Childrens Hospital Association Incorporated

TO CREATE SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH CARE-RELATED NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

TO CREATE SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH CARE-RELATED NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS RECEIVED CHA GRANT FUNDING IN 2021 TOTALING $503,000.CHILD LIFE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ($35,000): A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IS SCARY FOR ANYONE, BUT FOR A CHILD THOSE FEARS CAN BE MORE PROFOUND AND HAVE A LASTING IMPACT. THE CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM ARE UNIQUELY TRAINED TO TALK TO CHILDREN IN AN AGE-APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING. THEY ENGAGE THE CHILDREN AND HELP REDUCE THEIR ANXIETY, CALMING THEM WHILE THEY RECEIVE THEIR MEDICAL CARE. THIS COMPASSION ENCIRCLES THE WHOLE FAMILY BY CREATING A SAFE, CHILD-FRIENDLY, APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PATIENT, THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR SIBLINGS. CHILD'S CANCER SURVIVOR PROGRAM ($50,000): BEING THE LARGEST PEDIATRIC CANCER PROGRAM IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, THE CHILD'S CANCER SURVIVOR PROGRAM UTILIZES A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS WHO FOLLOW SURVIVORS AFTER TREATMENT TO SUPPORT PATIENTS AND FAMILY THROUGH EDUCATION, SCREENING, AND TREATING LATE EFFECTS OF CANCER AND ITS TREATMENT. THE RN NAVIGATOR/CASE MANAGER IS BEING FUNDED WITH THIS GRANT, AND WILL SERVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CARE AND IMPROVEMENT OF SERVICES FOR FAMILIES. CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA COMMUNITY CONNECT ($60,000): WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE HEALTHCARE SETTING AT A CHILD'S HOME, IN THEIR SCHOOL, AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY ACTUALLY HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT ON A CHILD'S HEALTH. COMMUNITY CONNECT IDENTIFIES AND WORKS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ADDRESS CONDITIONS IN A CHILD'S LIFE THAT CAN LEAD TO POOR HEALTH AND DISEASE. THE PROGRAM IDENTIFIES SOCIAL ISSUES (SUCH AS FOOD INSECURITY, UNSAFE HOUSING, LACK OF TRANSPORTATION), CONNECTS FAMILIES TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES THEY NEED, AND COORDINATES SUPPORTIVE FOLLOW UP TO MAKE SURE THE SERVICES ARE RECEIVED. FIRST STEPS ($16,000): TEEN PARENTS NEED SPECIAL SUPPORT. INEXPERIENCE AND OTHER STRESSORS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF CHILD ABUSE. GIVING AT-RISK TEEN PARENTS POSITIVE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT CAN HELP THEM TACKLE THE NEW ROLE OF PARENTHOOD AND BUILD A HEALTHY FAMILY ENVIRONMENT. THE FIRST STEPS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT RIGHT AFTER THE BABY IS BORN WITH A CARE COORDINATOR VISIT THAT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, BABY CLOTHES AND BLANKETS. THAT SUPPORT CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE FIRST YEAR THROUGH CALLS, IN-PERSON VISITS, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES CONNECTING TEENS FACING THE SAME FINANCIAL, SOCIAL AND PARENTING CHALLENGES.MCRC MIDWEST CHILDREN'S RESOURCE CENTER ($80,000): ABUSED CHILDREN NEED A VOICE AND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO FIND HEALING. MIDWEST CHILDREN'S RESOURCE CENTER (MCRC) WORKS TO HELP ABUSED CHILDREN BY ADDRESSING THEIR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILIES. THE CENTER SERVES A CRITICAL ROLE AS A HOSPITAL-BASED CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER AND A MEDICAL CLINIC BY SURROUNDING ABUSED CHILDREN WITH COMPREHENSIVE, COMPASSIONATE, HIGH QUALITY CARE. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, MCRC HAS SEEN MORE THAT 1,300 CHILDREN FOR NEGLECT, PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, WITNESS TO VIOLENCE AND DRUG ENDANGERMENT. OF THOSE 1,300 CHILDREN, 29% WERE UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL NEEDS FUND ($45,000): WHEN A CHILD IS STRUGGLING EMOTIONALLY, ACCESS TO QUALITY DIAGNOSTICS AND TREATMENT IS CRITICAL. MONEY SHOULD NEVER BE THE BARRIER TO GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED. THE MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL NEEDS FUND ENABLES THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT CHILDREN'S TO PROVIDE FULL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR EMOTIONALLY VULNERABLE CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF INCOME OR INSURANCE COVERAGE. THROUGH THE FUND, STRUGGLING CHILDREN ARE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT SERVICES THEY NEED TO THRIVE. MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM ($50,000): MUSIC CAN CALM A STRUGGLING NEWBORN, IT CAN PROVIDE A DIVERSION FOR A TODDLER DURING AN UNCOMFORTABLE PROCEDURE, IT CAN ENCOURAGE MOVEMENT FOR A SCHOOL-AGER REHABILITATING DURING AN EXTENDED HOSPITAL STAY, IT CAN HELP A TEEN TO PROCESS THEIR FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS RELATED TO A SERIOUS ILLNESS, AND IT CAN PROVIDE COPING MECHANISMS FOR PARENTS AND SIBLINGS. THE MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM BRINGS THE UNIVERSAL HEALING POWER OF MUSIC TO PATIENTS AND FAMILIES AT CHILDREN'S. SERVING PATIENTS RANGING FROM NEWBORN TO YOUNG ADULTS THE MUSIC THERAPISTS WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MEDICAL TEAMS AT CHILDREN'S TO MEET PATIENT TREATMENT GOALS THROUGH SCIENTIFICALLY BASED THERAPIES USING INSTRUMENTS, MOVEMENT AND SONG. RUNAWAY INTERVENTION PROGRAM ($30,000): THE AVERAGE AGE OF A YOUNG GIRL BEING SEXUALLY EXPLOITED IS 14 YEARS OLD. THE RUNAWAY INTERVENTION PROGRAM PROVIDES HOPE AND HEALING TO YOUNG RUNAWAYS AND HOMELESS YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. THROUGH INTENSIVE INTERVENTION AND TRAUMA SUPPORT PROVIDED BY COMPASSIONATE ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES AND "EMPOWERMENT" GROUP COUNSELING, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN RETURNING YOUTH TO A HEALTHY PATH, BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY. THE PROGRAM TAKES A HOLISTIC APPROACH BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND SPECIALIZED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, HELPING TO BUILD SKILLS AND SELF ESTEEM, REDUCING SCHOOL TRUANCY, AND DELIVERING COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE TO PARENTS. STAR STUDIO'S LIGHTS, CAMERA, INTERACTION INITIATIVE ($40,000): ANXIETY, ISOLATION AND FEAR ARE FREQUENT EMOTIONS FOR HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. STAR STUDIO AIMS TO COUNTERACT THOSE EMOTIONS WITH PROGRAMS THAT MAKE THEM LAUGH, PLAY AND CONNECT. STAR STUDIO IS CHILDREN'S OWN IN-HOUSE TELEVISION STUDIO WITH PROGRAMS DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY TO ENGAGE WITH AND LIFT THE SPIRITS OF HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN. THE LIVE SHOWS ARE PERFORMED IN STUDIO AND ALSO TRANSMITTED TO PATIENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO LEAVE THEIR ROOMS. THE STUDIO IS CONTINUALLY IMPROVING PROGRAMMING. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CLINIC ($37,000) EVERY CHILD DESERVES HEALTH CARE, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES OR FINANCIAL SITUATION. THE UNREIMBURSED AND UNDERCOMPENSATED CARE PROGRAM AT ST. PAUL CHILDREN'S CLINIC HELPS FAMILIES IN NEED BY PROVIDING CARE TO EVERY CHILD WHO COME TO THE CLINIC. THE MISSION OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO OFFSET THE 56% OF CARE THAT IS UNDERCOMPENSATED AND THE 11% THAT IS UNCOMPENSATED TO ENSURE NO CHILD GETS TURNED AWAY FROM OUR CLINIC. SPIRITUAL CARE ON-CALL PROGRAM ($15,000) MEDICAL CRISIS AND TRAGEDY CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY. THAT'S WHY SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS NEEDED AROUND THE CLOCK AT CHILDREN'S. THE SPIRITUAL CARE ON-CALL PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPASSIONATE CHAPLAINCY SERVICES TO PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ENCOUNTERING CRISIS OR LOSS DURING EVENING AND WEEKEND HOURS. ON-CALL CHAPLAINS PROVIDE SPIRITUAL COUNSELING, COMFORT, AND PRAYER AT THE POINT OF NEED AND FACILITATE A WIDE VARIETY OF FAITH TRADITIONS, RITUALS, LITURGIES, AND SACRAMENTS. AUTISM AND SPECIAL NEEDS ($10,000) THERE IS A HIGH PREVALENCE OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AT CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA. BY DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING BEST PRACTICES THROUGH EDUCATION, CLINICAL PRACTICE, AND RESOURCES THIS PROGRAM BUILDS ON THE PREVIOUS YEARS' PROGRAM, AND BRINGS IT TO A NEW LEVEL. THE GOALS ARE TO PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS TO INFORM ON BEST PRACTICES, SHARE FINDINGS REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY, TO HOST A REGIONAL CONFERENCE WITH NATIONAL SPEAKERS, CREATE A NEW SOCIAL NARRATIVE, AND CONTINUE PROVIDING AUTISM TOOLKITS. ELEVATING CARE ACROSS THE REGION AND NATIONALLY, CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA HOPES TO BECOME A NATIONAL LEADER FOR THE CARE OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND THEIR FAMILIES. ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAMS WERE THE CARDIAC CAREGIVER SIMULATION ($25,000) AND CHILDREN'S AUDIOLOGY ($10,000).