The Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health is dedicated to addressing critical contemporary issues in children’s day to day lives that have the potential to adversely affect their health and development. The Office is gaining national attention for its innovative programs and is serving as a role model for similar initiatives in other states….
Defining Innovation to Foster Success
By: Jacquelyn M. Rose, MPH I just finished watching author Steven Johnson’s TED Talk “Where Good Ideas Come From” from TEDGlobal 2010, and was immediately reminded of the importance of having a strong innovation definition and a blog authored by my colleague Scott Orsey, What is Good Program Definition?. In the blog, Scott argues good…
Promoting the Power of Play
By: Nancy Trout, MD, MPH As a component of the Kohl’s Start Childhood Off Right (SCOR) program, we include playing with young infants and toddlers and encouraging physical activity as part of a comprehensive obesity prevention strategy. Coupled with breastfeeding promotion and the healthy introduction of complementary foods and beverages, movement and play for young…
Healthcare Strategy: Forming a More Perfect Union
By: Scott Orsey It’s really remarkable to think about. Our Founding Fathers not only paved the way for the democracy we enjoy today, but their actions inform some of our modern day organizational structures in healthcare. Surprised? Let’s take a look! One example centers on the formation of Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health…
Healthy Homes: 15 Years of Impact
By: Chris Corcoran We are dedicated to improving the lives of young children and their families by making homes lead-safe, healthy and more energy efficient. Research shows that addressing all of those areas can have a profound impact on health outcomes, as opposed to focusing on any one particular area in isolation. At Connecticut Children’s…
Study Highlights Need for Education on Choking Hazards
By: Scott Schoem, MD, MBA and Kevin Borrup, DrPH Choking is a major cause of death particularly for children 4 years old and younger. In 2016, 255 children in the United States died from a choking incident and there were even more nonfatal incidents. More than 15,000 children are treated each year in emergency rooms…
Social Innovation Spotlight: Lactation Innovations
Social Innovation Spotlight is a quarterly feature launched by Connecticut Children’s Advancing Kids Innovation Program to highlight the contributions of social innovators promoting the health and well-being of children, families and communities. In her recent blog post, Breastfeeding is Best!, Nancy Trout, MD highlights the health benefits of breastfeeding for infants and mothers. She also…
Healthy Homes Joins Other Programs to Transform Hartford Home
By: Marcus Smith Safe, stable and affordable housing is critical to the health and well-being of children and their families. Homeowners we work with through Connecticut Children’s Healthy Homes Program are in great need and lack the financial means to keep their homes in good condition. Their homes have fallen into disrepair, and are too…
Supporting Healthy Development is a Big Bet For Children
By: Paul H. Dworkin, MD As a frequent pursuer of grant support, I am encouraged and inspired by recent philanthropic trends, such as funders embracing a high impact, transactional model of giving; strategic philanthropy; and the leveraging of funding from multiple sources. An exciting example of the latter is the Pediatric Big Bet, comprised of…
If You Love Children…
By: Jacquelyn M. Rose, MPH It’s not enough to be an early care and education professional because you love working with children. If you love children, you must leverage your view, your voice, and your visibility to improve the systems and quality of services for young children and families. While a variety of words and…
Help Me Grow Report Details Nationwide Reach
The diagnosis came when Isabel’s daughter was just 33 months old. Autism. The family was shocked. They wondered how they missed the signs. They did not know where to turn for help. Isabel immediately contacted her pediatrician who referred her to their local Help Me Grow affiliate, Help Me Grow Orange County, California. Care coordinators…
Leveraging Medicaid to Promote Children’s Optimal Health
By: Paul H. Dworkin, MD As our country continues to grapple with how best to achieve meaningful healthcare reform, we have an auspicious opportunity to leverage Medicaid to transform child health services to promote children’s optimal health, development, and well-being. Leveraging Medicaid to transform child health services demands that the past not be a prelude…
Pediatric Residents Address Health Needs of Refugee Children
By: Melissa Held, MD, FAAP They are among the most vulnerable patients we see. They are children who have been displaced from their countries due to violence and political unrest. They are young refugees seeking to rebuild their lives with their families here in Connecticut, a world away from the countries from which they fled….