Health Foundation issues awards

The Nevada Public Health Foundation awarded Healthy Communities Grants to three local organizations with projects promising to improve the health and safety of Northern Nevada residents. The Foundation established the Healthy Communities Grants in 1996 with a $250,000 donation from Washoe Medical Center. The grants have contributed $275,000 in funding to Northern Nevada projects that improve community performance on designated quality of life health indicators.

- The Bureau of Community Health Services was awarded $17,874 to provide preventive cancer services for low-income women. In collaboration with several physicians, they will offer the loop electro-surgical exision for those women with abnormal screening, or "pap" smears. This outpatient surgical procedure can prevent lives from being unnecessarily shortened for those who cannot afford this procedure. Contact Margaret Holloway at the Bureau of Community Health Services, 687-6944.

- Nevada Hispanic Services will offer a 16-hour prenatal education course for Spanish-speaking women in Carson City. Hispanic women are 3.5 times as likely as non-Hispanic white women to receive insufficient prenatal care. With the Comenzando Bien program, Nevada Hispanic Services hopes to reduce these numbers locally and increase the likelihood that Hispanic infants and mothers will experience a healthy childbirth. Those interested can contact Raquel Knecht at 885-1055.

- The Ron Wood Family Resource Center will provide child safety seats to low- income parents, and offer instruction in the correct installation and use. For information contact Tilisa May at the Ron Wood Family Resource Center, 884-2269.