As the 21st Century progresses, so does the opportunity to treat malnutrition in childhood more effectively. Ready-to-Use food (RUTF) was novel 10 years ago and is now the standard of care. Today, more focus and attention is being paid to the nutritional composition of food aid products.
The first RUTF was formulated with 25% sugar, a food safe carbohydrate. Within the last 5 years, food aid regulators and health advocates are clamoring for less sucrose in the RUTF products while improving the protein quality of the food. This project will produce a Ready-to-Use Supplementary food (RUSF) using whey permeate, a product that is 85% milk sugar. It is targeted to treat 1,800 moderately malnourished children in a clinical trial, comparing improved RUSF to a previously used dairy-based formula.
Hopefully, the study will demonstrate the safety and acceptability of whey permeate, as well as determining whether greater recovery is seen with the higher protein product.
For more information, visit www.ProjectPeanutButter.org
Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network (AATN) was formed to offer collaborative opportunities among non-profits engaged in the work of combating the sexual exploitation of minors in Arizona.
In addition, it was intended that AATN would provide administrative support services required by the programs in an effective yet low cost model. The intent in creating this partnership among such agencies is to raise awareness, avoid duplication of efforts, identify both unmet needs and best practices, and leverage successful models.
Currently, AATN programs include TRUST (Training and Resources United to Stop Trafficking), CEASE Arizona (Cities Engaged Against Sexual Exploitation), CSI (Community Schools Initiative), ALWAYS (Arizona Legal Women And Youth Services), the SAFE Action Project, and Just.Men.Arizona. Each program offers a unique focus to create a comprehensive overlay of activities in our fight against Child Sexual Exploitation. It is hoped that in the future, these efforts will be expanded to include others in the field, thereby creating a strong network of concerned community members fighting the many facets of human sex and labor trafficking.
For more information, visit www.AATNAZ.org
Recent funding by the Hickey Family Foundation is supporting emergency shelter beds and supportive services at HomeBase, currently the community’s sole provider of these services for youth under the age of 25.
We are also supporting capital improvement costs for Sahuaro Ki, NAC’s new longer stay housing community for this population. NAC projects serving 120 youth at HomeBase with at least 72 having a positive housing outcome. Once Sahuaro Ki is renovated, it is expected that 40 youth will reside there each year.
Since the 2016 loss of HUD funding to support transitional housing at HomeBase, NAC has taken on several tasks to ensure youth experiencing homelessness still have access to housing and the supportive services needed to end their homelessness. Emergency Shelter (1-30 days) offers youth safe and secure emergency shelter, crisis stabilization and access to meals, clothing, laundry and hygiene items.
Within the first two days, youth will work with a case manager to complete an assessment and secure ID, birth certificate and social security card. Outstanding legal issues will be addressed including fines, warrants, court dates and required classes. Prior to reaching the end of their 30 day stay it may be determined that it is in the youth’s best interest to engage in the HomeBase Youth Development Program which offers a longer stay and more intensive attention toward improving education through GED or completion of high school classes, obtaining skills needed for successful employment, addressing substance use, and demonstrating proficiency in life skills.
For more information, visit www.nativeconnections.org/housing/youth
The Hickey Family Foundation is supporting International Medical Corps’ effort to rehabilitate a health center damaged by conflict in the Far North region, and the building of two maternity clinics in the East region of Cameroon.
Their work there will also include training of all health staff working at those maternities and in nearby health centers in basic obstetric and neonatal care for pregnant women and their newborns.
In the Far North, training will be conducted in the integrated management of childhood illness and the clinical management of rape and psychosocial support for survivors of gender-based violence. The World Health Organization and UNFPA recommend prioritizing skilled obstetric care and a comprehensive clinical response to gender-based violence as priorities during protracted crises and recovery, especially in places like the Far North region of Cameroon.
The training program will also address the high mortality rate for children under the age of five.
For more information, visit www.InternationalMedicalCorps.org
This unique and innovative arrangement between Cleveland Clinic Innovations (CCI) and the Hickey Family Foundation (HFF) was established in 2014. HFF grant funding is invested side-by-side with CCI resources in medical technology projects under development at CCI. These projects often emanate from the doctors and specialists working day to day with patients at Cleveland Clinic that might be viable to address unmet needs or improve treatment methods in healthcare there and around the world. Beginning in 2017, some of the earlier projects developed through this co-investment relationship were successfully brought to market and provided a net return to CCI. The proceeds from these spinoffs are now being directed to a new technology fund, the Hickey Evergreen Fund, which will then be used to further invest in new ideas and projects that come to CCI in the future.
For more information, visit innovations.clevelandclinic.org
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