ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida’s (BCBSF) philanthropic affiliate, recently awarded United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida a grant for $46,000 for two years to increase the availability of mental health counseling for disabled children and their families. United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida is celebrating 50 years of serving the needs of children with disabilities and their families in the metro Orlando area.
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The grant will provide funding for a part-time counselor to offer an additional 60 counseling sessions each month at UCP’s newest Center, located in Pine Hills -- an identified low-income area with a per capita income of $16,777. UCP’s Supportive Counseling program addresses the challenges and issues facing families as they care for their children with special health needs. The program reflects a family-centered, community-based and coordinated service delivery system focused on special needs issues and mental health.
“Children with disabilities are much more likely to be neglected and abused than children without disabilities because of the greater physical, economic, emotional and social demands on their families,” said Terri Chastain, director of development. “Our counseling program provides families the support and assistance needed to cope and to strengthen the parent-child relationship. We are very pleased that The Blue Foundation grant will help us reach more of these families in need.”
The United Cerebral Palsy grant is one of 10, totaling $532,112, that The Blue Foundation will present this winter to nonprofit health clinics and community outreach programs across Florida. Through strategic grantmaking, The Blue Foundation supports programs that increase access to quality health- related services for uninsured and underserved Floridians. The Blue Foundation annually awards up to $1 million in grants during two grant cycles. The next Request for Proposals deadline is March 18. For an application, please call 1-800-477-3736, ext. 63215.
The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida is a separate, philanthropic affiliate of BCBSF incorporated in the state of Florida. The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, and its parent, BCBSF, are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information on The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, please visit its web site at http://www.bluefoundationfl.org/ .
The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida and its parent, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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CONTACT: Susan B. Towler, APR, +1-904-905-6803, orSusan.Towler@bcbsfl.com, for The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida