Medica Foundation 2005 Second Cycle Funding Puts Major Focus on Health Disparities; Prevention, Health Advocacy and Patient Safety Also Addressed.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Medica Foundation today announced that it made grants totaling nearly $630,000 in its second funding cycle for 2005. The Foundation also announced its funding priorities for 2006.

Addressing disparities in health care was a major focus of the 2005 second cycle grants, with $248,010 going toward projects that are designed to resolve gaps in health care for diverse populations. Other areas of funding included health care initiatives in Greater Minnesota and healthy living.

A 2003 study by the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health found that people of color experience more barriers to access and utilization of health services than do their European American counterparts. Many of the projects funded through the Medica Foundation are designed to address barriers that contribute to health disparities:

--The Mental Health Collective received a $48,850 grant for its Bridges: Cross-cultural Competency, Connection and Well-Being project, which provides tools and cultural competency training to clinical staff to reduce barriers that prevent African immigrants from accessing needed mental health services.

--Twin Cities Public Television and its Somali Women's Health Awareness Project received a $44,475 grant to provide broad access to culturally appropriate breast health information.

--Ain Dah Yung Center received $35,000 for Oyate Nawajin Mental Health Services Partnership Expansion Project. Oyate Nawajin is a culturally-specific mental health program for Native Americans.

--A $50,000 grant was provided to the Neighborhood House's Hmong Community Plain Talk Replication Project, which assists neighborhood groups in Ramsey County in creating and implementing culturally appropriate strategies to reduce sexually transmitted infections and prevent teen pregnancies.

"Minnesota is becoming a more culturally diverse place. The Medica Foundation is pleased to provide grants that help these diverse populations navigate the health care system and gain access to needed services and information," said Rob Longendyke, executive director.

Benefiting Greater Minnesota

A number of the Medica Foundation's grants were provided to organizations that benefit Greater Minnesota. These include projects with Medica's provider partners and other collaborative resources. Examples include:

--A $50,000 grant to the Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation for its Critical Care Conference Website project. The statewide project will provide weekly video Critical Care Conferences for medical professionals to improve critical emergency care in rural Minnesota.

--Another $50,000 grant was provided to the Sustainable Resources Center for its Leadie Eddie Mobile Lead Testing project. The project will be implemented in the following 25 counties: Aitkin, Becker, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Crow Wing, Isanti, Koochiching, Lake, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Norman, Ottertail, Pine, Polk, Rice, St. Louis, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wilkin.

The total amount of grants funded in each category was as follows:

                                                         Amount funded
Health Care Disparities                                      $248,010
Greater Minnesota Health Care Initiatives                    $141,871
Healthy Living                                               $134,148
Programs for high risk/underserved populations/general
 health improvement                                          $103,201

2006 Funding Priorities

The Medica Foundation also announced its funding priorities for 2006.

First cycle funding priorities

--Helping Seniors Live Independently: Recipients may receive individual grants up to $50,000 for projects that support seniors in maintaining their health, well-being, independence and quality of life through access to appropriate resources and systems.

--Behavioral Health: Filling the Gaps: Recipients may receive individual grants up to $75,000 for projects to develop capabilities or change processes related to behavioral health care service interventions, accessibility and sustainability for Minnesota Health Care Program (MCHP) enrollees served by Medica State Public Programs.

--Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities: Recipients may receive individual grants up to $50,000 for projects designed to identify gaps in health care for diverse populations and to develop programming related to the identified racial and ethnic disparities for MCHP enrollees served by Medica State Public Programs.

Applications for the Cycle 1 funding priorities will be accepted from March 1, 2006 through April 28, 2006.

Second cycle funding priorities:

--Health Care Literacy: Turning Information Into Knowledge: Recipients may receive individual grants up to $30,000 for projects designed to equip individuals with access to the information they need to make informed decisions about their health care.

--Healthy Living: Recipients may receive individual grants up to $30,000 for projects designed to modify and enhance lifestyles to achieve maximal health status and quality of life. Priority will be given to programs that demonstrate behavior changes in lifestyle involving physical activity, nutrition and weight management.

--Addressing the Health Care Needs of Greater Minnesota: Recipients may receive individual grants up to $30,000 for projects outside of the seven-county metro area that establish collaborative relationships between organization and services with a focus on access to health care services, mental health and substance abuse, health care for seniors and/or teen health, or preventive care for MCHP enrollees served by Medica State Public Programs.

--Partnership for Prevention: Recipients may receive individual grants up to $75,000 for projects to improve utilization and quality of preventive care for MCHP enrollees served by Medica State Public Programs, including:

- Well-child screenings        - Asthma treatment and education

  - Cancer screening             - Prenatal and postnatal care

  - Diabetes screening,          - Screening for sexually
    testing and education          transmitted diseases

Applications for the Cycle 2 funding priorities will be accepted from June 1, 2006 through July 28, 2006.

Application forms and instructions can be downloaded from the Medica Foundation section of www.medica.com. Interested organizations should review the eligibility criteria, program goals and application process before submitting a proposal.

Only 501(c)(3) organizations and government agencies are eligible to receive funding. To qualify for funding, organizations should operate within Medica's service areas in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and northern Iowa. Applicants interested in funding to support MHCP enrollees must operate in Medica's State Public Programs service area.

About the Medica Foundation

The Medica Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable grant-making foundation and a sister organization to Medica Health Plans, a Minnesota-based nonprofit HMO. The Foundation generally seeks to fund community-based programs and initiatives that can provide sustainable, measurable improvements in the availability, access and quality of healthcare. Email: [e-mail]; Phone: [phone].

About Medica

Medica (www.medica.com) is Minnesota's largest HMO, largest PPO and leading non-profit and independent provider of health plans. Medica has 1.3 million members and nearly 27,000 providers in a regional health care network service area that is available to 98 percent of Minnesotans and a growing number of adjoining counties in Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. Medica also offers national network coverage to employers who also have employees outside the Medica regional network. Medica has the highest accreditation, Excellent, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA(R)) for the commercial health plans it provides to Minnesotans and North Dakotans and for Medicaid HMO plans. Medica's vision is to become the community's health plan of choice, trusted for its integrity, respected for its service, and admired for its commitment to innovation and efficiency.