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Central Alabama Chapter
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In 1976, the Sickle Cell Foundation was formed by a group of concerned citizens that:
(1) Recognized there was no place to contact locally for information about sickle cell disease, (2) The sickle cell test was not a standard physician-offered exam, and (3) The analysis of the test results performed often missed the detection of many clinically significant sickling disorders. The group began by setting up information tables in malls and offering some testing. Initially, the Veteran's Hospital in Birmingham performed the laboratory tests. Volunteers knowledgeable about sickle cell disease provided some counseling and referred individuals to physicians for follow-up.
In 1978, the group was awarded a federal HEW grant (then known as U.S. Health, Education and Welfare) to establish a community based sickle cell project for Jefferson County, Alabama. The agency was considered a demonstration project and based on community response; the hope was that local funding would become available. The Central Alabama Chapter was founded as a non-profit, 501©3 agency.
In or around 1983, federal funds for community sickle cell programs were no longer available. Since that time, the Sickle Cell Foundation has received funding from the State of Alabama, United Way, and other community resources. From time to time, limited federal grant funds are received for special projects.
Requests for services from surrounding counties caused extensions of the service area during some program years. As many as 22 central and east Alabama counties received services over the course of the existence of the community based organization: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Cullman, Dekalb, Etowah, Fayette, Jefferson, Lamar, Marion, Marshall, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Walker, and Winston. Currently, the Sickle Cell Foundation in Birmingham serves 13 Central and Eastern Alabama counties.
Currently, the Central Alabama Chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (Sickle Cell Foundation) headquartered in Birmingham, provides services to affected persons in 13 central and east Alabama counties: Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Coosa, Fayette, Lamar, Bibb, Winston, Chilton, St. Clair, Marion, Cullman, and Blount. Free education, testing and counseling services are available to the public.
Our local Foundation is able to assist these families when they need help. Medicines and equipment are purchased, dental and vision care is available and many other services are provided that families need to help them cope financially and emotionally with this disease.
The Foundation also provides non-emergency services,such as summer camp for children and scholarships for college-bound students. These programs are very important and are designed to encourage affected individuals to become as self-sufficient as possible.
Significant programs and services have been implemented because of the efforts of the Sickle Cell Foundation in Birmingham. Years of advocating for Newborn Sickle Cell screening resulted in the Alabama State Department of Health establishing a requirement that all babies born in the state be tested for sickling conditions and sickle cell trait at birth. A comprehensive sickle cell clinic for children operates at Children's Hospital in Birmingham. The agency has also been an advocate for improved care for adults. Cooper Green and UAB Hospitals have established adult programs; however, adults with sickle cell disease remain in need of comprehensive services.
The reward of the Foundations' labor is tremendous. Twenty years ago a person with sickle cell disease was only expected to live to be 21 years old. Today, the outlook is very optimistic and affected individuals are living to be 40, 50, and 60 years old and older. However, our mission continues until a complete cure is found for this horrible disease.
(1) Recognized there was no place to contact locally for information about sickle cell disease, (2) The sickle cell test was not a standard physician-offered exam, and (3) The analysis of the test results performed often missed the detection of many clinically significant sickling disorders. The group began by setting up information tables in malls and offering some testing. Initially, the Veteran's Hospital in Birmingham performed the laboratory tests. Volunteers knowledgeable about sickle cell disease provided some counseling and referred individuals to physicians for follow-up.
In 1978, the group was awarded a federal HEW grant (then known as U.S. Health, Education and Welfare) to establish a community based sickle cell project for Jefferson County, Alabama. The agency was considered a demonstration project and based on community response; the hope was that local funding would become available. The Central Alabama Chapter was founded as a non-profit, 501©3 agency.
In or around 1983, federal funds for community sickle cell programs were no longer available. Since that time, the Sickle Cell Foundation has received funding from the State of Alabama, United Way, and other community resources. From time to time, limited federal grant funds are received for special projects.
Requests for services from surrounding counties caused extensions of the service area during some program years. As many as 22 central and east Alabama counties received services over the course of the existence of the community based organization: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Cullman, Dekalb, Etowah, Fayette, Jefferson, Lamar, Marion, Marshall, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Walker, and Winston. Currently, the Sickle Cell Foundation in Birmingham serves 13 Central and Eastern Alabama counties.
Currently, the Central Alabama Chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (Sickle Cell Foundation) headquartered in Birmingham, provides services to affected persons in 13 central and east Alabama counties: Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Coosa, Fayette, Lamar, Bibb, Winston, Chilton, St. Clair, Marion, Cullman, and Blount. Free education, testing and counseling services are available to the public.
Our local Foundation is able to assist these families when they need help. Medicines and equipment are purchased, dental and vision care is available and many other services are provided that families need to help them cope financially and emotionally with this disease.
The Foundation also provides non-emergency services,such as summer camp for children and scholarships for college-bound students. These programs are very important and are designed to encourage affected individuals to become as self-sufficient as possible.
Significant programs and services have been implemented because of the efforts of the Sickle Cell Foundation in Birmingham. Years of advocating for Newborn Sickle Cell screening resulted in the Alabama State Department of Health establishing a requirement that all babies born in the state be tested for sickling conditions and sickle cell trait at birth. A comprehensive sickle cell clinic for children operates at Children's Hospital in Birmingham. The agency has also been an advocate for improved care for adults. Cooper Green and UAB Hospitals have established adult programs; however, adults with sickle cell disease remain in need of comprehensive services.
The reward of the Foundations' labor is tremendous. Twenty years ago a person with sickle cell disease was only expected to live to be 21 years old. Today, the outlook is very optimistic and affected individuals are living to be 40, 50, and 60 years old and older. However, our mission continues until a complete cure is found for this horrible disease.
