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The Pediatric Links with the Community Program, or PLC as
it is best known, is an innovative partnership between the University
of Rochester Department of Pediatrics, Medicine-Pediatrics, Family
Medicine, School of Nursing, Community and Preventive Medicine,
Psychology and Rochester community-based agencies that serve children
and their families. The goals of this collaboration are to:
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Enhance pediatric residents' and medical
students' knowledge about community-
oriented and community-based health care,
especially for those children who lack access
to care because of social or economic
conditions or special health needs
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Implement meaningful partnerships between
the pediatric, medicine-pediatric, familiy medicine
residency programs and nurse practitioner students
and community-based organizations in order to teach
residents and students and benefit children
Pediatric Links with the Community (PLC) was founded in
1996 by pediatricians who were recent graduates of the Rochester
training program. In May 2000, the PLC Program received the Ambulatory
Pediatric Association's Outstanding Teaching Award for the best
pediatric educational program in the country. That same year, the
PLC Program and the Children's Hospital at Strong were one of six
pediatric residency programs nationwide awarded a multi-million
dollar grant from the Dyson Foundation to promote pediatric training
in the community. Under the Dyson Initiative, a unique Child
Advocacy Resident Education (CARE) Track and electives for second
and third year residents were implemented in July 2000 to further
develop partnerships with community-based organizations in projects
that teach residents and benefit children.
All pediatric, medicine-pediatric, family medicine residents and
nursing students participate in PLC during a two-week community-based
rotation early in their residency training. During that experience,
residents work with a variety of medical and non-medical providers
at multiple community sites (currently, we have relationships
with over 50 community-based organizations (CBOs) as partners, collaborators,
and advisors) to provide health care and education for underserved
and impoverished children and families (see Community
Partners). Pediatric senior chief residents currently act as
Assistant Directors for PLC. In addition, they particpate in a community-partnered
project and serve as role models and support for interns at these
community sites during the PLC rotation.
Senior residents in their second and third years of training have
the opportunity to participate in the specialized CARE Track and
electives. These residents establish longitudinal relationships
with community-based organizations serving children. They also receive
specialized training in child health and advocacy, public policy,
and leadership skill development, as well as mentoring from both
community experts and academic faculty. As of August 2008, 75
residents are currently enrolled and are participating in the two-year,
longitudinal CARE Track (2/3rds of pediatric residents electing
to participate in CARE and medicine-pediatrics residents
during 2008-09), including two-week comprehensive summer introductory
CARE Track training block.
All residents benefit from training in cultural understanding,
lectures from local and national child advocates and community leaders,
and the opportunity to participate in electives and ongoing volunteer
community projects. A Child Advocacy Library featuring books, journals,
and videos on the health of children is available for all residents
along with the updated information provided on the PLC website.
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