Franciscan Health Rensselaer Receives Community Partnership Award

RENSSELAER, Indiana - Franciscan Health Rensselaer and Appleseed Childhood Education recently received the Critical Access Hospital Community Partnership Award from the Indiana State Office of Rural Health for their partnership.

The Indiana State Office of Rural Health has been awarding the honor for over five years to those who have made an impact on rural health. Earlier this year, Franciscan Health Rensselaer and Appleseed Childhood Education opened a childcare facility, located on the Franciscan Health Rensselaer campus.

"We are honored to receive the Community Partnership Award," said Franciscan Health Rensselaer Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Carlos Vasquez. "This has truly been an effort by the entire community. We are grateful that we have had the opportunity to take part in this project. On behalf of the Sisters of St. Francis to everyone involved in this and all of Rensselaer, thank you for letting us be part of your community."

Appletree Rensselaer, the first project of Appleseed Childhood Education, provides high-quality childcare, five days a week, for up to 75 children ages six weeks through five years old. Appleseed doubles the number of licensed childcare seats in Jasper County for infants, toddlers and preschool-age children.

"I'd like to thank the Indiana State Department of Health and State Office of Rural Health for this award," said Adam Alson, president of Appleseed Childhood Education. "There is a whole host of people and organizations in this community, who came together and rallied around this idea. Appleseed Childhood Education is a vehicle for pride and the childcare center is a realization of that. Affordable and quality childcare is so important for a community the size of Rensselaer."

"It is our honor to announce Franciscan Health Rensselaer and Appleseed Childhood Education has been selected by the Indiana State Office Rural Health to receive the Critical Access Hospital Community Partner Award," said Joyce Fillenwarth, State Office Rural Health Manager. "These entities were selected because of their innovation and ability to create a partnership to meet the community's need for daycare. This partnership further demonstrates the impact a hospital can make on their community when they go outside the walls of healthcare. The State Office of Rural Health is so honored to be able to acknowledge this accomplishment."

Appleseed Childhood Education was established in 2020, with the mission to increase the availability of affordable, high-quality childcare opportunities in Rensselaer and surrounding areas. Appleseed has raised over $2 million in monetary and in-kind donations since its inception and has created partnerships with a wide array of employers, nonprofits and local governmental entities.

For more information on Appleseed Childhood Education, visit appleseedchildhoodeducation.org.