The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced that the South Carolina One-Voice, One-Plan Action Coalition is receiving a second two-year grant through the Future of Nursing State Implementation Program (SIP). The $8.85 million initiative is helping states prepare the nursing profession to promote healthy communities and address our nation’s most pressing health care challenges: access, quality, and cost. South Carolina is one of seven states that will receive a second two-year grant of up to $150,000; the others are Alabama, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, Vermont, and Virginia. In addition, RWJF announced that Oregon is joining the SIP program this month, bringing the number of state Action Coalitions it supports to 34.
SIP grants bolster efforts already underway in 50 states and the District of Columbia—through the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action—to build a Culture of Health through nursing. A joint initiative of AARP and RWJF, the Campaign is working to implement the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) evidence-based recommendations on the future of nursing. It provides a vehicle for nurses and nurse champions to lead change that will support healthy communities through collaboration with health care, business, consumer, and other stakeholders.
“SIP grants have already helped transform our health care system in ways that are making people and communities healthier,” said Susan B. Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, RWJF senior adviser for nursing and director of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action. “This new round of grants will do even more to help Action Coalitions expand access to care, strengthen nursing education, recruit and train a more diverse nursing workforce, and improve the quality of health care.”
“Our Action Coalition will use these new funds to diversify the state’s nursing workforce, increasing the number of baccalaureate prepared nurses and strengthening nurse leadership in the state,” said Kathleen B. LaSala, RN, PNP, PhD, Action Coalition co-lead and associate dean of academic affairs at the College of Nursing, University of South Carolina.
SIP grants support state-based Action Coalitions that have made substantial progress toward implementing the IOM recommendations. All SIP grantees must obtain matching funds and, to date, states with SIP grants have raised more than $12.6 million beyond their RWJF funding. The 51 Action Coalitions have leveraged more than $17 million beyond their RWJF grants.
“We are tremendously proud to be continuing with this program and look forward to doing even more to implement the IOM’s future of nursing recommendations here in South Carolina,” said Jimmy Walker, senior vice president, regulatory and workforce at the South Carolina Hospital Association. “We are fortunate to have generous partners in the state who helped us match the RWJF grant, including grants through the South Carolina Area Health Education Center and College of Nursing, University of South Carolina. Our work to transform nursing improves health for all of us. We are grateful for this support.”
The Center to Champion Nursing in America (CCNA), an initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation, and RWJF, serves as the national program office for the Future of Nursing State Implementation Program.
“We are so pleased that seven states have had their grants renewed and that Oregon is joining the SIP program,” said Susan Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior vice president of the AARP Public Policy Institute and chief strategist at CCNA. “It has been a resounding success and we know this new funding will do even more to transform health care through nursing so we can improve health outcomes and well-being for individuals, families, and entire communities.”
About the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action
The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action is a joint initiative of AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), working to implement the Institute of Medicine’s evidence-based recommendations on the future of nursing. The Campaign includes Action Coalitions in 50 states and the District of Columbia and a wide range of health care professionals, consumer advocates, policy-makers, and the business, academic, and philanthropic communities. The Center to Champion Nursing in America, an initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation and RWJF, serves as the coordinating entity for the Campaign, as well as the national program office for the Future of Nursing State Implementation Program. Learn more at www.campaignforaction.org. Follow the Campaign for Action on Twitter at @Campaign4Action and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CampaignForAction.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
For more than 40 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are striving to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at www.rwjf.org/twitter or on Facebook at www.rwjf.org/facebook.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.