Wellmark Foundation Grant to Fund Depression Education Program in Rural Iowa

April 16, 2007

Printer-Friendly Version

Contact:
Angela Feig
515.245.4551
feigab@wellmark.com

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The National Catholic Rural Life Conference in Des Moines received a $28,660 grant from The Wellmark Foundation to develop a depression education program in rural central Iowa. A mini-grant from The Wellmark Foundation in 2006 funded the planning process for this project.

Iowa Rural Faith Care Connection on Depression will work through the general faith community in rural areas to inform residents about the identification, treatment and support of people with clinical depression, says Cece Arnold, director of passages at the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. “The goal of this educational program is to reduce the stigma associated with depression and to equip individuals to identify depression, intervene when needed and access services in their community,” says Arnold.

The Beyond Depression Tool Kits will provide the framework for the program. The tool kits were developed by Higher Plain, Inc. in West Branch, Iowa, with the support of several Wellmark Foundation grants. Areas of focus will include myths and realities of depression, and how to accept and support those who suffer from depression and their families, says Arnold.

The program will be piloted in several congregations in designated counties. For more information about the Iowa Rural Faith Care Connection on Depression, contact Arnold at ncrlcca@mchsi.com or (515) 270-2634.

The Wellmark Foundation has provided nearly $12 million to fund 350 health-related grants in Iowa and South Dakota since 1997, including $574,147 this cycle. “The Wellmark Foundation collaborates with non-profit and governmental organizations in Iowa and South Dakota to build healthier communities,” says Matthew McGarvey, director of The Wellmark Foundation. “Treating depression in rural Iowa will positively impact individual as well as community health. The Wellmark Foundation is pleased to continue to support this depression education project,” says McGarvey.

The Wellmark Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation created by Wellmark, Inc., doing business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Visit The Wellmark Foundation's Web site at www.wellmark.com/foundation for a list of grant recipients and grant application instructions.  Applications for the next round of community responsive grants are due June 19, 2007. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and The Wellmark Foundation are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.