Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland Launches New Website

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland recently launched a newly designed website www.socfdncleveland.org. The redesigned website provides a cleaner look and ensures the most up-to-date information is available and readily accessible. Among other features, the site contains the Foundation's grant guidelines in each of its grantmaking programs, current news and list of past and present grantees. In addition, the website features a special “board only” section where board members can log-in to receive up-to-date news and information about the Foundation, staff or their colleagues. Educational materials, calendars and orientation resources are also available on this exclusive site for board members. Please visit the Foundation's new website at socfdncleveland.org.

Ohio Insurance Department with St. Vincent Charity Hospital Unveils CHAT Research Tool to Gather Health Care Coverage Information
The Ohio Department of Insurance and partner organizations St. Vincent Charity Hospital, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the Free Clinics Association, Access Health Columbus and The Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio (AMCNO) are taking the Choosing Healthplans All Together (CHAT) research tool across Ohio to gather data about the uninsured's decision-making process regarding health coverage. The computer simulation program, CHAT, faces participants with making choices about health benefits packages with limited resources. St. Vencent Charity hosted a CHAT with community members on May 1, 2008. The department and other stakeholders are playing a crucial role in Governor Strickland's call to decrease the number of uninsured Ohioans by 500,000 by 2011, and to provide affordable health insurance for every Ohio child and for more small business employees.

Media Coverage of the Crisis of the Uninsured

The Sisters of Charity Health System and its sponsored ministries organized and participated in numerous events to mark this year's Cover the Uninsured Week, a national campaign designed to raise awareness of the 47 million Americans without health insurance. President and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System, Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA appeared on Cleveland WEWS Channel 5 noon newscast on April 22 and South Carolina WIS Sunrise news on April 29 to discuss the need for health care reform. Volunteers in Cleveland fielded over 380 calls from 20 northeast Ohio counties during a Cover the Uninsured Week phone bank, which aired April 22 on Cleveland WEWS Channel 5 “Live at 5” newscast.

On May 3, 2008, Mercy Medical Center held its Health Care Information Day. Local radio covered the Health Fair. On Sunday, May 25, representatives from various ministries of the Sisters of Charity Health System were part of WEWS Channel 5 News Kaleidoscope, a weekly community affairs program. The three, eight-minute segments included: Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA and Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, president of Catholic Health Association; Dr. David Gormsen from Mercy Medical Center and Dr. Chantal Dalencour from Westshore Primary Care and Susanna Krey, president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland with board member Mary Lou Stricklin, recently retired president and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association in Cleveland. The program was dedicated entirely to health care reform, furthering local, regional and national discussions advocated by the Catholic Health Association. (visit covertheuninsured.us for more information.)

New Book Published by Sr. Rosemarie Carfagna

“Contemplation and Midlife Crisis: Examples from Classical and Contemporary Spirituality,” is a new book by Sr. Rosemarie Carfagna, OSU, Ph.D and senior vice president of Mission and Ministry for the Sisters of Charity Health System. The book offers guidance in navigating through crises by tapping into the power of prayer and ultimately emerging more spiritual. It is published by Paulist Press and is available through Amazon.com.

Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton Raises Awareness of Importance of Early Childhood Education

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton formed the Stark County Early Childhood Communications Collaborative in late 2006 in an effort to communicate the importance of early education and care to parents. Members include leadership from area foundations, the community, government, early childhood organizations, schools, and others. Thus far, the Collaborative has approved a vision statement, adopted a tagline from Build Ohio (Early Experiences Last A Lifetime), developed a logo, and created a communications plan targeting parents. In May 2008, a website www.earlyexperiences.org was launched as well as a radio and billboard campaign.