Ohio
NetWellness Type of Grant: TOP
Amount of Grant: $375,000
Non-Federal Support: $486,042
Date of Grant: October 1994-December 1996
Project Partners: University of Cincinnati, Ohio University, Ohio State University, Case Western University, TriState Online, Ohio Library Information Network, State Library of Ohio, Cincinnati Bell Telephone, Cincinnati Drug and Poison Information Center, Ameritech, Sybase, The Southeastern College and Continuing Education Coalition, Indiana University School of Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Contact: Steve Marine
Phone: (513) 558-0166
Email: stephen.marine@uc.edu
A TOP grant enabled NetWellness (http://www.netwellness.org/), a consumer health web service that provides users with a wide range of medical information, to get off the ground. The website's most popular service is "Ask an Expert," where faculty from Ohio's 3 research universities volunteer to answer online questions. To date, NetWellness volunteers have answered over 18,000 questions on more than 45 topics. The objective nature of the NetWellness site helps foster the trust of its users. The site is non-profit and non-commercial and there is no advertising.
Because of the useful information provided, NetWellness users feel that they are better prepared to address their health problems. In surveys, they consistently say that the information enables them to better communicate with their physicians, make an appointment, seek a second opinion, or change a behavior that is negative to their health.
NetWellness is a service provided jointly by the University of Cincinnati, the Ohio State University, and Case Western Reserve University. Over 200 health professionals contribute their expertise, ensuring that consumers receive only the highest quality information. About 1 million people per year use the service. Forbes.com has placed NetWellness on their list of the 30 best health websites for the last 3 years.
User feedback has reinforced the value of the services. Messages left on the website include:
"Thank you so much for your answer [submitted to Ask an Expert]. I have looked high and low in medical books and on other websites and never found anything mentioned that sounded similar to my problem. Your answer made me feel like there's hope for a solution, now that I know what the problem is."
"Extremely helpful. It helped me understand what the doctor couldn't take the time to spell out."
"Thank you so much for the information, advice, and encouragement. This is a wonderful service and an excellent example of how the Internet can be used in a positive way."
Ohio
Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet)
Type of Grant: CTC
Date of Grant: 2001-2002
Grant Amount: $158,210
Non-Federal Funding: $121, 200
Project Partners: Ohio State University; 4-H Clubs; Department of Job and Family Services; Workforce Investment Board; and the One Stop Center
Contact Name: Mr. Russell Combs
Phone: (704) 592-3854
Email: russc@acenetworks.org
With a CTC grant, ACEnet is able to use the Internet to empower the residents of rural Ohio, both children and adults alike. ACEnet works with high school students, encouraging them to look at the Internet not just as a tool for schoolwork, but also as a source of employment opportunities. As a result, six students who have participated in the program have started their own businesses.
Two of the students who participated in the ACEnet youth entrepreneurship program, a project to encourage students to use computer knowledge to set up their own small businesses, used the training they received not only to make money for college, but also to help others. One participant helps other individuals, including seniors, learn about the Internet and software applications. The other student helps local businesses train small groups of employees in specific applications.
ACEnet runs four CTCs that are available to both youth and the community at large. Specific focuses include: youth entrepreneurs, training volunteers to help with specific trainings and workforce development for adults. The CTC in Athens, OH, for example, has provided 260 families with computers through a program for TANF eligible adults who complete a specific training program. Two other CTCs conduct the Jump Start program, training unemployed individuals and laid off coal miners in categoric transferable technology skills (a training program designed by ACEnet) and job readiness skills.
