From the left, Patty Hayes, Director of WithinReach, Mary Jo Managerelii, representing Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, Gail Weaver from Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and Diane Patterson from Children’s Village.

Washington’s WithinReach program will honor Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, Children’s Village (Trustee Partners: Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinics, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, EPIC and The Memorial Foundation), and Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, as recipients of the 2009 WithinReach Partnership Award. The award will be presented at a May 19th award luncheon at the Seattle Sheraton. WithinReach, formerly known as Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, offers the award to community partners that demonstrate a continuous commitment to improving the health of all families in Washington, through strong community partnerships.

“It has been wonderful working with these great Yakima partners to improve the health of families in the greater Yakima area,” said Patty Hayes Executive Director of WithinReach, “The leadership and spirit of community that each organization brings to the table is a model for the state”

WithinReach is a private nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure optimal health for all families in Washington by connecting them to the programs, resources, and information they need to build healthy families. The organization collects information regarding available resources and disseminates the information via their website, ParentHelp123.org, and state-wide telephone hotlines, as well as through other valuable programs.

“We are honored that the WithinReach Organization has selected Children’s Village for this award,” says Diane Patterson, Director of Children’s Village. “At Children’s Village, we believe it is our role in the community to act as a conduit, connecting people with the resources they need to keep their families healthy. WithinReach helps provide us the tools to make those connections.”

Both Children’s Village and Memorial Hospital partnered with WithinReach to host focus groups with Yakima area parents and social service providers to aid in the development of new features on ParentHelp123.org, including the professional version, which is scheduled for release later this year. Currently, the site offers patients information regarding free or low-cost health insurance, food resources, immunization information, breastfeeding support, family planning services, parenting support, child development screening services, and many other social and health programs. The new professional version will implement resources aimed at better supporting area hospitals and clinics.

“WithinReach is a valuable resource to our community,” says Gail Weaver, Memorial’s Vice President of Continuum of Care. “We look forward to working with the organization to develop new ideas and continue improving this resource, not only for our community, but for both patients and professionals across the state.”

The award luncheon will take place at the Seattle Sheraton, 1400 6th Ave in Seattle on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 from 12-1:30 p.m.