CISWH News: Grant Awarded to Improve Emergency Medical Response to Children with Complex Health Needs
The Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) at BUSSW has received a new grant to ensure children with complex health needs are met during widespread emergencies. The project, “Building Capacity in Emergency Preparedness & Response with Family Partners of Children with Complex Needs,” will deal specifically with emergency response systems, state organizations, and family-led communities in Pennsylvania.
Children and youth with complex health needs (CCN) are specifically and disproportionately impacted by system breakdowns during widespread emergencies. To address these issues on the state level, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded The Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH) at BUSSW a $250,000 grant for their project, “Building Capacity in Emergency Preparedness & Response with Family Partners of Children with Complex Needs in Pennsylvania.” The project will identify and correct deficiencies in emergency preparedness and response, not only for vulnerable CCNs, but also their families and pediatric emergency medical service providers in Pennsylvania.
‘We are so pleased and excited to receive this award focused on emerging issues in child and maternal health,’ says CISWH Executive Director Eleanor Zambrano. ‘We see this as an opportunity for CISWH to demonstrate the importance of community and family engagement in addressing system-of-care needs for all. This is about social work principles such as inclusion, equity, and integrating a collective approach into healthcare practices. CISWH will continue to look for opportunities like this that are mission driven through leadership and workforce development, as well as strengthening strategic partnerships.’”