The year 2020 has tested us, challenged us, and frightened us. Yet, it has also inspired us. From the unwavering dedication of doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel; to the resilient spirit of communities across the country—we’ve seen adversity met with strength, time and time again.
But as the pandemic intensifies, we continue to need your help to wrap children in essential supports to get through this incredibly difficult time.
Looking Back on 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, it quickly became evident that communities of color served by our network partners were disproportionately impacted both by infection rates and job losses. We immediately adapted our programmatic focus to meet their needs, from increasing access to screening and testing for COVID-19, to providing direct support to families to help mitigate impacts from lost wages, remote learning, trauma, and access to food.
- In those early months of the pandemic, many healthcare providers were forced to temporarily close or severely limit the services they offered. However, with the support of many generous donors, CHF’s network partners worked quickly to ensure care was available, and COVID-19 screening and testing were accessible for more than 1 million children and adults.
- Our partners across the country were able to launch or expand telehealth services in order to continue holding primary care visits and went from 2,500 telehealth visits in 2019, to 46,000 in 2020. As heartening as these numbers are, we also know there has been a huge decrease in health screenings and outpatient mental health services for children this year
A Crisis is Still Unfolding
There is no escaping that the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is still creating tremendous needs for families.
- Children are not getting the preventative medical care they need to be healthy, and the resurgence of coronavirus infections continues to deter families from seeking primary healthcare. And although it’s impossible to believe, more children lack health insurance to access this essential medical care than did a year ago.
- On top of this, racial injustice and political turbulence are deepening trauma for children and their families. Mental health needs are growing at an alarming rate.
- Many of the families served by the programs you help us support across the country are also struggling to secure survival essentials like food, formula, medicine, and more.
Looking Forward
Medical providers haven’t stopped doing everything they can to reach children with essential healthcare and more. Together, we will fight to ensure these frontline health workers have access to the coronavirus vaccine and that the communities of color where they live and work are prioritized.
We are counting on you. Here is how you can help:
Your donation will wrap children with the supports they urgently need to help them make it through this incredibly tough holiday season.
The well-being of marginalized children and families is at risk unless we all come together to help now.