United Way of the Tri-Valley Area awards Venture Grants to Support New and Innovative Programs
The United Way of the Tri-Valley Area (UWTVA) is pleased to announce that three organizations have been selected to receive funding to launch new and innovative programming in Greater Franklin County.
HealthReach Community Health Centers - HRCHC was awarded funding to better manage diabetes at the Strong Area Health Center– a chronic disease affecting about 8% of the patient population. The grant will allow the Health Center to purchase a glucose monitor that will allow patients to continuously monitor their glucose profile. This monitoring will be part of an overall care management/education plan with the goal of facilitating self-management to improve glycemic control in challenging situations.
Western Maine Homeless Outreach shelter – The Western Maine Homeless Outreach was awarded funds to expand its ability to provide emergency shelter to homeless individuals and families. This includes help with organizational and infrastructure projects such as website development, and the creation of outreach materials to better inform donors and the general public about its services.
Androscoggin Children’s Advocacy Center - ACAC was awarded funds to minimize trauma to Franklin County’s children and those with cognitive impairments. According to the Maine Children’s Alliance, approximately 6,100 children live in Franklin County. Current studies show that persons under 18 years of age account for 67% of all sexual assault victimizations reported to law enforcement agencies. Children under 12 years old account for 34% of those cases, and children under six years old account for 14% of those cases. In recent months, 40 children have been interviewed at the Farmington Police Department in a less than child-friendly interview room. With increasing needs in Franklin County, the ACAC formed a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of law enforcement, DHHS staff, and mental health and sexual assault crisis professionals to develop and implement a child advocacy center where a child who is abused is interviewed in a home-like atmosphere by a professionally trained forensic interviewer, and family is given appropriate support. With Venture Grant funding, this center has been established at the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services offices at 227 Main Street, Farmington.