Social Welfare Board

St. Joseph, Mo.
Grant Amount: $25,000

The Social Welfare Board (SWB) provides medical services to uninsured adult residents of Buchanan County, Missouri living at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level and who do not qualify for Medicare, Medicaid or Veteran’s Benefits. Last year, SWB treated 4,378 patients over 24,009 visits.

Due to state and local funding, the SWB comprehensively screens, educates, and treats eligible women for chronic diseases; however, a comparable program does not exist for the clinic’s male population. SWB will receive a grant of $25,000 for a “Wise Men Program.” This program will focus clinician screening for the most common chronic diseases that affect their male patients aged 17 to 65 years old.

While most of these patients work part or full time, SWB also sees a large group who are paroled from prison, have drug and/or alcohol addictions, or who are homeless. For many of the targeted male patients, it will be the first time they are screened for common diseases, rather than just treated urgently.

Each participant of the Wise Men Program will complete a brief health risk appraisal form, at which time age and risk appropriate screening tests will be ordered and/or performed by a nurse practitioner. Positive screens will then be followed up with patient education, medical treatment, and referrals as needed. SWB will also use a behavioral approach to risk reduction and health optimization to stage readiness for change and action. Grant funds will help support personnel, medical supplies, computer support, and specialized patient care services.