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"The social issues, like having money for heat, have a big impact on children's health. But, physicians can only do so much. My nurses can't do it all. The social worker we have on this floor can't do it all. We all feel like sometimes we're running on a treadmill and just barely staying above water. As part of the team, the Family Help Desk makes a difference. It's a powerful thing." |
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The Children's Defense Fund: State of America's Children 2001  Students' Community Service in Health Care Project HEALTH (Helping Empower, Advocate and Lead Through Health) is an innovative, student-driven project that attempts to bridge public policy with community service and to address the health and social needs of the local low-income community. It began as a pilot program of 10 volunteer students from Harvard University and has expanded to involve 230 students from universities in three cities. One component of the project, FitNut, helps children exercise and learn about the importance of good nutrition, while helping to build their self-esteem. A pediatrician, dietician, and physical fitness specialist from Boston Medical Center (BMC) guide the student volunteers. The Asthma Swimming Program is an effort to strengthen asthmatics' lung capacity through exercise. According to a BMC pulmonologist, lung capacity increased an average of 26 percent among the 18 students who participated in the program during the past year. Another program, the Family Information Source, is an online interactive computer kiosk in BMC's pediatric clinic that allows parents to access information on illnesses, treatments, physicians, health care coverage, and social services. Other Project HEALTH programs focus on literacy, advocacy, and computer training.
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