MS Health Care Last In US

WAPT.com
Study: Miss. Ranks Last For Public Health Care
POSTED: 9:37 am CDT June 14, 2007

UPDATED: 9:50 am CDT June 14, 2007

JACKSON, Miss. -- A new report that ranks all 50 states based on the performance of their health care systems puts Mississippi at No. 50.

The report was released Wednesday by the Commonwealth Fund. It's the first study to rank states on the performance of health care systems. It found huge disparities between care among the top states and those at the bottom.

The report said Mississippi ranks 48th in health care access, 44th in quality, 47th in equity and 51st in healthy lives.

The best-performing states were Hawaii, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.

The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation that finances health care research.

Education Assistance

Scholarship Search Engines
6/12
www.scholarshipcoach.com
www.fastweb.com
www.collegeanswer.com

6/12 Saving For College
www.savingforcollege.com/intro_to_529s/
www.collegeboard.com - cost of colleges
www.FinAid.org - calculate your financial need for college

High School Students
6/12 www.womansday.com/hunt Paying for College Action Pack - good until July 1 (free DL)
Youth Entrepreneurship Training Program - LA
Chazen Scholarship
http://www.chazenscholar.com/project.php3 - Deadline 5/31
1/12 - Article on Getting the Most College Financial Aid
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2007/01/college-financial-aid.html
The Youth Service America/Youth Venture Program is a joint partnership between Youth Service America ( http://www.ysa.org/ ) and Youth Venture, Inc. ( http://www.youthventure.org/ ) that helps youth engage in community service and develop as young social entrepreneurs.
YSA Youth Venture helps make every day National & Global Youth Service Day ( http://www.gysd.org/ ) by providing funding and support to young people (ages 12-20) across the United States who want to create new, sustainable, civic-minded organizations, clubs, or businesses called Ventures. Ventures must be youth-led and designed to be a lasting, sustainable asset to the community; and be a new organization or a new program within an existing organization. Ventures can be school-based clubs, community organizations, or for-profit or nonprofit businesses.
YSA Youth Venture teams are required to plan a National & Global Youth Service Day project every year that their Venture is operational. The YSA Youth Venture Program provides a variety of resources, including a national network of like-minded young people, media opportunities, technical support, helpful toolkits, and workshops as well as seed money grants of up to $1,000 each for start-up expenses. The YSA Youth Venture opportunity is open to individuals who are legal residents of the United States or U.S. territory, district, or property, and between the ages of 12 and 20 years at time of entry.
Proposals must be submitted using the YSA Youth Venture Action Plan format.
Visit the Youth Venture Web site for complete program information and application materials. http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10005294/youthventure
11/29 Computers
WELCOME TO STUDENT PC'S AN AWARD WINNING PROGRAM WHERE OUR MOTTO IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE GIFT AT A TIME!We at Student Pc's repair, and recondition used computers. We also build new systems as needed for the handicapped children of the Continental USA.Our Program is small and growing. This is not a site to purchase computers or components. We do not charge for our services. Through donations of components and purchasing needed items, we provide computers built to the needs of a child that has limited resources to obtain a computer. http://studentpcsonline.com/
Tuition Assistance For Fishermen's Children http://www.cfafish.org/
Father Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L., aosusa@sbcglobal.net (409) 982-5111.
Student Scholarship (not just for AL)
Incoming high school seniors are encouraged to visit www.horatioalger.org and apply for a Horatio Alger Scholarship. These scholarships recognize adversity and need above all other criteria. Applying for the scholarship requires no cost or future obligation. Those young people who have been adversely affected by last year's hurricanes are especially encouraged to apply.
The Horatio Alger Alabama Scholarship is an honor that will provide inspiration to young people to continue to aspire for their goals and tangible assistance in the form of a significant financialcontribution toward college tuition and fees. Many colleges and universities match the Horatio Alger Scholarship with grants to further help reduce the cost of college education. The scholarship puts recipients in the company of other young people like themselves that refuse to allow circumstances to limit their aspirations.
Applications can be completed on-line at www.horatioalger.org/scholarships. The applications require the completion of biographical, academic and financial information. Each applicant is asked to describe the adversities that they have faced or are facing.
American Academy of Allergy
http://www.aaaai.org/members/associates/asthmascholarship/default.stm
Associates to the American Academy of Allergy present at least 18 Award of Excellence Asthma Scholarships to graduating high school seniors with asthma. Scholarship monies may be used or applied only to pay for tuition, books and fees for a bona fide course of instruction at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university or accredited technical or vocational college or school
American Council of the Blind
http://www.acb.org/
Deadline: March 1
Student must be legally blind and a U.S. citizen or resident alien. Approximately twelve scholarships are awarded per year ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each.

Adult Financial Aid
6/12 Community College Information/Locator
www.aacc.nche.edu
6/12 College Level Exam Program (CLEP) http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html

For Both Teen and Adult Scholarship Site

6/12 Back to College - adult site www.back2college.com

Article on getting the MOST college financial aid

Raise the Nation Foundation From Marlene
Scholarship For Continuing Education
http://www.raisethenation.org/RTNLibrary/RTNGrants.html
This scholarship is available to single parent women who would like to go to school or continue with their education, but have been denied sufficient resources. Many single parent women are denied educational grants and assistance unless they are living in crisis and poverty and are instead forced to borrow money for tuition and living expenses, which is very difficult to repay based on the national earning average of $24,000 a year - even with an education. We recognize single parent women who want to raise their standard of living and that of their children by continuing education and advancing their careers.
Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST)
http://www.executivewomen.org/ScriptContent/scholarships/asist.cfm
Executive Women International has a chapter in the Detroit/Windsor Area. Offer a scholarship for adult students at transitional points in their lives. Applicants may be single parents, individuals just entering the workforce, or displaced homemakers.
American Legion Auxiliary Nontraditional Student Scholarship
http://legion-aux.org/scholarships/docs/nontradsch.html
Deadline: March 10Applicant must be a dependent or descendant of a veteran as well as a non-traditional student (1) returning to the classroom after some period of time in which his/her formal education was interrupted, (2) a student over the age of twenty-two attending college for the first time pursuing a degree, or (3) a student over the age of twenty-two attending a vocational or trade school.
Raise the Nation Foundation
Community Service-Based Grant For Student Loan Repayment
http://www.raisethenation.org/RTNLibrary/RTNGrants.html
This grant is awarded to professional single parent women with outstanding student loan debt who contribute to their community through volunteer work. We honor women who volunteer in their community. Student loan repayment grants are available to women who volunteer their professional talents for an average of 8 hours a month, for a period of time to be determined by the amount of their student loan debt. We recognize that women who are in the helping or teaching professions already contribute to their communities, therefore, no further volunteer work is required to qualify.

Scholarship For Continuing Education
http://www.raisethenation.org/RTNLibrary/RTNGrants.html
This scholarship is available to single parent women who would like to go to school or continue with their education, but have been denied sufficient resources. Many single parent women are denied educational grants and assistance unless they are living in crisis and poverty and are instead forced to borrow money for tuition and living expenses, which is very difficult to re-pay based on the national earning average of $24,000 a year - even with an education. We recognize single parent women who want to raise their standard of living and that of their children by continuing education and advancing their careers.

Other Resource Pages
Businesses
Children/Childcare
Dental
Disabled
Education Assistance Elderly
Emotional Resources
Family Resources
Furniture and More
Grandfamily/Single Parent ResourcesGrants for Individuals - does not include homeowner or repair grants
Home/Utility LA Family Resources
Medical ResourcesMortgage Resources

Medical Resources

Medical Assistance
6/12 - Free/Cheap Mammogram Programs
Avon Breast Care Program

CDC Breast Care Program

3/25 Medication Sheet - Printable

3/23 MS Health Department Health Screenings

Poison Control Center
1-800-222-1222· Swallowing poison · Eye or skin irritation from toxic substances · Inhalation of noxious fumes or vapors · Animal, insect, snake and spider bites · Food or mushroom poisoning · Drug reactions · Attempted suicides or drug overdoses · Pet poisoning exposures
FOR BROCHURE AND TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT POISON AT HOME, please see this link: http://www.poison.org/prevent/documents/adultEd/Poison%20Brochure.pdf
Louisiana Center for the Blind [National Federation for the Blind of Florida as conduit]
www.lcb-ruston.com/
www.nfbflorida.org/
The Louisiana Center for the Blind is providing housing, clothing and food to blind people from the Gulf Coast Region affected by Katrina. The National Federation for the Blind of Florida is collecting funds to support the work of the center.
10/23 Inter-Faith Caregivers
Inter-Faith Caregivers 225-267-5600 For hurricane evacuees over the age of 50
10/16 Health Care Clinic Resource List
http://www.ahirc.org/cat_list.cfm?cat=31&st=AL
Not easily navigated, but if you're persistant, you'll find one in your area.

Specific Medical Assistance 9/20
Go to this site and search for financial assistance for specific medical conditions (you can also search by state):
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/financialassistance.html
Search by State For What You Need Medically - http://www.ahirc.org/index.html
Great site that includes dental assistance. It lists different categories (veteran, elderly, disabled, etc.)
MS Specific Agency
HealthCare Financial Assistance Inc. Gulfport, MS 228-868-4025

Prescription Assistance
AARP Prescription Assistance http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/prescription/statebystate.html

Add Health (from Karen) 1-888-733-0126 www.addhealth.com AddHealth provides convenient nationwide access to discounts on prescription medications; physician visits, treatments and services; dental services and hardware; vision care and eyewear and hearing services and devices.

American Health Association (Katrinas Angels!) 1-888-777-7838 www.ahaheath.com The Healthy Advantage Healthcare Savings Card gives big savings of 10 to 50 percent on almost all healthcare needs that are NOT covered by insurance. Members often save hundreds of dollars each month with the Healthy Advantage Savings Card, which is sponsored by the American Health Association.

Best Meds (from Karen) 1-877-723-7863 www.best-meds.com Best-Meds.com is unique because we are affiliated with Canada's largest and lowest cost pharmacies. We work to see that you get the best possible prices of up to 20-85 percent savings.

Cancer Supportive Care http://www.cancersupportivecare.com/drug_assistance.html)

Discount Health (from Karen) www.discount-health.net Inexpensive health care products for the entire family at low cost prices.

Discount Prescriptions (800) 291-1206 Families can save between 20% and 40% on their prescription medications. No exam needed. National program. No need to make trips to the pharmacy, medication shipped to the home. Call for free information.

Free Medicine Program (from Karen) 1-800-921-0072 http://freemedicineprogram.com Our mission at the Free Medicine Program is helping patients in obtaining prescription drugs and medications absolutely FREE OF CHARGE.

6/12 - GlaxoSmithKline Prescription Assistance (womens day mag)
If you take meds made by GSK, are on Medicare Part D, spend more than $600/by June with a 1-person Household Income of under $25,525 or 2-person HHI under $34,225, you're elegible

Helping Patients (katrinas angels!) 1-800-762-4636 www.helpingpatients.org Helping Patients brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, patient advocacy organizations and civic groups to help low-income, uninsured patients get free or nearly free brand-name medicines. Its mission is to increase awareness of and enrollment in existing patient assistance programs for those who may be eligible. Through this site, Helping Patients offers a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

Merck Med Assistance http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/patientassistance/home.html

People's RX Card (Katrinas Angels!) 1-800-667-6914 www.peoplesrxcard.com

PPRx https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php There have been ads for this on TV. If you need help, call them. A vetted organization with YOU in mind.

Pfizer's Sharing the Care (From Karen) 1-800-984-1500 www.sharingthecare.com Sharing the Care helps our nation's working poor and others who fall through the cracks of our health care system.

1/26 Prescription Point (FromKaren)
1-800-794-8552
www.prescriptionpoint.com
Prescription Point is an online US and Canadian mail order prescription service of choice.

Well-Aid (from karen)
1-877-687-4400
www.wellaid.com
Offers different benefit plans – prescription, dental, medical and vision. There are low monthly fees for these plans.


For Other Resource Pages
Businesses
Children/Childcare
Dental
Disabled
Education Assistance Elderly
Emotional Resources
Family Resources
Furniture and More
Grandfamily/Single Parent ResourcesGrants for Individuals - does not include homeowner or repair grants
Home/Utility LA Family Resources
Medical ResourcesMortgage Resources

Furnishings

1/3 Vehicles:
To acquire another car, please contact:
Charity Cars, Inc will provide free vehicles, down payment for insurance, and tag, registration and title fees to Hurricane Katrina evacuees.
To request a car, please e-mail at info@800charitycars.org; call 1-800-CHARITY, extension 4 (1-800-242-7489 ext. 4); or fax 1-407-774-8962.
OR
Find a "Wheels to Work" Program near you at:http://www.nedlc.org/center/copc/programs/all-bystate.htm
OR
Car Ownership Programs http://www.nedlc.org/center/car_map.htm#ma
National Economic and Law Center maintains a clearing house of resources tha tgive cars to low income families in every state.
Vehicles for Change http://www.vehfch.org/ Available in certain counties of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Contact 410-540-9023 for a list of sponsoring agencies.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED DIRECTLY. Makes vehicles available to the disadvantaged for a reasonable car fee of $700 to $900, spread out as a 12 month loan - payment runs from $65 to $89 a month. (Recipient is guaranteed a loan.)
OR
We are providing vehicles to those who have lost theirs we have drop off center in about 43 states in addition we have some homes that were donated that we are fixing up.
Brian Stewart, Director
800-227-2643
http://www.carangel.org/donations-rv-donate-recreational-vehicle.htm
OR
Ways to Work Fayetteville (served by Huntsville, AL)
Dave Dougherty
Family Services Center
600 St. Clair, Building 3
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 551-1610 x220; FAX (256) 551-0722
E-mail: DaveD@fsc-hsv.org

Furniture/Misc.
http://CraigsList.org
6/12 www.crossroadstrading.com (woman's day mag)
Digital Promise
Families in Need Of A PC
Free Cycle - Recycling goods for Free http://www.freecyclefinder.org/finder Type in your city - you'll be surprised what you find for FREE
Free Sharing
Free Use
6/12 www.half.com (woman's day mag)
MS Only - MS Home Again Mississippi Home Again helps by providing direct, immediate, and tangible assistance: We buy appliances and beds for folks with limited resources so they can move back into their homes once they are repaired or rebuilt. We assist all kinds of people, but especially the most vulnerable –the elderly, the disabled, single parents, and people living below the poverty line.
6/12 www.oodle.com (woman's day mag)
6/12 www.pennysaverus.com (woman's day mag)
6/12 www.platoscloset.com (woman's day mag)
1/3 St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Stores
Search for your state:
http://www.svdpusa.org/Stores/tabid/62/Default.aspx
SVDP Thrift Store
P.O. Box 283 Waveland, MS 39576
Throw Place - another FreeCycle type place.
www.ThrowPlace.com
Toy Swap - Recycle Toys
http://www.throwplace.com/

Photos
Photo Restoration
http://www.restorepict.com/
The Professional Photo Restoration Studio PO Box 286157 New York, NY 10128 212-876-5012 Restorep@restorepict.com

For Other Resource Pages
Businesses
Children/Childcare
Dental
Disabled
Education Assistance Elderly
Emotional Resources
Family Resources
Furniture and More
Grandfamily/Single Parent ResourcesGrants for Individuals - does not include homeowner or repair grants
Home/Utility LA Family Resources
Medical ResourcesMortgage Resources

Non-Profit Resources

Funding
6/6 - From Terra - Click on http://groups.google.com/group/nvoad-recovery/web/government-funding-opportunities- or copy & paste it into your browser's address bar if that doesn'twork.
2/3 Grant Writing Tip Site
3/8 Grants for NonProfits
3/25 - Church World Services - Unsure of Contact

Conferences
2/25 June Hurricane Work Shop AL/MS 6/27-29
Alabama/Mississippi Hurricane Workshop June 27-29, 2007 The focus will be Long Term Recovery. Go to HHS Calendar and click on the calendar you will find the dates and more info for this workshop. You can also call Margaret Carter POC for MEMA at 601-933-6370.
More details to follow: Elizabeth Stover FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaison Mississippi Transitional Recovery Office 220 Popps Ferry Rd. Biloxi, MS 39531 228.594.3060 Phone 703-927-8553

General Information
3/25 Fresh Start Sustainable Rebuilding

3/25 Computers Recycles.Org We are a service project aimed at area businesses, residents, schools, and nonprofit organizations interested in recycling and reusing computers. Our website serves as a regional and nationwide exchange board directly connecting those wishing to dispose of computers and nonprofit organizations in need.

3/12 MS Coast Interfaith Disaster Task Force
Mississippi Coast Interfaith Disaster Task ForceCentral Office: #28, 29th St., Gulfport, MS 39507 Ph. 228-868-0961Warehouse: 6516 Woolmarket, Biloxi, MS 39531 Ph. 228-354-0969

3/8 Marketing Site From a MS Resident
3/5 - For Shelters to Post Their Information
3/16 Ways to lessen heat and hot water bills for you and your clients
2/19 Deconstruction Institute Information on how to do architectural reclamation and deconstruction
2/3 MS Food Resources For NFP's
2/3 Starting Community Gardens for Survivors
6/17 http://assoc.garden.org/grants/ Youth Gardening Grants
1/10 Katrina Cottage Collection
Katrina Cottages A Family of Small-Scale, High-Quality Homes
Katrina Cottages
Cusa Cottages
Cottage Living
1/4 NOVA, National Organization Victims Assistance
NOVA's mission is to promote rights and services for victims of crime and crisis everywhere. National Organization for Victim Assistance®
NOVA Victim Info
Information and Referrals for Victims of Crime and Disaster: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Call 1-800-TRY-NOVA (1-800-879-6682) or (703) 535-NOVA (6682)
Victims or communities wanting assistance may call (800) TRY-NOVA (879-6682) at any time for information and emotional support.
Citizen Action Team - Database of Resources
TechSoup Stock Faith-based nonprofits can register for free for TechSoup Stock and then be eligible for purchasing, at significantly discounted prices, donated software and other technology products that leading tech firms such as Microsoft make available to TechSoup.
National Cristina FoundationNational Cristina Foundation (NCF) accepts applications for free equipment from nonprofit organizations that are engaged in the education, rehabilitation, or training of people with disabilities, at-risk students, or economically disadvantaged persons.
Gifts In Kind The FASTEN team has gathered information about free and low-cost items that faith-based nonprofits may be able to access through a variety of organizations and associations. Gifts in Kind America is an organization for 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Donor organizations (e.g., companies) may donate office equipment and supplies including software, hardware, building materials, furniture, clothing, toys, medical equipment and supplies, personal care products and more. Gifts in Kind is the largest recipient of such donations, reporting $200 million worth of products distributed per year. To receive items through Gifts in Kind, nonprofits need to register with the agency. Registration is based on a sliding fee scale, starting at $125 for nonprofits with an annual budget less than $1 million
Excess Access ExcessAccess is an Internet database service matching donors and recipients that are in the same geographical area. It links specific companies’ donations with nearby nonprofits looking for such items. At times, donors have volunteered to drop-off or ship very small items to the nonprofit, but this is at the donor’s discretion. Nonprofits with a “wish list” pay an upfront, flat, $3 registration fee that gives them a 6-month subscription to the service. Nonprofits can update or edit their wish lists at any time. The most frequently donated items are office or home furniture, supplies, electronic equipment, and appliances. This service also receives donations of building supplies, medical supplies, seasonal items such as decorations, food, toys, and clothing.
Throw Place Throwplace.com is an online market where individuals, charities, nonprofits and businesses can exchange excess goods and surplus inventory free of charge. Nonprofits register on the site for free, then can browse donated items and their location. Nonprofits can take up to 5 items per month from the inventory for free; beyond five items, there is a $5 per item charge.
New Hope Construction A non-profit that helps design and assemble needed items for you to build a new structure - whether it's a house, a library or a new fire station, they can help!
11/19 - Shared Housing - an idea for both volunteer and citizen
11/20 Fundraising/Management Assistance Site
I chose their newsletter page because they are free. Their software and research aspects are not. But I feel we can all learn from their newsletters on how to better involve our communities and the nation with the recovery effort.
11/20 - Resource for non- profits Networking for all non profits.
11/1 - Marketing Ourselves
11/20 - MS Development Authority Information. Grant Information
Katrina Aid Today Set up by UMCOR and partners exclusively for Hurricane Recovery. Many good ideas that can be used NOW.
Volunteer Coordinator Information and Grants through Lutheran Disaster Response
This page has several links on it for those working in long term recovery. While grants may not be approved due to not being part of LDR, the information they provide is incredible!
CDC Article on Flood Cleanup Detailed, dry, but packed with information.
Safety Gear For the Volunteer
Avoiding Heat Related Illness

Municipal Assistance
2/20/06 Smart Growth - How to let city expansion happen WELL
Effects on Emergency Services Personnel Can be extrapolated to long-term volunteers as well.
10/6/06 Efficiently Rebuilding - Site similar to Smart Growth - energy efficiency and time.
2/9/06 Booklet for Cultural Institutions FEMA, Heritage Preservation, and the National Endowment for the Arts collaborated on Before and After Disasters: Federal Funding for Cultural Institutions FEMA 533/September 2005 (PDF). This 36-page book provides information on sources of funding and details on what activities are eligible. It also explains how the federal emergency assistance system works and gives tips to get started.

Library Funding
Academic Library Funding
Public Library Funding This is with the help of the Gates Foundation
Laura Bush Foundation The Laura Bush Foundation will announce a second round of grants by the end of summer 2006. It uses a competitive grant process to distribute the funds for books. To apply and to learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit the website.

For Other Resource Pages
Grants For Communities
Grants for Non-Profits
For Non-Profits and Municipalities
For Schools
Safety Guidelines For Volunteers

Businesses
Children/Childcare
Dental
Disabled
Education Assistance
Elderly
Emotional Resources
Family Resources
Furniture and More
Grandfamily/Single Parent Resources
Grants for Individuals - does not include homeowner or repair grants
Home/Utility
LA Family Resources
Medical Resources
Mortgage Resources