S.C. BlueCross Foundation to Grant $1.4 Million to Support First Time Mothers in Low Country
April 13, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – April 13, 2009 – The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation will present a grant of $1,455,238 to implement the Nurse-Family Partnership program in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties to support first time mothers and their infants.
The celebratory check presentation event will begin at noon, April 17, in Ballroom C at the Charleston Area Convention Center, North Charleston, 5001 Coliseum Drive.
The BlueCross Foundation is proud to partner with The Duke Endowment, South Carolina First Steps, the Children’s Trust of South Carolina and the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to expand the nationally known Nurse-Family Partnership program in South Carolina.
The Nurse-Family Partnership, which will be implemented by S.C. DHEC Region 7 and the First Steps programs in each of the three counties, will work to improve the health, well-being and self-sufficiency of low-income, first-time parents and their children through an evidence-based, nurse home visitation program. Independent analyses of this program have shown that for every dollar invested, a community can see a return of more than five dollars.
This is the second grant the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation has awarded for this program in South Carolina, following one presented for Horry County last month.
“Studies have shown that when the Nurse-Family Partnership program was implemented in other locations, it resulted in better health and well being for the mothers and children as well as a net return to society in general,” said Foundation Executive Director Harvey Galloway.
The Nurse-Family Partnership (www.nursefamilypartnership.org) is a nonprofit headquartered in Denver, Colo., that provides service to communities in implementing and sustaining this program.
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation is a licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Its mission is to promote the health of South Carolinians and to expand access to health care for the economically disadvantaged by supporting integrated research, education and community service.
