Foster Youth Make ‘Goals’ in Football Tuition Toss Event
Summer 2017 came with an opportunity for four graduating foster youths. During A&C’s Tuition Toss event, funds and footballs were up for grabs as four soon-to-be college freshmen competed for $5,000 of college tuition money. The goal: throw as many footballs as possible through a single hole in 30 seconds. Sponsored by Dr. Pepper, the Tuition Toss challenge is intended to encourage foster children to further their education by providing a financial boost. The winner of the coveted $5,000, was able to land 11 footballs through the hole of the 8 foot structure. His winnings will be transmitted to Vincennes University as he begins his educational adventure this fall. The remaining participants all split another $5,000, each receiving a total of $1,665. Those grads are grateful for the additional funds as they journey to Ball State, IUPUI, and Ivy Tech. Family & friends of the youth were invited, as well as the foster care staff, to celebrate their truly momentous accomplishment. This was the second Tuition Toss for Adult & Child Foster Youth. Dr. Pepper has been a dear and valued community partner to A&C, committed to empowering foster youth in pursing their passions.
A&C Joins City of Indianapolis, Anthem, and Partners in Housing to Aid Persons Experiencing Homelessness
Adult & Child Health was recently announced as a partner in the Housing and Medicaid Services Pilot Program, led by the City of Indianapolis, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Partners in Housing. Mayor Joe Hogsett held a press conference at the Blue Triangle Residence Hall to unveil the project. Also being referred to as the ‘Blue Triangle Pilot’, the initiative will support Anthem members experiencing homelessness by improving overall health and quality of life, fostering social connections and supporting housing independence. Mayor Hogsett announced this first-of-its-kind pilot after declaring his commitment to reducing Hoosier homelessness earlier this year. “Without our collective dedication to our city’s most vulnerable neighbors, today’s announcement would not be possible,” said Mayor Hogsett at the press conference. “The pilot program is designed to connect participants with sustainable, secure housing that will support autonomy, provide connection to wrap around services, and improve residents’ health and quality of life.” The program will only be available to Anthem Medicaid members and will target individuals experiencing homelessness who may have significant mental health and/or substance use issues, multiple physical health issues, and need access to acute, care crisis services. Anthem, in addition to providing customary Medicaid benefits, will fund and support intensive health care and social services navigation services and intensive tenancy and housing support programs. The City of Indianapolis will provide funding for beds and facility costs. “We have effective programs to help persons experiencing homelessness, but more work is needed to align efforts across agencies,” said Allen Brown, CEO of Adult & Child Health. “The Blue Triangle Project combines transitional housing, job training, and healthcare services, including mental health and addictions services, so that Anthem members can break through and overcome the devastating cycle of homelessness.” The pilot program, designed as a short term initiative, began serving and placing participants on May 1st, and will operate for one year. The Blue Triangle Residence Hall, located at 725 N Pennsylvania St, can house up to 50 pilot participants at once. Two Adult & Child staff members are embedded in the Residence Hall, providing outreach as well as health care and social services navigation.
Northwood Community Health Center – Open House
#thisiswhy The heart of our mission is our unwavering dedication to hope, wellness, & recovery. We believe in empowering people to reach their full potential; overcoming obstacles & forging new paths of self-reliance. Adult & Child Health recently celebrated the opening of our Community Health Center in Franklin. The event gathered A&C staff, board members, and essential stakeholders at the 15,000 square foot clinic. A cross-section of speakers from the medical, mental health, and education communities assembled to share their perspectives on the impact of the work being done at the center. Their words were innovative, empowering, and encouraging of a healthier Johnson County. While touring the grounds and meeting with direct care and leadership staff members, attendees could quite literally see Adult & Child Health’s commitment to providing affordable, high quality health services to the most vulnerable of populations. The center was quickly identified by attendees as a stigma-free environment with devoted employees who provide individualized, compassionate care. Adult & Child Health views the Franklin expansion as a vital step in carrying out our mission. It furthers our ability to remove barriers and provide convenient access to total healthcare services. We understand that true wellness is the sum of a healthy body & a healthy mind. Thank you to all who attended in person and in spirit, those who have worked tirelessly to bring this whole health for all concept to fruition, and those who continue to champion the mission of Adult & Child Health.
New Program Provides Educational Advocacy for Foster Care Youth at A&C
ADULT & CHILD HEALTH ANNOUNCES NEW GRANT FUNDING Indianapolis, IN – Adult & Child Health has received a grant totaling $120,000 from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to improve educational outcomes for students in foster care. This grant affords provision of The Educational Success for Foster Children Program, which provides mentoring, educational advocacy, and academic support for foster care youth at risk of falling behind in grade level or dropping out. The award comes at a pivotal time for Adult & Child Health, a Licensed Child Placement Agency, Community Mental Health Center, and Primary Care Provider, as the number of children in foster care rapidly continues to climb; a direct correlation with Indiana’s opioid and parental substance use epidemic. Educational outcomes for youth in foster care are tragically poor. Recent data reflect many barriers these children face in the pursuit of an education. Foster care youth have significantly higher rates of absenteeism and disciplinary referrals than their peers. They are twice as likely to repeat a school year; over 80% percent are held back as early as third grade, the year they begin state standardized testing. “We are all impacted when we hear stories of the trauma, abuse and neglect that the youth in foster care have experienced in their young lives. Our efforts to keep them safe and protected are important, but our ability to improve their long term outcomes rests in our successes in securing their education,” said Stephanie Yoder, Chief Operating Officer. “Adult & Child is seeking to change the outcomes for youth in our care. Our education advocacy services, led by Tracie Mansfield, support out-of-home youth by breaking down barriers to success in education.” Mansfield, a licensed teacher and agency’s Educational Advocate, identifies unmet education needs and provides workable strategies to allow foster youth in Adult & Child’s care attain their educational goals. Through training and support, she and her team equip foster parents to advocate on behalf of the children in their care. They coordinate tutoring and assistance to ensure educational credit recovery, remediation, and ongoing access to academic programs outside of the school day. The educationally vulnerable youth in foster care are better positioned for long term self-sustainability and success with the support and resources provided by this award and unique program design. The grant to Adult & Child Health represents one of 28 awarded to nonprofit organizations in Indiana by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust in 2016. “During her career, Nina Mason Pulliam shared her financial success and business leadership skills with many charities. She had a keen awareness of challenges that face our community and would take great pride in the outstanding work being done by organizations like Adult & Child Health,” said Carol Schilling, Trustee chair. “Through her Trust, we continue to build on her legacy, which clearly reflects her heart for philanthropy.” For more information about Adult and Child Health, please contact Britney Veach, Director of Mission Advancement, at 317-982-0047 or [email protected] or visit www.adultandchild.org.
