HAZARD, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2012) – Kentucky Homeplace has joined as a member agency with United Way of Southeastern Kentucky (UWSEKY), which serves an eight county region in rural Appalachia.
UWSEKY was established in 1989 with a mission to unite people living in the area, identify issues that matter most to improve lives and work together to find solutions. “Our seed money approach to funding partner agencies has enabled us to raise nearly $240,000 in three years. With matching dollars from our partners, our total impact has been over $950,000,” said Richard Crowe, executive director of UWSEKY.
Kentucky Homeplace began as a demonstration project in 1994. Over the years, this community health worker initiative has linked tens of thousands of rural Kentuckians with medical, social and environmental services they otherwise might have gone without. Homeplace’s community health workers are trained to help medically underserved residents access appropriate health services, and emphasis is placed on preventive care, health education and disease self-management.
“We are honored to have this opportunity with United Way of Southeastern Kentucky to raise funds that will help support not only our Kentucky Homeplace indigent fund, but over 40 additional agencies throughout our region who provide much needed services for residents in our local communities,” said Fran Feltner, director of Kentucky Homeplace and the University of Kentucky Center for Excellence in Rural Health (UK CERH).
“The Homeplace indigent fund is used solely to assist clients experiencing an immediate and/or dire need for medication, clothing, food, and heating or air conditioning for very ill clients,” Feltner said.
Feltner, along with Dr. Joe Kingery, medical director of the UK North Fork Valley Community Health Center, were recognized by UWSEKY at the 2012 Founder’s Day Dinner for UK’s longstanding commitment to United Way. As part of the recognition, Hazard Mayor Nan Gorman presented Feltner and Kingery with honorary Duchess and Duke of Hazard awards. Doug Eberhart, president of United Way of Kentucky, also received an honorary Duke of Hazard award from Mayor Gorman.
With administrative offices based in Hazard at the UK CERH, Homeplace employs a total of 26 community health workers in five regions across the commonwealth. Two of those regions serve clients within the UKSEKY service area. For more information on Kentucky Homeplace, visit www.kyruralhealth.org/homeplace or call (606) 439-3557 or toll-free (855) 859-2374.
