The Community & Pediatricians: Partnerships for Children Grants Program

Background

Rochester has a tradition of excellence in general as well as in community pediatrics and has many vibrant and committed community-based organizations (CBOs) that focus on children's issues. Despite these resources, many children in Rochester continue to have significant unmet needs. We know from our work with pediatric residents, and from a survey of pediatric trainees and faculty, that pediatricians have a strong desire to become involved in improving health outcomes for vulnerable children and in advocating for these children. Physicians in our local community have provided exemplary models of working beyond the traditional office setting to improve children's health. Frank A. Disney, MD, Burtis Breese, MD, and Thomas Gayeski, MD, are three such physicians in whose honor this grants program has been established.

The Pediatric Links with the Community (PLC) Program, established in 1996, has been successful in nurturing productive, collaborative relationships between pediatric residents and community organizations in child health-related initiatives. The Community & Pediatricians: Partners for Children Grants Program is designed to build on this successful model by offering one-year grants to expand and promote collaborative efforts between community-based organizations (CBOs) and pediatricians in projects that benefit children. Grant applications should demonstrate a collaborative venture between a CBO and a pediatrician or group of pediatricians and specifically target children or adolescents in need. Funding will be provided for pilot programs, expansion of existing programs, or adaptations of programs from other areas.