In Washington, D.C., Wards 7 and 8 are home to some of the largest health disparities in the city. To help improve access to health care for school-aged children in those areas, the United Health Foundation awarded a three-year, $3.4 million grant to Children’s National Hospital, which will help connect children and their families to mobile clinics and federally qualified health centers via school nurses.
How It Works
Health Equity: Children's Health
"Reaching school-aged children in underserved communities to provide important routine health care can be challenging, especially amid a pandemic. We are so pleased to be working with Children’s National Hospital on this innovative and comprehensive program to identify and close gaps in care — especially for those who have unaddressed needs.”
– Dr. Margaret-Mary Wilson, Associate Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealth Group
The partnership aims to:
Reduce school absenteeism among chronically absent students by connecting families to health supports and social services.
Provide 6,000 vaccinations to school-aged children over three years.
Refer people who screen positive for mental or behavioral health issues to mental health specialists.
“Children’s National has long worked to make sure every child in our region has access to high-quality care. 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.”
– Dr. Kurt Newman, President & CEO of Children’s National
Why It Matters
The grant will help address challenges identified in the foundation’s recently released “America’s Health Rankings 2021 Health of Women and Children Report.” Key findings in the report include:
Related
Addressing Health Disparities
UnitedHealth Group is deeply committed to advancing health equity by addressing health disparities and social determinants of health. Our Children’s National Hospital grant is one of many ways UnitedHealth Group and the United Health Foundation continue to support efforts to build healthier communities and advance health equity.
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