Newswise — MAYWOOD, Ill. – Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing has received a grant from Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust. The foundation will give $146,000 to support Loyola’s Community Nursing Center in Rogers Park.
“This grant will allow Loyola to expand much needed health-care services to our community,” said Jan McCarron, MSN, RN, director, Loyola Community Nursing Center. “This support also will provide our students with additional opportunities to experience community nursing and the role it has in enhancing the life of underserved populations.”
Fifty families currently receive health-care services through Loyola’s Community Nursing Center. This grant will increase the number of families served. It also will allow Loyola to identify which services are most frequently requested and next steps to expand programs and sustainable sources of support. Loyola faculty and staff also will use the resources to engage inter-disciplinary students in the care of underserved populations.
The center was founded in 1981 in a church basement by Loyola nursing faculty members. It began as an outreach effort to the elderly and mothers and children in the community. The program has since grown into one of the most valuable health-care resources for underserved families and seniors living in the Rogers Park, Edgewater and Uptown communities.
Each semester, more than 30 undergraduate nursing students have clinical experiences at the center. Home visits target isolated and homebound seniors and include a comprehensive assessment of health and social needs. Students serve as case managers, linking clients with community resources as well as working with family members, the primary health-care provider and other community workers. Health education is provided to local grammar schools, shelters and senior centers. Students also match individuals with job training and housing opportunities and help¬ people navigate state and local agencies to access other resources and support. The center is supported by Loyola University Chicago and private foundation grants. All services are provided free of charge.
About The Chicago Community Trust For 98 years, The Chicago Community Trust, the region’s community foundation, has connected the generosity of donors with community needs by making grants to organizations working to improve metropolitan Chicago. In 2012, the Trust, together with its donors, granted more than $170 million to nonprofit organizations. From strengthening community schools to assisting local art programs, from building health centers to helping lives affected by violence, the Trust continues to enhance our region. To learn more, please visit the Trust online at www.cct.org.