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- Prenatal & Infant Care Webinar
- St. Joe's Responses to COVID-19
- Rapid Response Grants
- Community Needs Survey II
- Masks Help Grantees Face COVID-19
- Financial Technical Assistance Webinars
- Finding Resources for COVID-19
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Prenatal & Infant Care Webinar
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Lisa Blanchard, Vice President of Prevention, SCAN | Libby Martin, Case Management Director, ECHO, Gear-Up, and Community Partners, Lutheran Social Services of Indiana |
Kristi Stanley, Intake Director & Grants Manager, Lutheran Social Services of Indiana
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Prenatal & Infant Care Providers:
How To Assess, Assist, and Refer Families
for Financial, Housing, Food & Other Needs
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Many new families in northeast Indiana are now facing financial challenges with reduced or lost wages. They are struggling with securing food, paying rent/mortgages, and need basic assistance to ensure their family has a safe, stable, nurturing environment for a healthy home.
The good news is that there are government and private resources available for these families, but it is important to act quickly as some funding will run out at the end of June. Local professionals will share best practices to assess your clients' needs with open questions, and provide tools and resources for you to use, as well as where you can refer your families.
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Thursday, May 7, 2020
11:30AM-12:30PM
Free Zoom Webinar
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COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants
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Women's Care Center has continuously distributed diapers, baby formula and other vital supplies to new families since the first days of the COVID-19 Pandemic (pre-facemasks) due to support from the St. Joe Foundation's COVID-19 Rapid Response grants.
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Grantees Spotlight:
Community Survey & Women's Care Center
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The mission of the St. Joe Foundation has always been to care for the most vulnerable people in Allen County. So in addition to its regular grant cycles, in the first six weeks, the St. Joe Foundation has also responded with $80,648 to 20 grantees through our COVID-19 Rapid Response grants, to assure those in difficult positions are being helped.
The funding priorities were determined in large part due to a
Community Needs Assessment Survey coordinated by Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deb McMahan, Parkview Mirro Center for Research, St. Joe Foundation, the AWS Foundation, The Lutheran Foundation, and other community leaders. A second survey is now underway for an updated assessment of needs post the release of many government subsidies and six weeks of sheltering in place.
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The first survey revealed many were concerned about accessing food. Simulatenously, in the first days of sheltering in place, many pregnant women reported difficulty in purchasing baby formula. Several non-profits responded and the St. Joe Foundation helped to finance those responses. Women's Care Center was one of the COVID-19 Rapid Response grant recipients, to assure their clients were supported with formula and other essential resources.
In response to receiving support, Women's Care Centers of Fort Wayne Director, Anne Koehl said:
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We are blessed to be able to serve some of the most vulnerable in our community through this COVID crisis. We are still open at two of our locations: Coliseum and W. Jefferson Monday through Friday from 9 AM-5 PM. We are doing pregnancy tests helping our clients have the proof of pregnancy they need for insurance and to establish their prenatal care. We are distributing a lot of formula, and necessary supplies, including over a thousand diapers. We are so grateful for the St. Joe Foundation for your support and encouragement.
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COVID-19 Response Beyond Grantmaking
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With the help of an anonymous donor, the St. Joe
Foundation was able to work with Wellspring and their food distribution program to provide several hundred individuals with reusable, fabric face masks as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
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Foundation Update:
Masks Help Grantees Face COVID-19
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On April 10, the CDC was recommending wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are challenging to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
St. Joe Foundation and one of its Emeritus Board Members were concerned that many, especially those who are isolated and in lower-income households, might have difficulty accessing face masks. The Foundation was able to secure a gift of over 500 face masks from an anonymous donor. Wellspring Interfaith Social Services and Women's Care Center volunteered to distribute the masks to their clients in need as part of their other distribution programs.
The St. Joe Foundation is always looking for ways to support the community beyond grants. If you have ideas for how we can support the health of vulnerable populations, please let us know!
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COVID-19 Technical Support Response
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Foundation Collaboration
:
What Not-For Profits Need to Know About COVID-19 Legislation and Opportunities
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On April 9, the St. Joe Foundation co-hosted a technical assistance webinar. The goal was to connect northeast Indiana non-profits with local professionals for a briefing on the new legal requirements and federal stimulus programs under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to Meg Distler, Executive Distler, who worked with Todd Haines of Haines, Isenbarger & Skiba to design the seminar, "This was another excellent example of the business and philanthropy community coming together to help more than 130 participants in the webinar." This webinar was made possible by the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, the AWS Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, the Foellinger Foundation, the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, Haines Isenbarger & Skiba, Barrett McNagny, and Paychex.
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Finding Resources for COVID-19
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Foundation Update:
Allen County Resources During the COVID-19 Crisis
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For the past 15 years, the St. Joe Foundation has provided free directories to help over 10,000 individuals annually connect with quality, low-cost healthcare in Allen County, Indiana.
St. Joe Foundation has also been philanthropically supporting many local organizations, assisting them to assure everyone has access to basic needs and healthcare. A full listing of our community healthcare providers of low-cost, quality care is available in multiple languages by clicking the button below.
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As the St. Joe Foundation learns of local organizations shifting their operations to safely provide vital supplies and services during the COVID-19 Pandemic to those at greater risk, the Foundation is also compiling that information. This list focuses on the Foundation's four impact areas:
- Prenatal & Infant Care
- Low-Cost Clinics & Medication
- Food & Nutrition
- Immigrant & Refugee Services
If you have additional information, or if you would like to be added to these listings, email Mark Burkholder at MaBurkholder@SJCHF.org.
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A ministry sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.
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