The Melba Fritz Story

The Melba Fritz Scholarship was created in 2004 in honor of Melba Fritz, case manager and nurse who passed from this life in 2003. Besides nursing and CMSA, Melba was everyone’s friend. As a loving and caring person, Melba lived her life fully. From picking cotton in her youth to running marathons as an adult, Melba endeared all who know her. Having a strong nurturing personality, she extended her family far beyond her two daughters to aunts, uncles and cousins. She had a vast love to share with others. 

 

The Scholarship

    The recipient of the Melba Fritz Scholarship award will have the CCM examination fee paid through scholarship funds. Recipients are responsible for coordinating submission of the fee from a Scholarship Committee contact prior to the exam fee deadline.

 

Purpose

    The purpose of the Melba Fritz Scholarship is to encourage active DFW-CMSA members to seek C.C.M. certification through the Commission for Case Manager Certification. The Commission believes that case management “serves as a means for achieving client wellness and autonomy through advocacy, communication, education, identification of service resources, and service facilitation.” By encouraging members to become certified, the DFW-CMSA chapter assists members to grow as expert case managers through preparation for the exam. The chapter further believes in assisting the Dallas-Ft. Worth health care community attain case managers who have expert skills and the experience needed to provide services based on the principles of case management practice.

 

Application Process

    Applicants should apply for the scholarship directly to the DFW-CMSA Scholarship Committee by the submitting the required application form and a copy of the CCMC certification application packet by the date specified prior to the exam for which the student makes application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The application is available on the chapter website at www.dfwcmsa.com, or through distribution at chapter meetings and conferences.

 

Application Criteria

• DFW-CMSA membership for a minimum of one year is required

• Attendance at chapter meetings and conferences for the previous year

• Service to the chapter

• Approval to take the certification examination for Case Manager through the Commission for Case Manager Certification, Rolling Meadows, IL

• Payment of the CCM Examination fee by the scholarship applicant

    The Application Deadline

          The application deadline to apply for the Melba Fritz Scholarship for the Spring examination is February 1.  The application deadline for the fall examination is August 1.

Contact

Linda Hackathorn, RN, BSN, CCM

1009 Springdale Road
Bedford,  TX 76021

linda_hackathorn@hotmail.com
(817) 545-0535

Funding

    The semi-annual scholarship process is funded through voluntary donations from DFW-CMSA members. At chapter meetings and conferences, a toast is offered in memory of Melba Fritz and donations are collected for the fund. The DFW chapter believes that this process best helps to keep Melba’s memory alive and honors her dedicated service as a case manager.