The Sisters of Saint Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation is a relatively new sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Wheeling. It was created in 2001 as the result of the sale of the second half of St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg, WV. The Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph decided that the funds from the sale would be used to address systemic changes in health care for the people of West Virginia through a new foundation.
A Task Force appointed by the Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Team studied and evaluated the most significant emerging health care needs of West Virginians. This strategy enabled Task Force members to establish a priority in addressing the most important issues. Results of this investigative process convinced the Task Force to choose the West Virginia School-Based Health Initiative as the primary area of funding for the new Foundation rather than endowing multiple grant requests from various non-profit organizations. The Task Force in collaboration with the Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Team decided to identify key projects and needs in established school-based health centers and fund them with large grants for a number of years hoping that this type of commitment would positively impact the spiritual, physical and psychological health of children. In addition, the Task Force envisioned this strategy as a “hands-on” approach that would enable SSJHWF staff to partner with existing individuals and groups who support the West Virginia School-Based Health Initiative through research, advocacy, and policy formation.
As a partner in these efforts since its creation in 2001, the Sisters of Saint Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation is having a positive impact on the West Virginia School-Based Health Initiative. Consequently, in 2005, the SSJHWF Board of Directors voted to make the West Virginia School-Based Health Initiative the Foundation’s primary funding focus until 2012.
In addition to funding the WV School-Based Health Initiative, the SSJHWF Board voted in 2005 to commit five to ten percent of its available funding for three years (2005-2008) to WV Child Advocacy Center projects. Child Advocacy Centers are facilities that operate a comprehensive child-focused program for children who have been abused or neglected and are involved in the legal system in some other way. Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, mental health professionals, educators and social service providers work together in a child-friendly atmosphere to address the child’s needs. SSJHWF Board members felt this commitment to financially support the Child Advocacy Center philosophy and team method of intervention would positively impact outcomes for child abuse/neglect victims and their families.