Press Release |
Media Contact: Sally Tibbetts 941.951.6643 |
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Buchanan Announces More than Half Million Dollars in Federal Funds for Area Health Care ProjectsUSF Sarasota-Manatee, State College of Florida, and Child Protection Center Awarded Funding Secured by Buchanan
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| September 08, 2009 | |||
| Washington, DC -- Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a total of $517,770 in federal funding to help meet the health care needs of his constituents. Buchanan secured $141,570 in federal funding to help address nursing shortages by supporting the development of a teaching simulation laboratory, equipping a videoconference classroom, and the development of web, on-site, and blended courses at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus. “Critical nursing shortages in Florida and throughout the United States continue to grow as the population ages and the nursing workforce approaches retirement age,” said Buchanan. “With a nursing program in place, USF will be able to train more nurses to help care for area residents.” “This money will be instrumental in assisting with the development of our nursing program at our location in South Sarasota County,” said President Dr. Arthur Guilford. It will enable us to get broader coverage of the nursing program by extending our reach through video conferencing from North Manatee County as far north as Parrish all the way down to North Port.” Buchanan secured $94,050 for equipment to operate a Medical Technology and Simulation Center and community health clinic at State College of Florida. “They already have the facility,” said Buchanan. “This funding will allow them to purchase the equipment necessary to equip the center and help provide the community with the additional health care services we need.” Dr. Lars A. Hafner, President, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota said, “This grant and Congressman Buchanan’s support for our nursing programs are deeply appreciated, especially as SCF continues to expand our programs to include our new bachelor of science in nursing degree that health care and political leadership impressed upon us is vital to our community.” The Child Protection Center in Sarasota was awarded $282,150 secured by Buchanan for their “Pillar of Hope” Campaign to build a Child Advocacy Center The funding will support their efforts to expand their counseling program and add two new state-of-the-art medical exam rooms at their location. “The center’s current facility limits their ability to provide services vital to the health and safety of abused children,” noted Buchanan. “This funding will help boost their efforts to build a new center that will allow them to expand their counseling program and provide additional medical services to abused children.” "The support of Congressman Buchanan for the Child Advocacy Center is greatly appreciated,” said Dr. Hal H. Hedley, President and CEO of the Child Protection Center. “His support will clearly help protect Sarasota's most vulnerable children from abuse, neglect and exploitation." Buchanan requested the funding, approved by the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act passed by the House in February. ### |
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