Child Health Advocacy Institute
A new law in: The District of Columbia requires the HPV vaccine for girls entering 6th grade in the Fall of 2009. A similar law goes into effect in Virginia beginning in Fall 2008. Children's National Medical Center published a position paper on the HPV vaccine, an FAQ on the District’s new law and provides a list of D.C. Department of Health Clinics where children can be vaccinated
| Children’s National Medical Center has a long-standing history of advocating for children in the Washington, DC region and around the nation. More than 30 years ago, Children’s established the nation’s first hospital-based office focused exclusively on child health advocacy and has continued to make advocacy a priority by incorporating it into the institution’s mission.
In an effort to advance our advocacy efforts, Children’s established the Child Health Advocacy Institute (CHAI), the newest of Children’s Centers of Excellence. The CHAI identifies and studies threats facing children and develops and and implements interventions to improve pediatric health outcomes.
The CHAI is the vehicle through which Children’s is transforming pediatric health through discovery, delivery and dissemination of best practice and best policy to the children and families of the District of Columbia, the region and beyond.
The CHAI targets its efforts in five key areas:
- Health promotion/disease prevention
- Infrastructure development and data collection
- Research and education
- Public policy
- Outcomes and evaluation
The CHAI focuses on the children of the Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area and develops interventions that have national implications. Through Children’s primary care health centers in the underserved areas of the District of Columbia, primary care services program for children in foster care, Children’s School Services’ School Health Program in the public schools, one of the busiest emergency departments in the nation, and specialty care outpatient centers throughout the region, Children’s has unprecedented access to our region’s youth.
By studying this population segment – a diverse mix of environments, education and socioeconomic factors – we can create meaningful analyses and recommendations that are applicable on a national level and can positively benefit children everywhere.
In the Community
In the Schools
On Capitol Hill
In the Legislatures
Across the Nation
Child Health Data Lab
Community Benefit
CHAI team
From grass roots campaigns to Capitol Hill, Children's is actively promoting a better life for the kids we serve.
Hundreds of people devote thousands of hours to advocacy at Children's by testifying in front of legislative bodies, meeting with public officials, writing letters, making phone calls, educating community groups, attending health fairs, checking car seats, childproofing houses, and using the power of the internet.
The CHAI is led by Joseph Wright, MD, MPH, executive director, and includes the following groups:
Committee on Advocacy and Public Policy
Because of our unique location, in the shadow of Capitol Hill, Children's National Medical Center can tap into some of the most talented, well-connected, and enthusiastic advocates in the nation. We are proud to have a group of community leaders, business executives as well as committed parents working with us directing public policy and advocacy decisions for the hospital and the kids we serve.
Child Health Center Board
The Child Health Center Board has existed at Children's since 1866. These dedicated volunteers are interested in working to improve health care for children in the District. Their work runs the gamut from fundraising to volunteering to bestowing grant funds to worthy hospital projects. Their motto is “to keep the well child well.”
Children’s Advocacy and Community Affairs team
The Advocacy and Community Relations team strives toward excellence every day to make life better for the kids in our community, region and the world. While there are numerous health issues that need attention, our Advocacy and Community Affairs team focuses on three primary categories – immunizations, obesity and injury prevention—with signature programs in each of these critical areas.
Children’s Practice Advocacy Project for Community Physicians
Children’s Hospital has teamed up with a vibrant network of more than 300 community pediatricians that provides primary care services to hundreds of thousands of children in this region. This network, the Children’s National Health Network (CNHN), uses its collective strength to advocate for children.
Children’s National Health Network (CNHN) and Children’s National Medical Center proudly announce the introduction of a new joint initiative called the “Children’s Practice Advocacy Project (CPAP)”. CPAP is a unique and innovative advocacy collaboration between Children’s National Medical Center and the community physicians in CNHN.
This new initiative provides community physicians with advisories about topics and issues that affect you, their practice and their patients. These updates will provide information on how best to advocate for children.
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