The Sisters of Charity Health System today announces that it is to receive $1,575,000 in federal appropriations funding for many of its ministries’ programmatic and equipment needs. The measures were included in the FY10 appropriations conference report (H.R. 3288) legislation.

Among the ministries to receive federal appropriations are St. Vincent Charity Hospital and St. John West Shore Hospital in Ohio, Healthy Learners and South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families in South Carolina.

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Healthy Learners has launched a new identity, mission and vision statement that connects to Sisters of Charity Health System. The new Mission Statement is, "In the spirit of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, Healthy Learners is devoted to removing children's health barriers to learning with love and compassion". The new Vision Statement is, "Our vision is that all children are healthy and able to reach their full potential." August 10th was a soft rollout date of the new identity with Labor Day slated as the target date for the full implementation of the new image for Healthy Learners. See more here!

We learned this week that some of our 2010 federal appropriations requests have moved another step forward. We're grateful to the support of our federal elected officials in Ohio and South Carolina. Here's what we know about recent House Labor-Health and Human Services Committee action:

Rep. Marcia Fudge has moved forward $500,000 for St. Vincent Charity Hospital for information systems.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich has moved forward $300,000 for St. John West Shore Hospital for information systems.

Rep. John Spratt and Rep. James Clyburn moved forward $110,000 for Healthy Learners Midlands.

And Commerce-Justice-Science also recently included $265,000 for South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families for Alternative to Incarceration from Mr. Spratt.

The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, Sisters of Charity Health System and representatives from the Health System’s South Carolina ministries met with Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone on June 22, in the Chancery Officein downtown Charleston.

The 90-minute meeting briefed the Bishop of the Sisters’ Catholic presence and ongoing investment in the state. Congregational Leader Sister Miriam Erb addressed the 71 years the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have lived and worked in South Carolina. Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System, gave the Bishop an overview of the structure and the current developments in the health care ministry in both Ohio and South Carolina.

The Sisters of Charity Health System has four ministries in South Carolina; Healthy Learners, Providence Hospitals, Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina and the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families. Leaders of these ministries each spent a few minutes educating the Bishop on the work and impact of their respective ministries in the state.

Lisa Potts, policy director for the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, described the plight of low-income fathers in the state and shared how the Center is making a difference in their lives and the lives of their children.

After an extensive question and answer period Bishop Guglielmone offered his appreciation and support of the Sisters and their ministries.