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Kansas City News Today Kansas City Front Page is a weekly news publication, with daily updates, spotlighting attractions, events, business and hospitality in Kansas City. |
KANSAS CITY NEWS TODAY - Monday, May 5, 2008 Third Annual Traveling Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery Opens in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com), May 5, 2008 - The Missouri Department of Social Services' Children's Division (CD) has launched its third annual Missouri Traveling Adoption Heart Gallery at the Crown Center in Kansas City. The Heart Gallery is a traveling photo exhibit of Missouri foster children awaiting adoption. This year's gallery features 238 children in 185 portraits. "The Heart Gallery personalizes Missouri foster children and their hope to become a permanent part of a family," Gov. Matt Blunt said at the opening. "I am pleased we have been able to introduce the gallery to showcase Missouri children and help Missourians learn more about adoption opportunities in the state." "There are so many amazing children in our state waiting for a family that can offer them the safety, security and love they need," DSS Director Deborah Scott said. "The Heart Gallery is a wonderful way for families to connect with the children. Our hope is the public will come out to see these beautiful photographs and open their hearts to the possibility of adoption." The Heart Gallery originated in New Mexico in 2001 and has since spread to several states. Gov. Matt Blunt heard of the New Mexico gallery and approached the department about incorporating it into its recruitment activities. Gov. Matt Blunt and First Lady Melanie Blunt helped open the inaugural Heart Gallery to promote and encourage adoptions for children in foster care who cannot safely return home. CD partners with the Adoption Exchange-Missouri to present the gallery which features photographs taken by professional photographers across the state who donate their time and talent. The Heart Gallery will be on display in 22 different locations in 16 cities in this year's tour of the state. Since its inception in Missouri in 2006, more than 100 foster children have been placed in permanent, adoptive homes. "The photographers are at the core of the Heart Gallery's success. Without their support and willingness to volunteer their services, the gallery would not be possible." Children's Division Director Paula Neese added. "The ability of these photographers to capture the spirit of these children is astounding." The exhibit is on display through May 18. Admission is free. For more information, call 816-274-8444. Habitat for Humanity Builds LEED Certified Home KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com), May 5, 2008 - Habitat for Humanity Kansas City is standing apart from other area builders by constructing the only house on the Parade of Homes Tour that is both Energy Star rated and LEED certified. Located at 3635 Highland in Kansas City, Missouri, the home will be open for public viewing through May 18 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. "This is the first year Habitat Kansas City has had a home featured in the Parade of Homes Tour," explains Yahna Gibson, executive director. "We are honored to be included and proud to be the only home on the tour with LEED certification. All Habitat Kansas City homes are Energy Star rated because long-term energy savings and conservation are the right things to do for the environment and for the families we serve. The energy savings they realize in their Habitat homes will make a difference in the financial stability of our families." LEED is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. This 201st home built by Habitat Kansas City was sponsored by Kansas City Habitat ReStore and is the future home of the Jermonica Cann family. This home will be dedicated during the Tour on May 10, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. This home dedication ceremony is open to the public and the community is encouraged to participate and see what Habitat is doing for needy families in Kansas City. Long Term Care Costs in Missouri Increased as Much as Three Times National Average KANSAS CITY, (BUSINESS WIRE), May 5, 2008 - The cost of nursing home care in St. Louis, the most expensive city in Missouri for this type of care, has increased 57 percent since 2004, according to an annual Cost of Care Survey released by Genworth Financial. Elsewhere in Missouri, over the past five years, costs increased 18 percent in Kansas City and 11 percent throughout the rest of the state. This compares to a 17 percent increase nationwide. The study, which found that nationwide the cost of long term care in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and in the home increased for the fifth consecutive year, also found that one year in a private nursing home in St. Louis costs $67,242. The comparable cost in Kansas City is $63,980 and throughout the rest of Missouri the cost is $46,018. By contrast, the national average for a year in a private nursing home is $76,460 - more than one and a half times the average annual household income in the U.S. of $48,2011. Most long term care services in this country are rising at a rate faster than inflation, as the cost of providing this type of care continues to rise. Each year Genworth surveys the cost of care in more than 10,000 nursing homes, assisted living facilities and among home care providers in all 50 states and 90 geographic regions including the District of Columbia. It is the most comprehensive cost analysis in the industry, and the only one that provides comparative data for the past five years. For the first time, this year's survey also includes adult day health care costs. This year's Cost of Care Survey is complemented by additional research released today by Genworth entitled "A Workforce to Care for Our Aging." This study reveals an imminent shortage of caregivers. The U.S. will need to recruit 200,000 new direct-care workers each year to meet future demand among the 78 million baby boomers as they age. In addition, the care giver workforce is dwindling and faces issues of retention. "Rising long term care costs are creating significant financial planning challenges for millions of Americans and their families," said Buck Stinson, president of Genworth Financial's Long Term Care Insurance business. "Genworth Financial continues to conduct research on the cost of long term care so that citizens of Missouri and nationwide understand what to expect in terms of paying for this type of care now and in the future. This information helps consumers and their advisors effectively plan to meet their financial security goals." Additional findings from the 2008 Cost of Care Survey include: Assisted Living: A private one-bedroom unit in an assisted living facility in the U.S. has an average annual cost of $36,090. In Missouri, the average annual costs are as follows: St. Louis: $34,178; Kansas City: $42,247; and Rest of state: $24,574. Home Care: Nationally, the average hourly rate for a non-Medicare certified, state licensed home health aide is $19.18, a cost that translates to $43,884 per year for 44 hours per week of care. Costs in Missouri are as follows: St. Louis: $18.75 per hour, or $42,900 per year; Kansas City: $18.96 per hour, or $43,380 per year; and Rest of state: $17.58 per hour, or $40,223 per year. Adult Day Health Care: First year research findings indicate the average annual cost for five days a week in an adult day health care facility is $15,236 nationally. The comparable costs in Missouri are: St. Louis: $14,667; Kansas City: $16,273; and Rest of state: $15,837. Conducted by CareScout between December 2007 and February 2008, the 2008 Cost of Care Survey provides national, state and local cost information.   The Kansas City Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Kansas City area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 2007 - 2008 Moore Design Group. |
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