CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION INC

TO CREATE SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH CARE-RELATED NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS RECEIVED CHA GRANT FUNDING IN 2023 TOTALING $440,638AUDIOLOGY IMPROVING AMPLIFICATION ACCESS AND FAMILY EDUCATION ($13,000) 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 COMMUNICATE IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH OR SPANISH. WITH OUR PLEDGE, THE AUDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND TOOLS FOR THE HEARING AID LOANER BANK AND ENSURE THAT PATIENTS WITH SINGLE-SIDED DEAFNESS CAN DETERMINE THE BEST OPTIONS FOR TECHNOLOGICAL INTERVENTION.CAREGIVER SIMULATION PROGRAM ($21,000) IMAGINE THE FEAR OF MANAGING YOUR CHILD'S FEEDING TUBE, GIVING MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS EACH DAY, OR CONSTANTLY WATCHING FOR SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD IS STRUGGLING TO BREATHE, AND YOU NEED TO 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, THIS PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE EXPANDING THE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES TO LEARN INTEGRATIVE CARE ON MANNEQUINS. EXAMPLES OF COMPLEX CARES INCLUDE MANAGING LIFE-SUSTAINING MEDICATIONS AND MONITORING DAILY BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS AND WEIGHT. CARE EDUCATION IS PROVIDED IN A SIMULATED, HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT. CHILD LIFE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ($46,000) A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IS SCARY FOR ANYONE. 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 ARE EXPERIENCING. THEY ENGAGE WITH 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 LIFE ZONE ($15,000) A CHILD CAN EXPERIENCE MANY SCARY AND UNFAMILIAR THINGS WHILE SEEKING MEDICAL CARE. THERE IS A LOT OF STRESS THAT CAN ACCOMPANY CHILDREN IN HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENTS. MINIMIZING THIS STRESS CAN HELP CREATE A POSITIVE HEALING ENVIRONMENT. THE ZONE IS A THERAPEUTIC AREA OFFERING A SAFE AND HEALING SPACE WHERE CHILDREN CAN HAVE FUN WHILE EXPERIENCING HEALING THERAPIES AND MEDICAL CARE. CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS PROVIDE THESE THERAPIES THROUGH ART, MUSIC THERAPY, A SIBLING PLAY AREA, AND THERAPY DOGS. THE CHILD LIFE ZONE ALLOWS CHILDREN SEEKING CARE, OR ACCOMPANYING FAMILY MEMBERS SEEKING CARE, TO HAVE FUN AND ENHANCE THEIR HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCES.CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA COMMUNITY CONNECT ($50,000) WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE HEALTHCARE SETTING AT A CHILD'S HOME, IN THEIR SCHOOL, AND IN 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. CVICU CRITICAL CARE - FAMILY/CAREGIVER EDUCATION SPECIALIST ($17,000)THE FAMILY/CAREGIVER EDUCATION SPECIALIST AIMS TO DECREASE THE STRESS OF NAVIGATING HOSPITAL STAYS AND LEARNING TO CARE FOR A CHILD WITH MEDICAL COMPLEXITIES THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED, EVIDENCE-BASED CAREGIVER EDUCATION. THIS ROLE WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE BEDSIDE NURSE, ATTENDING PHYSICIAN, AND OTHER DISCIPLINES TO PROVIDE AND COORDINATE THE EDUCATION NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES OF HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS SUCH AS THE HIGH-RISK CARDIOVASCULAR PATIENTS AT CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA. THIS INCLUDES INFORMATION ON MEDICATIONS, TREATMENTS, EQUIPMENT OPERATION, COPING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS AND OTHER RELATED TOPICS. ENT AUDITORY REHABILITATION ($638)THE AUDITORY AND SPEECH THERAPY TEAM AT CHILDREN'S ENT SERVES CHILDREN THROUGHOUT ALL PHASES OF THEIR HEARING LEVEL JOURNEY; TESTING, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. OUR AIM WITH THIS INITIATIVE IS TO PROVIDE SEAMLESS SPEECH THERAPY AND AUDITORY REHABILITATION SERVICES PAIRED WITH SURGICAL FOLLOW-UP AND AUDIOLOGY PROGRAMMING BY OFFERING COORDINATED APPOINTMENTS ON THE SAME DAY IN THE SAME DEPARTMENT. ALLOWING A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST TO PERFORM STANDARDIZED TESTING IN CLINIC AS A PART OF OUR AUDITORY REHAB TEAM FACILITATES SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS IN A WAY THAT IS EASY AND CONVENIENT FOR FAMILIES.FIRST STEPS ($13,000) TEEN PARENTS NEED SPECIAL SUPPORT. FOR MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS, FIRST STEPS HAS HELPED YOUNG PARENTS TACKLE THE NEW ROLE OF PARENTHOOD AND BUILD A HEALTHY FAMILY ENVIRONMENT. COUNSELORS PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SUPPORT WHEN THE BABY IS BORN THROUGH A CARE COORDINATOR HOME VISIT THAT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, BABY CLOTHES, AND SUPPLIES SUCH AS BLANKETS AND DIAPERS. 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.MIDWEST CHILDREN'S RESOURCE CENTER (MCRC) ($75,000) 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.MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM ($59,000) 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, OR PROVIDE COPING MECHANISMS FOR PARENTS AND SIBLINGS. MUSIC THERAPISTS IN OUR MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM WORK WITH THE MEDICAL TEAMS AT CHILDREN'S TO MEET PATIENT TREATMENT GOALS THROUGH SCIENTIFICALLY BASED THERAPIES. THERAPISTS USE INSTRUMENTS, MOVEMENT, AND SONG TO PROVIDE MUSIC THERAPY.RUNAWAY INTERVENTION PROGRAM ($29,000) THE RUNAWAY INTERVENTION PROGRAM IS A NURSE-LED INITIATIVE THAT HELPS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND EXPLOITED RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS CHILDREN CONNECT WITH A NURSE PRACTITIONER, TRAUMA COUNSELING, AND COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE. THE PROGRAM USES HOME AND COMMUNITY VISITS WITH COUNSELING TO REDUCE TRAUMA AND IMPROVE HEALTH AND COPING BEHAVIORS.OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ($50,000) 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 OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 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. STAR STUDIO'S INTERACTION INITIATIVE ($52,000) 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.