$1.8 Billion

$170.71

Any idea what these three sets of numbers stand for? Well, they all have to do with Mother’s Day, which is coming up this Sunday! Each year, approximately $2.2 billion is spent on flowers for Mom, while another $1.8 billion is spent on cards! That’s a total of 4 BILLION DOLLARS for flowers and cards! So you may be wondering, what’s $170.71 mean? According to Forbes the average mother’s day gift is approximately $170.71!

This year, consider giving a gift to Mom unlike any other! Unlike flowers or cards, which unfortunately get thrown away after a week or two, give the gift of changing lives.

Consider making a gift to HealthNet in honor or in memory of all the moms in your life.Your gift, in honor or memory of all the moms in your life can make a huge impact on Indy and the patients we serve. From helping provide mammograms for women who couldn’t otherwise afford them, to providing emergency medical care to patients, every gift, whether it’s $5.00 or $170.00 makes a difference in the lives of our patients. 

To make a tax-deductible donation in honor or memory of the moms in your life, you can click here or send a check by mail to HealthNet.

• Increase Hoosiers at a healthy weight
• Decrease tobacco usage
• Reduce infant mortality
• Assure food safety
• Reduce health care-associated infections
• Reduce the burden of HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis in Indiana

It’s no secret that Indiana ranks as one of the unhealthiest states in the nation. State Health Commissioner Gregory Larkin acknowledged that implementing the state’s ambitious action plan will be no easy task. The only way to succeed will be if individuals and public, private, governmental, and nonprofit organizations passionately #giveacareabout our state and work together.

We applaud the Department of Health’s efforts to take a broad look at how to make Indiana a healthier place to live. If we were to add a goal, #7 would be to continue improving access to health care and support services in neighborhoods, right where people live.

Why? Because true health encompasses so much more than a once-a-year doctor’s visit. And, often the best people to figure how to make a community a healthier are the folks who actually live there.

For example, look at what’s been happening on the Far Eastside of Indianapolis. This month, residents there just embarked on a great adventure — developing a Quality of Life plan for their community. This plan will help outline the things the community believes should happen to improve the health and well-being of all residents. Not only do they intend to identify areas of need and concern, they also plan to work together to be the change they want to see in their community.

The success of this plan, too, will take a lot of local folks who #giveacareabout the Far Eastside and work tireless to make things happen. We look forward to being a part of it.

Last month, we became a Far Eastside neighbor! The new HealthNet Eastside Health Center opened at 38^th Street and Post Road, and will serve more than 2,000 people each year — many living below the federal poverty level. It’s great to be neighbors with the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE), LaPlaza, Goodwill Industries, Family Development Services, CICOA, Dream Academy, Women in Motion and other groups at the Far Eastside Neighborhood Center that are working together with residents to make the Far Eastside a healthier place to live.

What can you do? GET INVOLVED!

If you live on the Far Eastside, the Quality of Life Issue Group meetings are the third Tuesday of each month at the Far Eastside Neightborhood Center, 8902 E. 38th Street, at 6:00 p.m.

Interested in knowing more about the Far Eastside? Join us at today’s open house for the new Eastside Health Center at CAFE’s Annual Community Day!

If you were to add a goal to the state’s list, what do you think would be the most important health priority for your neighborhood?

Those serving in the United States Navy are not only defending our country, but they are also fighting for each one of us individually. They endure long separations from family in sometimes hostile circumstances and often come home with emotional and mental health needs. Their families also struggle with the hardships of their loved ones being gone. Social workers play a vital role in helping everyone staying strong.

The social workers at HealthNet do just the same – help families stay strong. Assisting people in managing their daily lives, coping with issues, navigating relationships, and solving personal and family problems are a few of the things they do on a daily basis. There are many different kinds of social work careers, but in the end, they are here to serve one ultimate purpose – to help provide support services to improve people’s lives.

HealthNet’s social workers provide much needed services to those living at or below the federal poverty level. Whether it is with emergency diapers, basic necessities or referrals to low cost legal services, they are here to help regardless of the person’s financial status.

To learn more about HealthNet and how you can help our social workers provide basic needs, please visit www.indyhealthnet.org.