Frank Phillips College
The overarching goal of Educating LVNs and RNs: a Regional Solution for Rural Areas is to develop and implement a new model for delivering nurse training in rural counties of the Texas Panhandle. Recently, a consortium was formed to address the shortage of healthcare providers in rural areas of the Panhandle. Frank Phillips College (FPC) has joined with Amarillo College (AC), Dallam Hartley Counties Hospital District, Deaf Smith County Hospital District, Hutchinson County Hospital District, and Moore County Hospital District to form the Rural Nursing Education Consortium (RNEC). This cooperative arrangement is led by the four rural hospital districts, who have agreed to support this project, and the two colleges that have agreed to work across districts in order to create opportunity where challenges currently exist.
RNEC envisions a new model for the delivery of nursing education that includes advanced technology for real-time interactive telecommunication, linking designated classrooms across the Panhandle. This allows rural areas to train local students in their own community, provide rigorous hands-on training in simulation labs, and complete their clinical studies at a local hospital or clinic. Key to the success of this model is the cooperation between the consortium members. Frank Phillips College (fiscal manager of the grant) and Amarillo College will share resources across districts, and the consortium members will each financially support the project on an ongoing basis. The project will focus on piloting the new model starting with LVN training beginning in fall 2020 and will continue with development and implementation of LVN to RN training beginning in fall 2021.
Project implementation can begin immediately because the underlying cooperative agreement is already in place and the dedicated classrooms and simulation lab spaces have been identified for each site. A dedicated Program Director has been hired to oversee the operations and will run parallel tracts for activities related to community/parent/student engagement and for technical aspects including finalizing lists of needed technology and simulation lab equipment and supplies.
RNEC is requesting a total of $500,000: $216,000 of which is to purchase/install classroom audio-visual equipment (2 need full equipment, 2 need upgrades) and $284,000 to purchase major simulation equipment for the nursing simulation labs.
2019 CNSP Recipients
| 2019 CNSP Recipients | Amount | Purpose |
| A World for Children | $5,000 | to support the Bridging the Gap program |
| Amarillo Area CASA | $5,000 | to recruit, train, and retain CASA Volunteer Advocates |
| Amarillo Children’s Home | $7,500 | to support the First Steps to Success program |
| American Red Cross | $5,000 | to support the Home Fire Campaign |
| Another Chance House | $5,000 | to support the Live to Work, Work to Live program |
| Arrow Child and Family Ministries | $5,000 | to provide improved food service for children |
| Buckner Children and Family Services | $5,000 | to support the Fostering Youth independence (FYi) program |
| Catholic Charities of the TX Panhandle | $5,000 | to support the Youth Shelter Bus purchase |
| Claude Community Recreation | $2,500 | to support the Claude Softball Complex Construction |
| Don Harrington Discovery Center | $2,500 | to support Family Discovery Membership |
| Faith City Mission | $5,000 | to support Basic Needs for the Homeless |
| Family Care Foundation | $7,500 | to support Dental Assistance |
| Golden Spread Council, Boy Scouts of America | $5,000 | to support the Scoutreach Mobile Park Camp |
| Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation | $5,000 | to support the CMN Beads of Courage Program |
| Hidden Falls Ranch | $5,000 | to support HFR Camper Scholarships |
| High Plains Food Bank | $5,000 | to support the Rural Food Delivery Service |
| Hope Lives Here | $7,500 | to support the Harley’s Legacy program for support dogs and vets |
| Make-A-Wish Foundation | $5,000 | to support Wish Granting in the Texas Panhandle |
| Sharing Hope Ministry | $7,500 | to support the Empowering At-Risk Women program |
| The Salvation Army | $5,000 | to support the Nights of Shelter program |
| Transformations by Amarillo Angels | $5,000 | to support the Love Box/Dare to Dream Programs |
| Turn Center | $10,000 | to support the Augmentative Communication Project |
| Upbring | $5,000 | to support the Amarillo Foster in Texas Program |
Special Fund Distributions
Pattern Panhandle Wind Competitive Grant Program
| Organization / Purpose | Amount | ||
| City of Panhandle to purchase computers for the Panhandle Police Department |
$10,000.00 | ||
| Lone Star Ballet to support the LSB Academies Outreach |
$3,750.00 | ||
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of Amarillo to support the Keeping Families Close Campaign |
$3,750.00 | ||
| Skellytown Area Volunteer Firefighters-EMS Association to purchase 10 sets of structural turnout gear, 14 sets of wildland gear, and boots as needed |
$25,000.00 | ||
| White Deer Volunteer EMS to purchase equipment |
$25,000.00 | ||
| White Deer-Skellytown Lighthouse Food Pantry to purchase food and school supplies |
$7,500.00 | ||
| Ogallala Commons to fund the Playa Festival for Carson County 5th graders |
$2,500.00 | ||
| Panhandle Education Foundation to purchase technology, books and provide teacher grants |
$8,471.00 | ||
| Panhandle Independent School District to purchase security equipment, computers and curriculum materials |
$25,000.00 | ||
| Panhandle Independent School District to provide two, $2,500 scholarships to graduating seniors from Panhandle |
$5,000.00 | ||
| Window On a Wider World to support Carson County WOWW programming |
$3,393.00 | ||
| White Deer Independent School District to purchase Technology & Ag Support |
$24,815.00 | ||
| White Deer Independent School District to provide two, $2,500 scholarships to graduating seniors from White Deer |
$5,000.00 | ||
| Total Amount | $149,179.00 | ||
2019 Slentz Grant
Louise Bowers Slentz Foundation Advise and Consult Fund:
| Applicant Name | Purpose | Amount |
| Texas Tech Foundation fbo Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – Amarillo | to purchase one EPIQ 5W Ultrasound System | $93,467 |
| Turn Center | to purchase an updated security camera system and technology for Turn Center’s physical security and for the speech/feeding therapy department | $41,593 |
| The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center in Pampa | to provide a fire safety system and wiring, as well as interior paint to their facility | $23,850 |
| Refuge Ministries | to support their shelter renovation, purchase appliances, and cover capacity growth training costs up to $3,050 of the total grant for nonprofit board governance, fundraising and strategic planning | $30,000 |
| Amarillo College Foundation | to purchase simulation lab equipment for nurse training in rural counties of the Texas Panhandle over a 2-year period ($125K for 2019/$125K for 2020)* | $250,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of Amarillo | to provide temporary housing for families of pediatric patients who live outside the city limits during RM House renovations as an emergency request | $27,840 |
| Cactus Nazarene Health Center | to support The Well Health Center Vaccine Clinic | $33,250 |
| TOTAL GRANT DISTRIBUTION | $500,000 |
2019 Women’s Philanthropy Fund
|
Recipient |
Amount |
Purpose |
|
Amarillo Children’s Home |
$10,000 |
Transitional Living Program |
|
7 Star Therapeutic Riding Center |
$6,000 |
Horses Healing Children |
|
Buckner Children and Family Services |
$6,000 |
Family Pathways Program |
|
Opportunity School |
$6,000 |
Capital Campaign Project |
|
Mission Amarillo |
$6,000 |
Teen Mother Mentoring |
|
Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation |
$6,000 |
Mammograms to Save Women |
|
Total Amount |
$40,000 |
|