The Texas County Health Department is among 84 in the state that will share about $13 million in grants, thanks to a special funding effort announced by the Missouri Foundation of Health. Texas County’s share is expected to total about $99,000.
The one-time grant is earmarked to improve the departments’ abilities to meet health needs in their respective communities.
Jackie Smith, director of the Texas County Health Department, said each health department is eligible for a base grant of $50,000 plus at least $2 per area resident based on 2005 population data. That translates into about $99,000 for Texas County. Depending on the size of the grant, disbursements will be made over one, two or three years.
The grants must be used for infrastructure improvements to enhance the local health department’s delivery of services. This can include the purchase of equipment supporting information technology, communication services, transportation improvements, health-related educational programs or renovated related to improving client services. Grants cannot be used for operational, staffing or travel expenses or other overhead costs.
“We are excited about the opportunity to provide a much-needed infusion of funding to enhance Missouri’s local health departments and believe it will have a significant, positive impact on the health of Missouri’s uninsured, underinsured and underserved residents,” said Dr. James Kimmey, president and CEO of the foundation.
“At a time when Missouri’s health departments are struggling with reduced funding, their annual budgets often barely cover the cost of meeting the agencies’ critical community health responsibilities. A health department can quickly find itself with outdated computers, telephones and diagnostic equipment, worn-out transportation vehicles and offices and examination rooms in disrepair, and with no way to address those problems except to redirect funds from health care services.”