RESOLUTION NO. 080952
Recognizing the Citizen Assist
Program of the Kansas City Fire Department and the Visiting Nurse
Association of Kansas City and its sponsors, the REACH Healthcare Foundation
and the Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City, on receipt of a Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnership award to expand and continue
this innovative health care initiative.
WHEREAS, many
citizens contact the Citys 911 emergency system with problems for which the
system is not designed or equipped to respond; and
WHEREAS, many
of these citizens need assistance, advocacy, and care to identify and utilize
the various systems and services the community; and
WHEREAS, the
Kansas City Fire Department has formed a unique and productive partnership with
the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Kansas City to provide in-home
assessment, advocacy, and care for those whose needs extend beyond what the
Departments response can accommodate; and
WHEREAS, the
REACH Healthcare Foundation funded pilot of this partnership has already
provided assistance to more than 200 Kansas Citians; and
WHEREAS, the
REACH Healthcare Foundation, in partnership with the Healthcare Foundation of
Greater Kansas City, nominated the Citizen Assist Program for the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundations National Local Funding Partnership as a project with
strong potential to improve health care for vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, KCFD
and VNAs Citizen Assist Program was one of 12 local projects selected for
three years of cooperative funding; and
WHEREAS, the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation today announced its award of $498,554.00, to be
matched dollar-for-dollar by REACH and the Healthcare Foundation of Greater
Kansas City, to support this project and its expansion to other emergency
medical response systems in our area over the next three years; Now, therefore,
be it resolved by the Council of Kansas City:
That the Mayor and Council hereby
recognize and applaud the Citizen Assist Program for its innovative and
collaborative efforts to address that difficult health and human service needs
are identified and addressed for our Citys most vulnerable populations; and
Be it further RESOLVED that this
Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and
that a copy hereof be presented to the organizations involved in token of their
efforts to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all citizens of
our community.
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