The WVU School of Nursing has received a $15,000 grant from Sisters Health Foundation to support the training of Faith Community Nurses in three new counties over the course of the next year.
Sisters Health Foundation, based in Parkersburg, aims to promote healthy and sustainable communities by providing resources, strengthening collaborative relationships, and supporting initiatives that impact people in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
“The support from Sisters Health will allow the WVU School of Nursing to continue to expand the training and support of nurses around the state as they work to build nurse led access to care points,” said Dr. Angel Smothers, Associate Dean for Community Engagement.
Their gift will support the WVU School of Nursing’s Faith Community Nursing initiative, which brings nurse-led access to care to the most rural reaches of West Virginia. Since the initiative began in 2016, the program has expanded to 32 of West Virginia’s counties and beyond.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for nurses to complete a nationally recognized faith community nurse course to help improve health outcomes in their faith community and larger community,” said Renee Steffen, Executive Director of Sisters Health Foundation. “The health education, screenings, care coordination, and referrals the nurses will provide will be an asset for our region.”
Donations supporting the work of Faith Community Nurses are awarded via the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
If you are interested in making a donation to this or any other program at the WVU School of Nursing, please contact Dr. Kimberly Colebank, Development Director, at kcolebank@wvuf.org or 304-554-0237.