When I was a teen my family friends used to throw Mary Kay Cosmetics parties. Everything came in the color pink and the best part was hearing the story of Mary Kay Ash who found her life’s work by establishing her own direct sales business with $5,000 and the help of her son. Not only had she never used animal testing with her products, but her company won an award from the United Nations Environmental Program for leadership in environmental policies within the cosmetic industry. However, one of her best legacies has been her support of women and the quality of life they lead.

This week’s pick: The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (MKACF), founded in 1996 by Mary Kay Ash, the late head of Mary Kay Cosmetics, brings support to women who lack opportunity and financial resources. Currently applications for the 2008 Shelter Grant Program are being accepted. The Foundation awards $20,000 grants to 150 women’s shelters across the United States. Among the 2007 grantees were shelters in Saint Paul, Wilmar and Red Wing, Minnesota.

Monies received must be used for the operating budget of the shelter with the only exception being for staff travel. Submissions are due by Monday, June 30, 2008. For the Shelter Grant application, click here.

Other areas of interest that are funded through the Ash Foundation are cancer research and violence prevention for women.

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My update since I left the Improve Group: Hi everyone! It has been too long since I wrote a blog on the Improve Group website! After three years of working with my wonderful colleagues at IG, I was fortunate to be offered an internship position with a program called Steps to a Healthier MN at the Minnesota Department of Health. After completing my Master’s in Public Health this past December, I was hired with Steps as a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (putting my evaluation background to work!). Since I began at MDH, I have primarily worked on legislation called the Statewide Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). SHIP is essentially an expanded version of Steps and is intended to improve the lives and health of all Minnesotans.

Here’s a quick description.

SHIP was developed in response to the 2007 Legislature’s request to develop a plan for statewide health promotion to address the rising cost of health and health care in our state. SHIP will help Minnesotans live longer, better, healthier lives by reducing the burden of chronic diseases by addressing physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use. After being presented to numerous legislative committees and the Governor’s Health Care Transformation Task Force this past fall, SHIP was written into legislative bills calling for overall health care reform in Minnesota. The overall health care reform legislation focuses on improving the affordability, accessibility, and quality of health care as well as improving the health of Minnesotans.

At the end of the legislative session in mid-May, Governor Pawlenty and the 2008 Minnesota State Legislature came to an agreement on the health reform bill. Excitingly, their agreement includes initial funding for SHIP! The funding ($20 million in 2010 and $27 million in 2011) is one of the most substantial contributions a state government has ever made to population based chronic disease prevention ever so I am absolutely thrilled to be part of such an amazing program.

We will spend the next year planning for implementation until funding begins in July 2009. I will happily send updates but if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at brooke.ahlquist@health.state.mn.us.

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I hinted at it in my last blog and I am happy to say it happened. Minnesota has actually seen good weather. I was even able to have an outdoor birthday party for my oldest with 10 children ranging in age from 7 to 13. Thank goodness they didn’t all have to pile into our place for long. With the warm weather and sunlight comes another concern, however, and that is skin protection. We are all pulling out the bottles of SPF 15 and up and trying to keep our families safe from damaging rays. I found a very unique grant opportunity this week that will provide children with a nice place out of the sun when they need it.

This week’s pick: The American Academy of Dermatology’s (Academy) Shade Structure Program makes grants for the purchase of permanent equipment to provide shade from the sun’s ultraviolet rays in outdoor areas. “The Academy receives support for this program from Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company.”

Grant awards are $2,000 each and grantees are also given a sign by the Academy to place near their shade structure which promotes the importance of sun safety. You must be a 501(c)(3) organizations that serves children and teenagers, ages 18 and younger to be eligible. Those applying will need a member dermatologist of the Academy to sponsor the application and send a letter of support. Their website provides a locator for dermatologists. Click here for application download.

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I am skeptical, but hope springs eternal that we may be seeing the first signs of Spring here in Minnesota. I want this to be so, because cabin fever has hit hard in our household. My kids and I are dying to bike. There are so many beautiful places to take a bike ride in our area and we all need the fresh air and exercise after the never-ending winter. This Grant Gazing is for everyone who loves the bicycling experience and appreciates the good things that come from leaving the car at home.

This week’s pick: The Bikes Belong Grants Program of the Bikes Belong Coalition. The Coalition “welcomes grant applications from organizations and agencies within the United States that are committed to putting more people on bicycles more often.” Possible projects include bike trails, lanes, routes, Mountain Bike Areas and BMX facilities. The grant application areas are facilities and advocacy projects.

Bikes Belong aims their grants at nonprofits that support bicycle advocacy and public agencies and departments with this same goal. Groups that encourage support and growth of bicycling can receive grants that generally range from $5,000 to $10,000. Grant rounds are in cycles through the year and the next three are May 26, August 25 and November 24, 2008. Submission is through online application.

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The Improve Group’s work for the Minnesota Department of Human Services has given us insight into the intricate process of accurate, up-to-date health records about program participants. Providers and health departments have a multitude of details to track to help ensure the best care for individuals. The opportunities I am highlighting today assist in the efforts to maintain valid health care recording systems.

This week’s pick: The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is offering an Electronic Health Record System Revolving Loan Program to community clinics, rural hospitals and physician clinics in towns of less than 50,000 and nursing facilities and other health care providers. These loans are at no interest for six-years and will “assist in financing the installation or support of interoperable health record systems.” Those interested in applying need to submit the online pre-application form describing your project and providing preliminary budgeting information. Grants are made on a first come-first served basis.

MDH is also offering Electronic Health Record Grants for readiness assessment ($50,000) and implementation ($750,000). Applications are available July 14, 2008 with submissions due September 8th. Contact Anne Schloegel for information on either of these opportunities at:
Anne.Schloegel@health.state.mn.us.

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