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Children's Hospital Boston has been working to fulfill its community mission since 1993 when its Board of Trustees elevated community to core-mission status, along with patient care, teaching and research. Children's was among the first academic medical centers in the nation to do so. Over the past several years, Children's has built the blocks needed for its comprehensive community mission to succeed. The hospital's commitment to the community spans a wide-range of direct services, research and advocacy efforts to benefit the broader community.
In addition, Children's has developed a strategic approach to community health programs including the development of a portfolio of programs to address the most pressing needs of Boston children. (See side bar on right). This portfolio is based on findings from the hospital's regular and in-depth community health assessment, the strengths of its clinical expertise and the community partners and resources available to help leverage these efforts. The Office of Child Advocacy (OCA) oversees this strategy to:
• address specific health needs identified by parents, residents and stakeholders through community assessment;
• provide services in community-based settings or through community-based models;
• engage the community in the development and implementation of programs; and
• ensure services benefit the most vulnerable populations affected by health disparities.
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