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 2022 TOTALING $515,000.AUDIOLOGY IMPROVING AMPLIFICATION ACCESS AND FAMILY EDUCATION ($10,000) BECAUSE OF CHA'S PREVIOUS GRANTS, AUDIOLOGY HAS EXPANDED OPTIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED HEARING AID LOANERS, ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES WHO SPEAK LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH OR SPANISH. WITH OUR PLEDGE, THE AUDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT WILL EXPAND ACCESS TECHNOLOGY AND TOOLS FOR THE HEARING AID LOANER BANK AND ENSURE PATIENTS WITH SINGLE-SIDED DEAFNESS CAN DETERMINE THE BEST OPTIONS FOR TECHNOLOGICAL INTERVENTION. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER CARE INITIATIVE ($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. CHILDREN'S CANCER SURVIVOR PROGRAM ($50,000) OVER 80% OF CHILDREN TREATED FOR CHILDHOOD CANCERS WILL BECOME LONG-TERM SURVIVORS. BUT THIS SUCCESS IN SURVIVAL ALSO COMES WITH UNIQUE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES. THIS AWARD ALLOWS THE CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA'S CANCER SURVIVOR PROGRAM TO CONTINUE THEIR DEDICATION TO EVIDENCE-BASED CARE FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS WITH THEIR EXPANDING TEAM. 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. CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA COMMUNITY CONNECT ($60,000) WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE HEALTHCARE SETTING AT A CHILD'S HOME, IN THEIR SCHOOL, AND THEIR COMMUNITY HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT ON A CHILD'S HEALTH. COMMUNITY CONNECT IDENTIFIES SOCIAL ISSUES (SUCH AS FOOD INSECURITY, UNSAFE HOUSING, AND LACK OF TRANSPORTATION), CONNECTS FAMILIES TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES THEY NEED, AND COORDINATES SUPPORTIVE FOLLOW UP TO MAKE SURE THE SERVICES ARE RECEIVED. CHA IS PROUD TO BE A FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM'S CONTINUOUS DRIVE TO NARROW THE HEALTH DISPARITIES GAP. CAREGIVER SIMULATION PROGRAM ($25,000) IMAGINE THE FEAR AND OF MANAGING YOUR CHILD'S FEEDING TUBE, GIVING MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS EACH DAY, OR CONSTANTLY WATCHING FOR SIGNS YOUR CHILD IS STRUGGLING TO BREATHE AND GET THEM EMERGENCY CARE. FAMILIES AT CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA ARE ASKED TO PROVIDE MANY COMPLEX CARES AT HOME. TO EASE THE BURDEN AND ANXIETY BEFORE DISCHARGE AT HOME, THIS PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE EXPANDING ITS INITIATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES TO LEARN INTEGRATIVE CARE ON MANIKINS. THESE INCLUDE MANAGING LIFE-SUSTAINING MEDICATIONS AND MONITORING DAILY BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS AND WEIGHT, IN A SIMULATED, IN A HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT. FIRST STEPS ($16,000) TEEN PARENTS NEED SPECIAL SUPPORT. FOR MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS, FIRST STEPS HELPS YOUNG PARENTS TACKLE THE NEW ROLE OF PARENTHOOD AND BUILD A HEALTHY FAMILY ENVIRONMENT. COUNSELORS PROVIDES IMMEDIATE SUPPORT WHEN 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 MORE THAN 1,250 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. MENTAL HEALTH 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 IS A POWERFUL HEALTHCARE TOOL: IT CAN CALM A STRUGGLING NEWBORN, PROVIDE A DIVERSION FOR A TODDLER DURING AN UNCOMFORTABLE PROCEDURE, ENCOURAGE MOVEMENT FOR A SCHOOL-AGE REHABILITATING DURING AN EXTENDED HOSPITAL STAY, HELP A TEEN TO PROCESS THEIR FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS RELATED TO A SERIOUS ILLNESS, AND PROVIDE COPING MECHANISMS FOR PARENTS AND SIBLINGS. MUSIC THERAPIST'S 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 RUNAWAY INTERVENTION PROGRAM IS A NURSE-LED INITIATIVE TO HELP SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND EXPLOITED RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS CHILDREN TO CONNECT WITH A NURSE PRACTITIONER, TRAUMA COUNSELING, AND COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES HOME AND COMMUNITY VISITS BY A NURSE PRACTITIONER IN COMBINATION WITH COUNSELING TO REDUCE TRAUMA AND IMPROVE HEALTH AND COPING BEHAVIORS. STAR STUDIO'S 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, LIVE TELEVISION STUDIO WITH PROGRAMS DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY TO ENGAGE WITH AND LIFT THE SPIRITS OF HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN IN AND AWAY FROM THEIR HOSPITAL ROOMS. THIS YEAR, STAR STUDIO WILL BE UPGRADING FILMING EQUIPMENT TO BROADCAST REMOTELY AND INVEST IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SHOW CONTENT, SUCH AS VIDEOS, PRINT GRAPHICS, AND WEB GRAPHICS. THE UNREIMBURSED AND UNDERCOMPENSATED CARE PROGRAM ($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 ($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.