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Heartland Foundation Recognizes Grant Recipients at Trustee Meeting

CollaborACTION and Outcomes for Kids Grant Recipients were recently recognized at Heartland Foundation’s Board of Trustee’s Meeting

Two CollaborACTION grant recipients were selected to receive funding this year and were recognized. These grants are geared to provide startup funding for new, collaborative, innovative projects that have the potential to impact education attainment and workforce development.

The first project funded in the amount of $29,000 was the proposed New SSM Health Preschool & Child Care Center. Collaborative partners include SSM Health St. Francis Hospital, Community Services, Inc., Northwest Missouri State University, and Maryville Parks and Recreation. This innovative project will:

  • Meet the growing needs of early childhood development;
  • Include gross motor spaces that consist of a womb center, a mother space, and a unique partnership to address large muscle development; and
  • Utilize occupational therapists and pediatric behavioral health physicians to help implement the project.

A second award of $4,437 was granted to fund a collaborative project including Northwest Missouri State University, Northwest Foundation, Maryville R-II School District, Maryville R-II Educational Foundation, and various artists. The project intends to:

  • Provide an opportunity for interested students to learn how passion for the arts can be transformed into a fulfilling career path, and
  • Highlight various art forms (i.e. music, visual arts, and dance/theatre movement).

Five recipients were recognized for receiving the Outcomes for Kids Grants. These grants provide funding for new, collaborative, innovative ideas designed to achieve measurable impact on the health and well-being of our region’s children and youth.

The first project, Cooperative Board Games Help Teach Cooperation, receives $2,270. This project is a collaborative effort of Maryville Head Start, Houts & Home Publications, and NWMSU college students. This effort:

  • Uses original cooperative board games geared toward young children who work together to accomplish goals;
  • Measures the impact of these new learning activities; and
  • Develops early learning and social skills.

Educate the Educators will receive $11,962 for a unique middle and high school Physical Education program to be implemented in schools. The collaborators include Midwest Adaptive Sports, St. Joseph School District, Ability KC, The Whole Person, and the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. This project intends to:

  • Instruct all students as if they have special needs;
  • Provide PE teachers with skills and activities to use in their classes; and
  • Assist students in understanding how to overcome challenges and realize that special needs youth have skills.

Growing Teacher Project is a partnership of Community Action Partnership of Great St. Joseph, United Way of Greater St. Joseph, and North Central Missouri College. Head Start teachers will work towards an Associate Degree in Early Learning. A grant of $3,687 will assist in funding mentoring/coaching opportunities to assist the teachers in enhancing their practice and successfully applying what they learn into their Head Start classes.

Bartlett Center is cooperating with the YMCA and Youth Alliance in launching a new project called St. Joseph Youth Council. An award of $7,615 has been awarded to this project to develop a new program that provides civic leadership opportunities for youth ages 13 – 18. Youth will work on networking, public speaking, and other leadership skills.

The final grantee recognized was for the Leadership Development through a Trauma-Informed Lens project and will receive $4,600. The project focuses on training volunteer adult leaders in addressing trauma and adverse childhood experiences. This knowledge will assist Girl Scout leaders in using trauma informed best practices with girls in their troops. Partners include Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri and Professional Counseling Services.

Heartland Foundation is looking forward to working with representatives from these new and innovative projects.

 

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