Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Community Assessment identifies top concerns, need for evidence-based programming
After six months of research that included working with more than
40 area organizations and interviews with 80 community members, CoxHealth and Skaggs Foundation have released the Stone and Taney Counties Community Assessment. The document is part of the Stone and Taney Counties Substance Abuse Initiative.
“This document will essentially be our road map moving forward and help guide our community in preventing and reducing substance abuse,” said Substance Abuse Initiative Project Coordinator Marietta Hagan.
Recommendations outlined by the Community Assessment includes developing and monitoring key partnerships with individuals and organizations who can provide initiative growth; develop a data dashboard for community and local organizational use; focus on evidence-based programs; utilize an effective evaluation that focuses on process, outputs and outcomes; introduce and grow research-based programming in the schools to address youth and family needs; and introduce and grow research-based practices for intervention and treatment initiatives based in the community.
“From this point on, we will be coordinating all of our efforts around these recommendations,” Hagan said. “Preventing and reducing substance abuse is no easy task and it will take time and effort, however, with the support of the communities within Stone and Taney counties, this project will have a positive impact for generations to come.”
The Substance Abuse Initiative is a concentrated effort aimed at reducing and preventing substance abuse in Stone and Taney counties. The project, which started in 2016, is led by CoxHealth and funded by a Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Foundation provides $68,000 in scholarships to senior nursing students
While
summertime at College of the Ozarks means a break from classes, for most C of O
students, it’s usually one of the busiest times of the year.
Senior nursing students Courtney Weibel and Samuel Womble |
Senior Cheyenne
Martin, 22, hasn’t had much of a summer break since starting at C of O. In
fact, this summer will be the first summer that her plans do not include
holding down two fulltime jobs – one on campus to cover the cost of her room
and board and one off-campus to help pay fees and living expenses. This summer,
she’ll be focusing her time and energy on learning all she can about being a
nurse.
Martin is one
of 10 C of O senior nursing students receiving a $6,800 scholarship from Skaggs
Foundation to cover the cost of her room and board and other fees incurred
during the final year of her college career.
“This means a
lot to me personally,” says Martin who will be fulfilling her externship
requirements this summer by working 40 hours a week on the step down unit at Cox
Medical Center Branson. “This allows me to focus on my education and not worry
about money so hopefully I can be a better nurse.”
Savannah Peach,
21, says the scholarship lifts a huge burden off her shoulders and will allow
her to keep her focus on her future nursing career.
“My dad is
fully disabled,” she explains. “All of the resources my mom brings in has to go
to support them. This scholarship means that I don’t have to be burdened this
summer with finding the money I need for my last year in school.”
Peach plans to
graduate debt-free and hopes to be able to help her parents once she graduates.
Peach will be
fulfilling her externship in the post-surgical unit at Cox Medical Center
Branson. Following graduation, she plans to remain in the area and work in the
emergency room or critical care unit.
When classes
resume this fall, Peach, Martin and the other nursing students will return to a
very full schedule complete with classes, course requirements and working 15
hours a week on-campus to cover tuition.
The Armstrong
McDonald School of Nursing was founded by and is directed by Dr. Janice
Williams. The school celebrated its 10th year in 2017. The school
has achieved outstanding results since inception -- earning accreditation,
producing amazing results on the National
Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN®), and
showing a 100 percent satisfaction rate among employers and alumni.
The senior nursing student scholarships were made possible
through a grant to College of the Ozarks through the Skaggs Legacy Endowment.
Skaggs Legacy Endowment was established in 2013 and is a restricted endowment
fund dedicated to improving access to health care, supporting healthy
lifestyles, child and family safety, dental care, mental health and substance
abuse. Since the inception of the endowment fund, Skaggs Foundation has awarded
more than $3 million to organizations serving Stone and Taney counties.
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