Oregon joins Future of Nursing: State Implementation Program.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2, 2015
Contact: Melissa Blair; 609-627-5937

Princeton, N.J. – The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced that the Oregon Action Coalition is now part of the Future of Nursing State Implementation Program (SIP) and is receiving a $150,000 grant over two years to support its work. In addition to the grant to Oregon, RWJF announced that Action Coalitions in seven other states that are already part of the SIP Program—Alabama, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia—will receive their second two-year grants of up to $150,000 each. SIP helps state-based Action Coalitions prepare the nursing profession to promote healthy communities and address our nation’s most pressing health care challenges: access, quality, and cost.

The SIP Program now supports Action Coalitions in 34 states. The grants announced today bring the total that RWJF has provided to state Action Coalitions through SIP to $8.85 million. All SIP grantees must obtain matching funds and, to date, states with SIP grants have raised more than $12.6 million beyond their RWJF funding, and the 51 Action Coalitions have leveraged more than $17 million in funding beyond their RWJF grants.

The new SIP grants bolster efforts already underway in 50 states and the District of Columbia—through the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action—to build a Culture of Health through nursing. A joint initiative of AARP and RWJF, the Campaign is working to implement the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) evidence-based recommendations on the future of nursing. It provides a vehicle for nurses and nurse champions to lead change that will support healthy communities through collaboration with health care, business, consumer, and other stakeholders. SIP grants support state-based Action Coalitions that have made substantial progress toward implementing the IOM recommendations.

“SIP grants have already helped transform our health care system in ways that are making people and communities healthier,” said Susan B. Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, RWJF senior adviser for nursing and director of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action. “We are confident that this new round of grants will do even more to help Action Coalitions expand access to care, strengthen nursing education, recruit and train a more diverse nursing workforce, and improve the quality of health care.”

The Center to Champion Nursing in America (CCNA), an initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation, and RWJF, serves as the national program office for the Future of Nursing State Implementation Program.

“We are so pleased that Oregon is joining the SIP program and that seven other states have had their grants renewed,” said Susan Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior vice president of the AARP Public Policy Institute and chief strategist at CCNA. “This program has been a resounding success and we know this new funding will do even more to transform health care through nursing so we can improve health outcomes and well-being for individuals, families, and entire communities.”

About the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action
The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action is a joint initiative of AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), working to implement the Institute of Medicine’s evidence-based recommendations on the future of nursing. The Campaign includes Action Coalitions in 50 states and the District of Columbia and a wide range of health care professionals, consumer advocates, policy-makers, and the business, academic, and philanthropic communities. The Center to Champion Nursing in America, an initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation and RWJF, serves as the coordinating entity for the Campaign, as well as the national program office for the Future of Nursing State Implementation Program. Learn more at www.campaignforaction.org. Follow the Campaign for Action on Twitter at @Campaign4Action and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CampaignForAction.

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
For more than 40 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are striving to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at www.rwjf.org/twitter or on Facebook at www.rwjf.org/facebook.

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world’s largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.  The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.