Leaders from the CHF national network of programs were in full inspirational form at the annual 2019 Children’s Health Fund Fall Conference, which took place in Phoenix, Arizona on October 22 through 24. Partners from across the CHF National Network gathered to listen, learn, and share our stories and successes in ensuring access to high-quality healthcare for children living in poverty.
Starting with an insightful opening by Phoenix Children’s Hospital President and CEO Bob Meyer, and extending to the closing presentations by Terra Firma’s New York program leadership Dr. Cristina Muñiz de la Peña, and Healthy and Read to Learn Assistant Vice President Wenimo Okoya, our network body of knowledge was built and nourished.
Here are some highlights from the week.
Day 1:
In the first plenary forum, our new Deputy CEO and Chief Medical Officer Kamillah Wood set the tone for CHF by calling out our intentions to start our equity journey and move upstream in our thinking and actions.
Our Deputy CEO Kamillah Wood spoke eloquently about racism as a social determinant of health and a driver of negative health outcomes in communities across the country. As a transportation expert, she underscored this as a key area where we can chip away at barriers. 1/5 pic.twitter.com/S7ju4KGNDg
— Children’s Health Fund (@chfund) October 22, 2019
Kamillah’s speech was the perfect scene-setter for a truly exceptional keynote address by Jade Richard, a trafficking survivor who now leads intake at the Phoenix Dream Center, which houses a clinic funded by CHF.
“When I got to the doctor [at the Dream Center], I was scared. But there was always someone in the room so I wasn’t by myself. I didn’t have to tell my story over and over again — that can be traumatizing. Working with someone who had prior knowledge was very helpful. If they were going to touch me, they told me to make sure I was comfortable. They asked me about me and my family. They were very conscious to make sure they weren’t doing anymore damage to me…When you have a doctor who encourages you, you feel like, “I am somebody. I can be somebody.” — Jade Richard
Hearing Jade talk candidly about her own story and her commitment to helping others along their journeys brought a standing ovation and provided the foundation for a provocative panel on trafficking led by Dr. Sarah Beaumont, medical director of the Phoenix Children’s Health Project, our conference host.
This afternoon, we held an amazing panel discussion about working with survivors of #humantrafficking with service providers from Phoenix in medicine, social work, and law enforcement. #CHFConference2019 1/ pic.twitter.com/Qd2MVroPQQ
— Children’s Health Fund (@chfund) October 22, 2019
We heard a great discussion on exploring techniques for enhancing compassion satisfaction and making sure we are all “caring for the caregivers” — especially when that caregiver may be ourselves. The session brought up my own secondary trauma exposure and coping techniques – successful and not so – and everyone I spoke with following this session felt the Texas Children’s Hospital Team of Julie Kaplow and Marisa Nowitz were speaking directly to them!
National experts @MarisaNowitz, @JulieKaplow spoke about their essential work w/children who have a history of trauma & are dealing with loss, “the strongest predictor of poor school outcomes above & beyond any other form of trauma.” For people in this work, it’s very taxing. pic.twitter.com/1di3rfUFx0
— Children’s Health Fund (@chfund) October 23, 2019
The day was rounded out in the morning and afternoon through amazing workshops on topics ranging from mental health to oral health, and from medical/legal partnerships to safe dating and reproductive health. Policy and advocacy issues were identified and both FQHCs and schools were examined for quality measures and increased access. In the end, it was an emotional and informational day teeming with best practices and new, innovative ideas!
Day 2:
The day started with a look at our newest network member, the Henry J. Austin Community Health Center led by pediatrician CEO Dr. Kemi Alli. Data-driven and evidence-based, compassionate care was a key takeaway from Dr. Alli’s discussion, and how technology can improve outcomes.
“Supporting Community Agency, Power and Voice” was the topic of the next presentation, and Debby Snider, the veteran leader of our New York program partner presented a case study in walking the talk of including patients in their recent rebranding efforts. Aurelia Jones-Taylor then took the reins to talk through how the Mississippi Children’s Health Project continues to represent the same equity lens and civil rights spirit that Aaron E. Henry brought to the clinic when it opened more than three decades ago.
“We believe everyone has the ability to solve a problem if they have the network and resources.” – Aurelia Jones-Taylor
Other plenary topics included a deep-dive on the San Francisco (South Bay) juvenile justice system and how providers can interact and improve outcomes. New Medical Director, Dr. Arash Anoshiravani, presented on his work and how it will inform his new role as head of the San Francisco Children’s Health Project.
Dr. Arash Anoshiravani of the @StanfordChild Teen Health Van, on health care for justice-involved youth: “Being in jail itself is traumatic. Some kids have never been away from their parents before.” 1/ pic.twitter.com/3OBPMFBRsz
— Children’s Health Fund (@chfund) October 23, 2019
Children’s Health Fund leadership shared the stage for two discussions – one on the federal policy landscape and one on how to ensure that our next strategic planning process continues to be informed by our National Network programs and leadership.
Our CEO @denniswalto1 and Sr. Dir. of Policy @jdecarv1 presented on the federal policy landscape for #childrenshealth. Providers are a critical voice in this!
“We must focus on evidence-based, science-based efforts that are going to reduce #childpoverty”-Dennis Walto #OurLane pic.twitter.com/O10E9fYdJ7
— Children’s Health Fund (@chfund) October 24, 2019
Wednesday’s workshops included an array of topical areas that built off of plenary discussions, such as the importance of medial affidavits in medical-legal partnerships, reaching children and families with home-based care, learnings from surveys on sex trafficking, and how to make sure electronic health records are serving clinics effectively. Afternoon workshops focused on telehealth tools, caregiver wellbeing, and more policy exploration – specifically on messaging.
Day 3:
As we entered our final day, there was still a buzz in the air and everyone was leaning into the day’s presentations. One focused on findings from the last ten years of funding from the Walmart Foundation, which has enabled childhood obesity prevention and nutritional education programming for children across several sites in the CHF National Network, from NYC to Los Angeles. Other presentations focused on the exceptional extra efforts being made in Washington, D.C. and Miami to utilize parents and community health workers to improve health outcomes, and how Southern Arizona is putting house calls back on the map! All in the name of innovative methods to best serve and reach children and families!
All in all, it was a WOW; almost three days of exceptional and inspirational discussions, presentations, and dialogue. “Positively onward” were the resounding final words and rallying cry as we go back to our programs and our daily work to ensure access to care for children living in poverty. And we leave with a few more tools in the kit and inspiration to continue to go that extra mile.
Speaking for the team at Children’s Health Fund, it was an amazing and motivating opportunity to affirm our work and to be reminded of the exceptional secret sauce – our National Network leadership – that makes our programming so impactful.
Speaking of secret sauce, did I hear someone say “see you in New Orleans next year?”