Reject Violence, Embrace Love

Several CHI Saint Joseph Health programs are improving the health and safety of children, teens and families through funding from the CommonSpirit Mission and Ministry Fund.

“Violence prevention can be pretty daunting, especially when you’re talking about our youth and their future,” said Sherri Craig, MBA, market vice president of external relations at CHI Saint Joseph Health. “But communities recognize this problem and others exist and have pulled together with us to address them.”

Saint Joseph Hospital’s Creating Safer Neighborhoods initiative partnered with the Lexington Public Library to create a Discovery Health play center at the Northside Branch. Partnerships with community organizations and schools help school-age youth build skills to promote healthy social and emotional development and reduce the risk of violence. Children are also taught about gun safety. This program has decreased school-related behavior events by 15% since 2013.

The Green Dot Program at Flaget Memorial Hospital and Saint Joseph Berea helps prevent bullying, dating violence and sexual assault among teens. Youth are taught to be proactive in recognizing and reporting potential violence. Adults also receive training in violence prevention and how to help support young people.Options to expand the Green Dot Program to Madison County and Mount Sterling are being explored.

The Saint Joseph London Safe Child Initiative works to reduce the risk of child abuse, neglect and fatality through a combination of programs:

• The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program helps prevent accidental child injuries or deaths from firearms. Educators and law enforcement officers work together to raise gun safety awareness among children and parents.
• The Nurturing Children Program educates parents of young children on parenting skills, fire and water safety and sleep safety. The program also partners with community organizations to provide car seats, cribs, medication lock boxes and other needed items.
• The Safe Child Initiative was instrumental in installing the first Safe Haven Baby Box in Laurel County. The boxes are available as a last resort option for women who wish to anonymously leave their newborn babies in a safe and secure place instead of illegally abandoning them.

The CommonSpirit Mission and Ministry Fund is a national grant program dedicated to developing healthy communities. Each grant provides three years of funding to address the root causes of poor health through innovative community programs and technology.

The fund has awarded more than 600 grants, totaling over $113 million since 1997.

Grants are currently awarded in two categories:

• Community Health & Wellness
• United Against Violence

Kentucky’s United Against Violence grant-funded programs have received over $4.6 million since 2013.