childrenshealthfund.org
C H I L D R E N ’ S H E A LT H F U N D FALL 2016
A Little Closer to Good Health
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Terra Firma participant Brenda Cloter discusses one of her pictures at a year-end photography show in conjunction with the International Center for Photography.
Picturing Healthy Lives in a New Land
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his is a clear demonstration of the New York values we all hold dear – that every child is equally important,” said Children’s Health Fund Executive Director Dennis Walto as he praised a major new investment in New York City’s Immigrant Health Initiative. The new funding was announced this past August in the South Bronx at Children Health Fund’s Terra Firma program – one of the major partners working to support immigrants in New York City. As Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito explained, “Our $1.5 million dollar initiative will go a long way in ensuring undocumented immigrants, unaccompanied minors, and other vulnerable populations have access to the comprehensive medical services they deserve.” Terra Firma, a project of the Children’s Health Fund, Catholic Charities and the Montefiore Medical Center, is an innovative, nationally recognized medical-legal partnership that provides CONTINUED ON PAGE 1
he boy’s skin was covered with lesions. Nearly two weeks earlier, a rash had begun spreading up his lower body. When his mother brought him to our mobile pediatric clinic in South Florida, his palms and soles had begun peeling dramatically. The four-year-old boy’s family had recently immigrated from Haiti and were still orienting themselves to life in their new home. His mother was clearly concerned by the scaly eruptions all over her son’s body. And the boy was none too happy either. Fortunately, they had access to the mobile medical clinic run by Children’s Health Fund and the University of Miami Medical Center in South Florida. Under the direction of Medical Director Lisa Gwynn, DO, the big blue doctor’s office on wheels there makes the rounds in the immigrant neighborhoods of Little Havana, Hialeah and Little Haiti, as well as in rural stretches of Miami-Dade county. The clinic gets around, but lately it does much more than that. For the past few years, Dr. Gwynn and her team have been pioneering the use of telemedicine technology to improve the care of their patients. The program is making strides through generous support from Morgan Stanley, Joey Logano Foundation and Comic Relief/Red Nose Day. And many of the new approaches Children’s Health Fund is deploying throughout its national network are being developed through an ongoing technology partnership with Samsung.
With a patient and her mother on the South Florida mobile clinic, Dr. Lisa Gwynn discusses a diagnosis with specialists at a remote location.
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A word from the President
A LIT TLE CLOSER TO GOOD HEALTH
PICTURING HEALTHY LIVES IN A NEW LAND
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
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fter nearly 30 years in the trenches, we know that ensuring the health of America’s children – especially the millions of disadvantaged children in our country – is an extremely complex and difficult undertaking. Most families living in poverty face multiple barriers to care – among them, lack of transportation, a dearth of physicians in their community, inability to take time off from work or to secure child care to make a doctor visit, or lack of information about what kind of care their child needs. Even with good government programs, like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), designed to provide health care to children living in poor and low income families, it is still a real struggle even to find doctors willing to accept these insurance programs. Adding to lives already filled with adversity, we have repeatedly seen that, compared to more affluent children, poor kids are particularly vulnerable to acute crises and public health emergencies. In Flint, Michigan, the impact of exposure to high levels of lead in the drinking water, which can cause irreversible brain damage, has fallen heavily on the poorest children in that city. In Louisiana, devastating floods that have been called the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy have thrown the lives of thousands of already vulnerable families into complete chaos – and it’s the kids who feel the trauma most deeply. As you know, Children’s Health Fund’s big blue mobile medical clinics help overcome many of the common barriers to care that medically underserved kids face. But there’s so much more that we do to address the whole panorama of barriers to care: from helping immigrant children get the help they need to jumping into the breach when there’s a crisis like the ones in Flint and Louisiana, and working on a continuing basis with legislators to shape policies that will help ensure that kids get the care they need and deserve, no matter where they live or what their life circumstances. One more thing worth remembering. Children’s Health Fund has worked hard to provide high-quality health care to hundreds of thousands of America’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. But our goal is and always has been to make sure that children fulfill their full potential and help ensure that the next generation is ready for the challenges that lie ahead. Being healthy is a major aspect of this agenda – and so is getting a good education, receiving appropriate emotional support and being inspired to achieve. Your help in fulfilling this mission is deeply appreciated. We couldn’t do it without you.
Irwin Redlener, MD PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER
And telemedicine made a huge difference for the very uncomfortable little boy with the severe skin irritation. “It was an unusual condition that we couldn’t diagnose on the mobile clinic,” said Dr. Gwynn. “Thanks to our telemedicine technology, we were able to scan the rash and send it to a dermatological specialist at the hospital. He recognized the condition and recommended a treatment that we administered – all without the family ever having to travel out of their community.” Dr. Gwynn’s team is making increasing use of telemedicine – and her pioneering work is becoming a model that Children’s Health Fund is looking to roll out across its national network. Meanwhile, the boy’s rash has cleared and Dr. Gwynn has yet further proof of the power of telemedicine. “This technology is making a huge difference in our ability to provide care to the disadvantaged children in our region.”
assistance to young people fleeing the extreme violence and abject poverty of their homes in Central America. “These children have very complex medical, mental health, and legal needs,” said Terra Firma co-founder Alan Shapiro, MD. “As a pediatrician caring for some of the most vulnerable children in NYC, I am proud of the enormous effort the Council has made.” At Terra Firma, children meet with doctors, lawyers and psychologists, and participate in activities with their peers. The results are clear. As Dr. Shapiro explained, children who arrived in this country “despondent, scared, depressed… are transformed into those who are joyous and see all the potential the world has to offer.” As part of this holistic program, Children’s Health Fund partners with the renowned International Center of Photography to teach fundamentals of photography and guide students to develop a photographic narrative that explores their heritage, adjustment to life in New York, and hopes for the future. At the August 3rd graduation ceremony, the young photographers presented their work to gathered family and friends, and encouraged other members of Terra Firma to take advantage of the class. As one participant explained, “I learned that I am proud of my culture and to value where I’m from.” Another participant, Brenda Cloter, said that she learned that by going step by step, she can accomplish the outcome she wants in each photo she takes. She added that, in the same way, she can achieve all her dreams in her new country.
W
hen singing sensation Camila Cabello walked into our Center for Child Health and Resiliency in the South Bronx in August, some young patients got the thrill of a lifetime—meeting one of their idols—but for the young star, it was also an eye-opening experience, as she got to see first-hand how our doctors and nurses care for the most vulnerable kids in our community. And when she gave her fans a report, we suddenly had a new fan club of our own. Thanks, Camila, for making us feel like a star, too!
2 childrenshealthfund.org
Q&A with with Paula Madrid, PsyD
Helping Kids in Flint Recover Dr. Paula Madrid knows the challenges facing kids exposed to toxic lead.
E
arlier this year, the discovery of lead in the Flint, Michigan water supply was met with national shock and outrage. But like many crises, the news eventually faded from the headlines. At Children’s Health Fund, we knew this was a long-term proposition. Childhood exposure to lead increases the risk for developmental delays, increased hyperactivity, and cognitive problems—and the effects are irreversible. One month after President Obama declared a state of emergency, Children’s Health Fund was there, providing medical care, including lead testing. Because of the chronic stress associated with prolonged trauma, this August we added a Community Support and Resiliency mobile clinic to address mental health needs. Working in partnership with Genesee Health Systems, we’re committed to providing medical care, counseling, mental health support, and community events – including family fun days offering yoga and stress management; school-based interventions and teacher support; and arts and crafts workshops run by therapists to care for this injured community. Clinical psychologist and trauma specialist Dr. Paula Madrid has led Children’s Health Fund’s post-disaster mental health response since 9/11, including such catastrophes as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Before she set off to Flint, we spoke with Dr. Madrid about why this work is crucial. What kind of mental health care programs are we bringing to Flint?
What Children’s Health Fund does, and what we’re very good at, is training mental health professionals. We want to increase their awareness of how to manage a community dealing with protracted trauma, and to give them the tools to build children’s and families’ resiliency. We also know that mental health care providers are at high risk of “compassion fatigue.” We will give them the knowledge to prevent mental and emotional exhaustion. Those two are equally important. I really feel we couldn’t do one without the other.
“Our message to the community is this: We’re here to help.” You mentioned resiliency. That’s a word you hear a lot when discussing mental health after a traumatic event. That’s a big one. The way we do mental health supportive services at Children’s Health Fund has always been to really focus on trying to understand people’s strengths and needs, and to help them move forward. What’s key is a support system. We think in terms of what we call “Posttraumatic Growth.” It’s a fact that a lot of individuals actually come out stronger after trauma. Mental health care is often a gap in the health care safety net. What’s the link between mental health and physical outcomes? Does Children’s Health Fund’s commitment to stay for the long term impact that?
SPRING 2016
The answer is yes. It’s a big commitment and an important one. It’s been proven that people who are doing well in terms of their mental health are less likely to visit a doctor. A very significant percentage of medical visits are rooted in a mental health cause, such as stress. By helping families with mental health we will be helping with physical wellness. I can predict that by teaching simple techniques—the proper way to breathe to relax, progressive muscle relaxation to manage stress—we will reduce medical concerns. The way you breathe determines how you feel in every possible way, and this can have profound effects. The mind and body have a huge connection and if one isn’t well, the other won’t be either. The response by Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality to the public’s concerns has been described as one of “aggressive dismissal and belittlement.” How will Children’s Health Fund go about gaining trust? That’s an important question. You show up as soon as you can to offer assistance. Children’s Health Fund did that. Irwin Redlener, Dennis Walto, and Delaney Gracy, our most senior people, were there very early on. It’s not uncommon for organizations to send in an assistant, but Children’s Health Fund has done it in a very different, and respectful way. It sends a powerful message to the community. We have a wealth of experience and desire to make a difference. Our message to the community is this: “We’re here to help.”
C H I L D R E N ’ S H E A LT H F U N D
3
A word from the President
A LIT TLE CLOSER TO GOOD HEALTH
PICTURING HEALTHY LIVES IN A NEW LAND
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
A
fter nearly 30 years in the trenches, we know that ensuring the health of America’s children – especially the millions of disadvantaged children in our country – is an extremely complex and difficult undertaking. Most families living in poverty face multiple barriers to care – among them, lack of transportation, a dearth of physicians in their community, inability to take time off from work or to secure child care to make a doctor visit, or lack of information about what kind of care their child needs. Even with good government programs, like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), designed to provide health care to children living in poor and low income families, it is still a real struggle even to find doctors willing to accept these insurance programs. Adding to lives already filled with adversity, we have repeatedly seen that, compared to more affluent children, poor kids are particularly vulnerable to acute crises and public health emergencies. In Flint, Michigan, the impact of exposure to high levels of lead in the drinking water, which can cause irreversible brain damage, has fallen heavily on the poorest children in that city. In Louisiana, devastating floods that have been called the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy have thrown the lives of thousands of already vulnerable families into complete chaos – and it’s the kids who feel the trauma most deeply. As you know, Children’s Health Fund’s big blue mobile medical clinics help overcome many of the common barriers to care that medically underserved kids face. But there’s so much more that we do to address the whole panorama of barriers to care: from helping immigrant children get the help they need to jumping into the breach when there’s a crisis like the ones in Flint and Louisiana, and working on a continuing basis with legislators to shape policies that will help ensure that kids get the care they need and deserve, no matter where they live or what their life circumstances. One more thing worth remembering. Children’s Health Fund has worked hard to provide high-quality health care to hundreds of thousands of America’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. But our goal is and always has been to make sure that children fulfill their full potential and help ensure that the next generation is ready for the challenges that lie ahead. Being healthy is a major aspect of this agenda – and so is getting a good education, receiving appropriate emotional support and being inspired to achieve. Your help in fulfilling this mission is deeply appreciated. We couldn’t do it without you.
Irwin Redlener, MD PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER
And telemedicine made a huge difference for the very uncomfortable little boy with the severe skin irritation. “It was an unusual condition that we couldn’t diagnose on the mobile clinic,” said Dr. Gwynn. “Thanks to our telemedicine technology, we were able to scan the rash and send it to a dermatological specialist at the hospital. He recognized the condition and recommended a treatment that we administered – all without the family ever having to travel out of their community.” Dr. Gwynn’s team is making increasing use of telemedicine – and her pioneering work is becoming a model that Children’s Health Fund is looking to roll out across its national network. Meanwhile, the boy’s rash has cleared and Dr. Gwynn has yet further proof of the power of telemedicine. “This technology is making a huge difference in our ability to provide care to the disadvantaged children in our region.”
assistance to young people fleeing the extreme violence and abject poverty of their homes in Central America. “These children have very complex medical, mental health, and legal needs,” said Terra Firma co-founder Alan Shapiro, MD. “As a pediatrician caring for some of the most vulnerable children in NYC, I am proud of the enormous effort the Council has made.” At Terra Firma, children meet with doctors, lawyers and psychologists, and participate in activities with their peers. The results are clear. As Dr. Shapiro explained, children who arrived in this country “despondent, scared, depressed… are transformed into those who are joyous and see all the potential the world has to offer.” As part of this holistic program, Children’s Health Fund partners with the renowned International Center of Photography to teach fundamentals of photography and guide students to develop a photographic narrative that explores their heritage, adjustment to life in New York, and hopes for the future. At the August 3rd graduation ceremony, the young photographers presented their work to gathered family and friends, and encouraged other members of Terra Firma to take advantage of the class. As one participant explained, “I learned that I am proud of my culture and to value where I’m from.” Another participant, Brenda Cloter, said that she learned that by going step by step, she can accomplish the outcome she wants in each photo she takes. She added that, in the same way, she can achieve all her dreams in her new country.
W
hen singing sensation Camila Cabello walked into our Center for Child Health and Resiliency in the South Bronx in August, some young patients got the thrill of a lifetime—meeting one of their idols—but for the young star, it was also an eye-opening experience, as she got to see first-hand how our doctors and nurses care for the most vulnerable kids in our community. And when she gave her fans a report, we suddenly had a new fan club of our own. Thanks, Camila, for making us feel like a star, too!
2 childrenshealthfund.org
Q&A with with Paula Madrid, PsyD
Helping Kids in Flint Recover Dr. Paula Madrid knows the challenges facing kids exposed to toxic lead.
E
arlier this year, the discovery of lead in the Flint, Michigan water supply was met with national shock and outrage. But like many crises, the news eventually faded from the headlines. At Children’s Health Fund, we knew this was a long-term proposition. Childhood exposure to lead increases the risk for developmental delays, increased hyperactivity, and cognitive problems—and the effects are irreversible. One month after President Obama declared a state of emergency, Children’s Health Fund was there, providing medical care, including lead testing. Because of the chronic stress associated with prolonged trauma, this August we added a Community Support and Resiliency mobile clinic to address mental health needs. Working in partnership with Genesee Health Systems, we’re committed to providing medical care, counseling, mental health support, and community events – including family fun days offering yoga and stress management; school-based interventions and teacher support; and arts and crafts workshops run by therapists to care for this injured community. Clinical psychologist and trauma specialist Dr. Paula Madrid has led Children’s Health Fund’s post-disaster mental health response since 9/11, including such catastrophes as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Before she set off to Flint, we spoke with Dr. Madrid about why this work is crucial. What kind of mental health care programs are we bringing to Flint?
What Children’s Health Fund does, and what we’re very good at, is training mental health professionals. We want to increase their awareness of how to manage a community dealing with protracted trauma, and to give them the tools to build children’s and families’ resiliency. We also know that mental health care providers are at high risk of “compassion fatigue.” We will give them the knowledge to prevent mental and emotional exhaustion. Those two are equally important. I really feel we couldn’t do one without the other.
“Our message to the community is this: We’re here to help.” You mentioned resiliency. That’s a word you hear a lot when discussing mental health after a traumatic event. That’s a big one. The way we do mental health supportive services at Children’s Health Fund has always been to really focus on trying to understand people’s strengths and needs, and to help them move forward. What’s key is a support system. We think in terms of what we call “Posttraumatic Growth.” It’s a fact that a lot of individuals actually come out stronger after trauma. Mental health care is often a gap in the health care safety net. What’s the link between mental health and physical outcomes? Does Children’s Health Fund’s commitment to stay for the long term impact that?
SPRING 2016
The answer is yes. It’s a big commitment and an important one. It’s been proven that people who are doing well in terms of their mental health are less likely to visit a doctor. A very significant percentage of medical visits are rooted in a mental health cause, such as stress. By helping families with mental health we will be helping with physical wellness. I can predict that by teaching simple techniques—the proper way to breathe to relax, progressive muscle relaxation to manage stress—we will reduce medical concerns. The way you breathe determines how you feel in every possible way, and this can have profound effects. The mind and body have a huge connection and if one isn’t well, the other won’t be either. The response by Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality to the public’s concerns has been described as one of “aggressive dismissal and belittlement.” How will Children’s Health Fund go about gaining trust? That’s an important question. You show up as soon as you can to offer assistance. Children’s Health Fund did that. Irwin Redlener, Dennis Walto, and Delaney Gracy, our most senior people, were there very early on. It’s not uncommon for organizations to send in an assistant, but Children’s Health Fund has done it in a very different, and respectful way. It sends a powerful message to the community. We have a wealth of experience and desire to make a difference. Our message to the community is this: “We’re here to help.”
C H I L D R E N ’ S H E A LT H F U N D
3
NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID 215 WEST 125TH STREET, SUITE 301
SYRACUSE, NY
NEW YORK, NY 10027
PERMIT #1550
FALL 2016
Changing the odds for kids with telemedicine
Giving immigrant youth a healthy chance
Treating trauma in Flint, Michigan
You Make it Happen! Children’s Health Fund welcomes new donor Leonard “Buck” Wessell. Buck is President and Chief Executive Officer of Ingersoll Tillage Group and President of Amerop Products, Inc., as well as President of Bright Mountain Foundation. Buck and the Bright Mountain Foundation have been serving vulnerable populations for over a decade and are especially interested in issues relating to mental health.
Red Nose Day 2016 was a smashing success, raising $34 million overall from the NBC special, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, corporate sponsors Walgreens and M&Ms, and thousands of individual supporters. Over $3.5 million of the funds raised will help support Children’s Health Fund’s programs around the country.
Congratulations to our longtime friend and board member, Jane Pauley, on being named anchor of CBS Sunday Morning. As part of Red Nose Day, actress Julia Roberts visited our clinic in Phoenix.