United Health Foundation Grant to Children’s National Hospital to Address Health Needs of Youth in Communities With Fewer Resources
November 09 2021 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
$3.4 million grant will provide resources to
reduce barriers to care for students in Washington, D.C.’s Wards 7
and 8
The United Health Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), has awarded a three-year, $3.4
million grant to Children’s National Hospital to improve access to
health care for school-aged children in Washington, D.C.’s most
under-resourced communities. The support is part of the United
Health Foundation’s ongoing commitment to build healthier
communities and advance health equity.
The grant enables a unique program – bringing together a team of
school nurses in D.C. Public Schools, community health workers and
mobile medical services. Wards 7 and 8 face some of the largest
health inequities in Washington, D.C., with high rates of child
poverty, asthma, obesity and more.
“Children’s National has long worked to make sure every child in
our region has access to high-quality care,” said Dr. Kurt Newman,
president and CEO of Children’s National. “This new grant from the
United Health Foundation will help us create another way to connect
our pediatric experts with children and families who are not
currently being served by health care providers. We are committed
to helping children lead healthier lives which, in turn, makes them
more likely to succeed in school and lead healthier lives as
adults.”
School nurses employed by Children’s School Services will work
with community health workers to connect children and families to
mobile health services, Children’s National primary care locations
and federally qualified health centers. Health records,
immunization records and attendance data will be accessible through
data sharing. As a result of the effort, children will receive
well-child visits, including vaccinations and vision, hearing,
behavioral health and developmental screenings. Additionally, via
telemedicine, community health workers can link children to
specialists to address behavioral health, asthma and other pressing
health needs.
“Reaching school-aged children living in under-resourced
communities to provide important routine health care can be
challenging, especially amid a pandemic,” said Dr. Margaret-Mary
Wilson, associate chief medical officer for UnitedHealth Group. “We
are so pleased to be working with Children’s National on this
innovative and comprehensive program to identify and close gaps in
care — especially for those who have unaddressed needs.”
The effort aims to reduce school absenteeism among chronically
absent students by connecting families to health supports and
social services. It will also focus on increasing the number of
children who are up to date on vaccinations, with a goal of
providing 6,000 vaccinations over three years. Additionally, those
who screen positive for mental or behavioral health issues will be
referred to mental health specialists.
The grant will help address challenges identified in the
Foundation’s recently released America’s Health Rankings 2021
Health of Women and Children Report. Some of the key findings of
the report were:
- Anxiety among children ages 3-17 rose 21% nationally between
2017-2018 and 2019-2020, from 7.5% to 9.1%.
- Only 1 in 3 (34.3%) U.S. fourth grade public school students
scored proficient or above on the national reading assessment.
Later in life, there is a strong connection between education
attainment and health, with those without a high school education
facing the greatest social, economic and health challenges.
National reading assessments are an important marker in educational
development.
- The prevalence of asthma among children in D.C. is 10%, higher
than the national average of 7.5%.
- On-time childhood vaccinations in D.C. are 75.3%, slightly
lower than the national average of 75.8%.
The grant is one of the many ways the United Health Foundation
continues to support efforts to build healthier communities and
advance health equity. In September, UnitedHealth Group, including
the United Health Foundation and UnitedHealthcare, announced a
donation of $4.5 million to seven nonprofit organizations in
Oklahoma to help increase health care, improve health outcomes and
support communities across the state. And in July, the United
Health Foundation established a $3.3 million grant partnership with
the North Olympic Healthcare Network in Washington state to improve
behavioral health for children and adults in the Port Angeles area.
To learn more about UnitedHealth Group’s commitment to health
equity, please visit the company’s sustainability website at
uhg.com/sustainability.
About the United Health Foundation
Through collaboration with community partners, grants and
outreach efforts, the United Health Foundation works to improve our
health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and
enhance the well-being of local communities. The United Health
Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in
1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving
health and health care. To date, the United Health Foundation has
committed more than $500 million to programs and communities around
the world. To learn more, visit UnitedHealthFoundation.org.
About Children’s National Hospital
Children’s National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C.,
celebrates 150 years of pediatric care, research and commitment to
community. Volunteers opened the hospital in 1870 with 12 beds for
children displaced after the Civil War. Today, 150 years stronger,
it is among the nation’s top 10 children’s hospitals. It is ranked
No.1 for newborn care for the fifth straight year and ranked in all
specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children’s
National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. In
2021, the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus
opened, the first in the nation dedicated to pediatric research.
Children’s National has been designated three times in a row as a
Magnet® hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing
and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system
offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary
care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan
area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children’s National is home
to the Children’s National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed
Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. It is recognized for
its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong
voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and
national levels. For more information, follow it on Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Media Contact Caroline Landree, UnitedHealth Group
651-308-2481 caroline.landree@uhg.com
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