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Seventeen percent of American children live in poverty.
No, that’s not a typo. It’s actually 17 percent.
“As many as 20 million American children do not have the
health care or access they need and deserve, including 9
million without basic health insurance,” says Karen Redlener, executive director of The Children’s Health Fund. Whether it’s due to a lack of health insurance coverage, a scarcity of doctors in low-income urban and rural communities, limited access to affordable transportation, and/or overarching language and cultural disparities, too many children don’t have the essential health services they need to thrive.
Enter: The Children’s Health Fund (CHF), a nonprofit organization that is committed to providing health care to the nation’s most medically underserved children through the development and support of innovative primary care programs, to responding in times of public health crises, and to promoting guaranteed access to quality health care for all children.
Founded by singer/songwriter Paul Simon and pediatrician/child advocate Irwin Redlener, MD, in 1987, CHF launched its first program, the New York Children’s Health Project (NYCHP), with a state-of-the-art mobile medical unit, affectionately remembered as “one big blue van,” which delivered medical care directly to those children with the least access. Since its inception, the organization has provided care for more than 1.6 million patient visits nationwide and now operates 38 mobile medical units. Redlener also reports that CHF replicates the program model across the country with 22 innovative pediatric care programs affiliated with major teaching hospitals or community health centers in 13 states and the District of Columbia.
“Every child and every family that comes to one of the 22 programs in the CHF networks is offered care,” says Redlener. “Our patients receive comprehensive care in all areas, including complete oral health and dental treatments that are often overlooked. We provide screening, prevention, identification and management of acute and chronic conditions; health education; and mental health and development services. We view health care as a doorway into a wide range of services. Through the trust that builds between CHF and families, we become a source for help with medical and nonmedical concerns. We advocate for families on insurance and housing. We foster learning skills through our reading initiatives. The CHF model of care enables young patients to thrive physically, emotionally and intellectually.”
With the aid and collaboration of private-sector partners and the generosity of donors worldwide, The Children’s Health Fund has developed special initiatives and programs that focus on such important issues as asthma, childhood obesity, diabetes, mental health and behavioral disorders, health education, continuity of care and more. “And CHF is committed to sharing what’s been learned with communities, health care providers and policy makers through publishing articles in medical and public health literature, by advocating for expanded programs of care at regional and national meetings, and by making everything we’ve learned available to whoever wants to make a difference for kids,” Redlener adds.
How can you make a difference?
Redlener says: “CHF’s programs are sustained by the vision, generosity and caring of individuals, corporations and foundations. The CHF family of supporters includes donors, advocates, corporate leaders coming together to impact policy discussions about health access for children, and friends making financial contributions.”
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Donate to CHF. Making a gift to The Children’s Health Fund helps its projects provide a “medical home” for homeless and low-income children through continuous access to high-quality comprehensive pediatric care. |
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Advocate for children. Redlener urges you to join in the mission of CHF by directly reaching out to state and federal lawmakers on issues that affect children in your community. Visit the advocacy section of our website to take action today. |
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Attend. Click here to check out CHF’s upcoming events to see how you can support the organization locally. |
Go to www.childrenshealthfund.org for comprehensive information on CHF.
THE FAMILY GROOVE donates a percentage of its revenue to its featured Charity of the Month.
A 6-year-old girl named Chloe came to The Children’s Health Fund’s program with her mother. Chloe had a history of severe eczema since infancy. She was previously seen and treated by numerous providers and emergency room doctors who gave her medications and creams, but these had little success in improving her condition.
Chloe was embarrassed by the way she looked and didn’t like to be seen in public or play with other children. Her symptoms were so severe that she often missed several days of school a week and was even sent home from school regularly because of bleeding and discomfort. Her eczema was so severe it would often get infected.
Prior to her meeting Dr. Persharon Dixon, CHF’s medical director, and the rest of the team at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Children’s Health Project, no one had ever suggested she be tested for food allergies, a common cause of eczema. Dr. Dixon suggested trying an elimination diet and started out by removing dairy from Chloe’s diet. Within one week, Chloe showed dramatic improvements. She was able to attend school without having to leave; sleeping through the night, something she had not been able to do because of itching; and acting like a normal, happy, healthy 6-year-old.
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