Mercy Foundation Receives 3 Year Grant To Help Youth With Type 1 Diabetes

Mercy Foundation has been awarded $391,695 over three years from CommonSpirit Health’s Mission and Ministry fund for the T1D, Beyond the Diagnosis-Living with T1D (Type 1 Diabetes) program.  CommonSpirit Health is the parent organization of CHI Mercy Health Mercy Medical Center. Through a partnership with Douglas County Education Service District (DCESD), Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Evergreen Family Medicine, Mercy Foundation and Mercy Medical Center, a youth diabetes initiative was initially started in 2018 to support DCESD nurses who were struggling to find resources for a growing number of local youth with T1D in the county. The initiative resulted in the formation of Beyond the Diagnosis-Living with T1D, a resource group to help both youth and their families manage their T1D. In 2018, thirty public school children had been identified with T1D; since that time the number has climbed to 46 and it is unclear how many more children with T1D are in the community and have just not been identified, especially with the onset of Covid-19. The funding for our T1D program will be used by Mercy Foundation to expand services to include Pediatric tele-endocrinology, continue to do outreach, monthly virtual educational opportunities and peer to peer mentoring for youth and their families, once we know the Covid Pandemic is under control. “This grant funding and this program align with our investment in prevention and education to improve overall health and wellness,” states Lisa Platt, Mercy Foundation president. “Having virtual access to a pediatric endocrinologist will also reduce the need for our local families to travel out of town for needed care.” “Helping community members manage chronic illness is a priority in Mercy’s Community Health Improvement Plan,” says Mercy CEO Kelly Morgan. “Increasing the knowledge and skills about how to effectively manage their diabetes, ultimately empowers them to become active partners in their own health.” For more information about this grant, please call Jamie Vanassche, Diabetes Life Style Coach for Cow Creek, 541.677.2395 at Mercy Foundation.