The City of Petersburg announced today that The Cameron Foundation has award a grant of $70,000 to the Petersburg Public Library. This is a one-year grant for the continuation of the Healthy Living and Learning Center (HLLC) and to hire a Health Program Coordinator to work in the center full-time. HLLC currently offers free monthly HIV screenings in partnership with the Minority Consortium, daily physical fitness programs, and teen and adult health programs.
“We are excited about the grant and know that through this opportunity the Petersburg Public Library will be able to address the critical health literacy issues in our community,” comments Wayne Crocker, Director of Library Services.
In 2012, the Petersburg Public Library recognized the need to play a larger role in linking residents to community resources that address contributing factors that lead to poor health outcomes. Through partnering with the Petersburg Health Department – Crater Health District, the primary agency for public health in Petersburg area, and VCU Massey Cancer Center, one of the major research institutions in Central Virginia, an alliance was created and the Healthy Living and Learning Center was formed. The mission of the HLLC is to provide access to accurate and reliable health information to all citizens of Petersburg and surrounding areas.
HLLC was developed in response to a needs assessment completed in 2011 by VCU Massey. It was modeled after an ongoing health literacy program, Health Information and Advocacy at Your Library (HIA). The HLLC model is an expanded version of the HIA and is a unique model to suit the complex health needs of Petersburg and other localities represented in the district. The Petersburg Health Department provides experienced health educators, interns, and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers with substantial community engagement and enhances potential for sustainability.
For more information on Library events and programs, please visit www.ppls.org.