nurse-delivered community- and home-based health services, VNA believes more firmly than ever in the efficacy of these methods of providing care to the underserved—and the importance of preserving them. The Super Star in Community Nursing Award is intended to acknowledge the service that Public Health/Community Health nurses provide, recognize the value of nursing in the community and help attract young people to the profession. Ronna “Jake” Ellwing, RN, BSN Transition Services Department, Lake County Teresa Heaton, MPH, RN Director of Family Health, Kane County Health Department Ingrid Forsberg, RN, MSN, APRN, BC Nurse Practitioner, Mercy-Dunbar Health Center Monica Ryan, DNP, APN, CNP Assistant Professor, Health Center Director, Saint Xavier University The VNA Foundation recognized Ronna “Jake” Ellwing, RN, BSN, as the 2008 Super Star in Community Nursing for her commitment to special needs youth in Lake County. The distinction, offered by VNA since 2001, was also awarded to a runner-up and two finalists. About the 2008 Super Star Award Winner Mentally and developmentally disabled young adults require very special care at home, at school and in adjusting to everyday life. Many of these youth are in a state of indecision regarding life after high school— with parents and care-givers often struggling with ways to encourage independence, while at the same time ensuring proper care of their child. One truly extraordinary nurse, Ronna “Jake” Ellwing, is exceptionally dedicated to the education and care of special needs students. As a nurse in the Transition Services Department in Lake County, Jake works daily with 150 special needs students, ages 18–21, with a variety of disabilities. As many of the individuals are medically fragile and wheelchair-dependent, Jake’s primary responsibility is clinical care for routine, emergent and urgent medical situations. However, Jake’s role is much more than just providing medical care. Because many of her students have multiple disabilities and face other challenges, Jake has developed a “total care” plan for each young adult that addresses not only medical issues, but mental health, wellness, safety and behavioral needs as well. Through her “whole-person” approach, she provides compassionate care for each student inside and out of the classroom and coordinates the continuation of consistent care through the involvement of the student’s family and health care providers. A graduate of Capital University in Columbus, Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Jake spent the first 15 years of her career working in a variety of health care fields where she held several sought-after executive positions. Although she was highly regarded in her corporate role, she felt that she could be doing more to make a difference in people’s lives. Jake decided eight years ago to reroute her career and became the Registered Nurse for the Special Education District of Lake County, where she continually strives to improve the availability and quality of health care for youth with special needs. 2008 Super StarS in Community nurSing About the Runner-Up and Finalists Teresa Heaton, MPH, RN, was named runner-up for the 2008 VNA Super Star in Community Nursing Award and received $10,000 for her commitment to public health nursing in Kane County, where she serves as Director of Family Health for the Kane County Health Department. Ms. Heaton is passionate about improving the health of mothers and babies in her community and across the state of Illinois, advocating for those who are at high risk for low birth weight, premature birth and infant death. She founded the Kane County Prenatal Committee, which has resulted in earlier prenatal care, increased developmental screening, and the implementation of pilot screening programs for domestic violence and depression. She was also instrumental in the development of an intensive nurse home visit program that features nurse-family partnerships. Ingrid Forsberg, RN, MSN, APRN, BC, was named a Super Star finalist and received $5,000 for her work as a Nurse Practitioner at the Mercy-Dunbar Health Center. Ms. Forsberg has spent the past eight years expertly addressing the health questions and needs of over 1,500 high school students who visit her schoolbased health center located on the city’s underserved south side. Her accomplishments include developing a system that resulted in a 97 percent increase in school immunization rates. Monica Ryan, DNP, APN, CNP, also a finalist for the Super Star award receiving $5,000, works as an Assistant Professor and Health Center Director at Saint Xavier University. Ms. Ryan established the university-based, nurse-managed health center at Saint Xavier University in 2005 to serve both the community and student population. The center provides care to the campus and surrounding community with 50 percent of the population either under or uninsured. She also collaborated with the ward’s Alderman to provide screening services and immunizations to hundreds of residents. Vna SCholarShip program The VNA Scholarship Program is another means by which VNA works to preserve community-based services and promote community-focused nursing careers. Scholarships are awarded through Loyola and Rush Universities to students in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs; in return, recipients agree to practice for at least two years after graduation in a Chicago communityor home-based organization serving the medically underserved. Stacy Arriola (right) Loyola University Neihoff School of Nursing Angela Hartt (left) Rush University College of Nursing About the ABSN Scholarship Recipients Stacy Arriola graduated from Loyola University Neihoff School of Nursing this past May with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She was accepted to the ABSN program in May 2007, following her graduation from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Community Health and was continued on back 2008 Vna aBSn SCholarShip reCipientS About the ABSN Scholarship Recipients – continued... recognized for her academic achievements. Ms. Arriola has volunteered since high school, and it was her college coursework in community and public health, combined with her healthcare related extracurricular activities, which helped her to realize her goal to become a community nurse. Ms. Arriola, who received $33,123 toward tuition and fees, plans to eventually return to school to study to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. Angela Hartt was accepted to Rush University College of Nursing ABSN program in the fall of 2007 and will complete her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in December 2008. Ms. Hartt also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and German (2001) from St. Norbert College in Wisconsin, and completed her PreNursing coursework in 2007 at Truman College in Chicago. Ms. Hartt served in Kenya as a Peace Corps volunteer from 2002-2005, and it was during these 3½ years of field experience teaching HIV prevention that she discovered her passion for communitybased nursing. Ms. Hartt, who received $32,480 toward tuition and fees, plans to one day become a leader among nurse practitioners in community health. absn scholars mission-directed funding G R A N TS 2 0 0 8 Grants FY08: a statIstICaL BrEaKDOWn Grants FY08: mIssIOn-DIrECtED FunDInG Grant appLICatIOn GuIDELInEs & prOCEDurEs VNA hAs for more thAN focused its efforts on making a difference to the health of the medically underserved, first as a service provider, and, since 1996, exclusively as a grantmaking foundation. We take seriously the lessons learned from our efforts over the years, and look at each funding cycle as an opportunity to apply and further our learning. Our FY ’08 grants describe a diverse assortment of grant purposes, populations and amounts. They are a mixture of old and new, conventional and unconventional, and independence and collaboration. But whatever the differences in our grants, they all share two factors in common. First, all are required to assess their impact through measurable outcomes, allowing us to analyze the results of our funding decisions and to share our successes—and sometimes disappointments— with others seeking to address the same issues. The other common factor in all of our grants? Each represents our most sincere and concerted effort to make a difference in the lives of the medically disenfranchised populations we seek to assist. 100 yeArs Grants FY08: a statIstICaL BrEaKDOWn Grants FY08: mIssIOn-DIrECtED FunDInG Advocate Charitable Foundation $30,000 Chicago Family Health Center $5,000 Toward staff salaries and supplies for its Mobile Dental Program. AIDS Foundation of Chicago In support of a nurse to provide home-based health and supportive services to residents of its supportive housing programs. American Indian Center $60,000 Toward on-site health care for children and adults at seven homeless shelters on the south side of Chicago. Chicago Health Connection Toward a program that includes outreach, screening, health education and referrals for American Indians. Casa Central $55,220 For a breastfeeding counselor for women living in the Washington Park and Grand Boulevard neighborhoods. Chicago Women in Philanthropy $25,000 For grantor/grantee networking luncheon. Chinese American Service League $1,820 For nursing staff for a program to enhance independent functioning skills of low-income Hispanic elderly. Centro Comunitario Juan Diego $15,000 Toward the salary of a nurse for this program providing homemaking and preventive health services for homebound senior citizens. Circle Family Healthcare Network $45,000 To help provide outreach and health education home visits by Community Health Promoters. Centro de Salud Esperanza $20,000 Toward a mobile healthcare van serving thirteen emergency and transitional housing sites. Community Health $50,000 Support of a Nurse Manager position at a clinic for the medically underserved on Chicago’s southwest side. Communities in Schools of Chicago $60,000 Toward the salaries and benefits of three nurses at this free clinic. For salary support for nurse practitioners at this agency serving low-income families in the western suburbs. Connections for the Homeless $71,500 Community Nurse Health Association $51,528 To coordinate with schools and service providers to help deliver health services in more than 150 Chicago public schools. $40,000 For the health services program at this shelter for homeless adults. $30,000 Deborah’s Place Toward the salary of the Health Services Advocate at this shelter for homeless and transitioning women. DuPage Community Clinic $15,000 Goldie’s Place To construct a dental operatory to provide services for people who are homeless. Grantmakers in Health $20,000 For salaries of nurses assisting in obesity reduction and chronic disease management at this free clinic. Erie Family Health Center $50,000 To support grantmaking skills workshops. Health and Medicine Policy Research Group $2,500 For oral health care for low-income children, pregnant women and adults with diabetes. Erie Family Health Center $41,666 To fund six Albert Schweitzer Nursing fellows, post-baccalaureate nursing students who volunteer at community-based sites in medically underserved areas of Chicago. Housing Opportunities for Women $42,000 To purchase specialized workstations necessary to launch and implement an Electronic Health Record System. Family Christian Health Center $50,000 Toward the salary of the Patient Navigator and other Health Services staff within its Supportive Housing Program. Howard Area Community Center $30,000 For the salary of a nurse to provide primary care services at this community-based health center in Harvey. Family Health Partnership Clinic $73,800 To support the salary of a nurse at this agency serving low income families in Rogers Park. Howard Brown Health Center $42,957 For increased Nurse Practitioner time to work with patients with diabetes. Family Network $35,000 For a prevention-based early intervention program for at-risk Lake County families with young children. Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice $25,000 Toward the provision of healthcare at a center offering a variety of comprehensive services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and/or homeless youth. Jane Addams Hull House Association $20,000 To help recruit, train and sustain a core of Spanish-speaking volunteers, and develop Spanishlanguage training and education materials. $5,000 Toward medical case management for formerly homeless individuals and families who live in supportive housing. $27,500 Illinois Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped For its Dental House Calls program of free or discounted dental care for disabled or elderly Chicago residents. Infant Welfare Society of Chicago $25,000 North Side Housing & Supportive Services For a Nurse Practitioner to staff a clinic at this shelter for homeless men. PCC Community Wellness Center $27,500 every cent counts Loyola University Neihoff School of Nursing For the salary of a lead nurse for its Women’s Clinic in Chicago’s West Logan Square neighborhood. $60,000 To improve the health outcomes of pregnant women, new mothers and their children through prenatal classes, home visits and hospital outreach. Pillars $60,000 Scholarships for two Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing students who will work for at least two years after graduation aiding the medically underserved. Marillac Social Center $62,423 For health services for women and children in Pillars domestic violence program. Pilsen Homeless Services $25,000 For the salary of a Nurse Practitioner to provide primary care and health services to low-income persons on Chicago’s west side. Maryville Academy $75,000 To support healthcare services and nursing outreach. Planned Parenthood Chicago Area $20,000 Toward two nurses who staff the Crisis Nursery which provides respite care for families of young children. Near North Health Services Corporation $28,000 Toward free or low cost colposcopy services to low-income women and teens. Rape Victim Advocates $45,000 General operating support for this agency providing medical/legal advocacy, counseling and education to survivors of sexual assault. $20,000 Toward a nurse coordinator for a new schoolbased health center on Chicago’s south side. The Night Ministry $40,000 The Research and Education Foundation of the Michael Reese Medical Staff $41,321 For salary support of a nurse and a program coordinator staffing its Outreach and Health Ministry Bus. $55,000 To provide transcultural nursing services that will help to eliminate barriers to breast and cervical cancer screening for uninsured, low-income Chinese women. Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago To provide flu and pneumonia vaccinations to the medically underserved. Seguin Services, Inc. $25,000 Thresholds To initiate on-site nursing services at a facility for persons with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness. Tri-City Health Partnership $40,000 In support of a pediatric nurse to provide healthcare services to children with disabilities who are placed in foster care. South Suburban PADS $25,000 General operating support for this Kane County clinic for the medically underserved. University of Illinois at Chicago $20,000 Toward two nurses who staff the Homeless Healthcare Network. St. Bernard Hospital and Health Care Center $31,000 To reestablish medical services at the schoolbased health center at Gladstone Elementary on the near west side. Westside Health Authority $75,000 Toward the salary of a Nurse Practitioner providing health services and health education in a mobile health clinic. $75,000 Toward specialized health screenings for residents of the Austin community. YWCA of Evanston/North Shore $60,000 Suburban Primary Health Care Council $30,174 In support of its program allowing the uninsured to receive care from local primary care physicians at minimal charge. Super Star Nurse Award Toward health education for residents of the Y’s two programs for women who have experienced domestic abuse. YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago $15,000 To recognize an outstanding community/public health nurse, and five finalists. Teen Living Programs $35,000 To provide training about sexual assault to ER nurses and other health professionals, and for crisis intervention services for sexual assault victims. $35,000 For continued support of its health program for youth who are homeless. Teen Parent Connection $65,000 To provide Doula services to pregnant teens in DuPage County. $25,000 GranD tOtaL: 58 Grants $2,180,909 staying on target C H IC AG O, grant application gUiDElinES The grantmaking goal of the VNA Foundation is to support homeand community-based healthcare and health services for the medically underserved in Cook and the collar counties, with a focus on Chicago. To meet this goal, program, general operating, and capital grants will be considered which are in support of but not limited to the following areas. ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ Home healthcare services Community and school-based services Primary care and chronic disease management Health promotion Priority will be given to programs in which care is provided by nurses. All grants must: ◆ Have measurable goals and objectives ◆ Benefit the medically underserved ◆ Be submitted by an organization exempt from income tax under sec. 501 (c)(3), and designated as a public charity under section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. VNA Foundation does not provide grants to section 509(a)(3) “supporting organizations.” Please attach to each letter of intent (or other initial communication with the foundation) your most recent IRS Determination Letter stating your status as a 501(c)(3) organization with a 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) designation. Grant application Guidelines & procedures grant application procEDUrES Review carefully the Guidelines for Grant Applicants listed on the front to determine your eligibility for consideration. If you wish to apply, contact the VNA Foundation office or visit us on the web at www.vnafoundation.net to learn current submission deadlines. Send three copies of a letter of intent of 2-3 pages which briefly describes the project or purpose for which you seek funding, including: the overall goal, the specific outcome measures demonstrating the impact of the grant (beyond just volume measures), a workplan of how the objectives are to be achieved, the identity of the key staff, the specific amount to be requested, the total time frame, and your most recent IRS Determination Letter stating your status as a 501(c)(3) organization with further designation as 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) public charity. Facsimiles and emails are not accepted. Based upon review of this letter, you will either be asked to submit two complete copies of a full proposal (including a completed Chicago Area Grant Application Form, a narrative of no more than 7 pages, budget with narrative, and attachments) or be advised to look elsewhere for funding. Address the letter of intent to: Robert N. DiLeonardi Executive Director VNA Foundation 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3118 Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 214-1521