Madeline Bell, CEO of Healthcare Anchor Network member Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), writes for US News & World Report about their work to overcome the negative health impacts of SDOH, particularly for the sake of children. CHOP has teamed with Penn, Drexel and other anchor institutions in West Philadelphia to invest in University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative. This workforce development program connects the un- and under-employed to jobs with local employers.
Through the Spark Philadelphia program, CHOP employees have also provided direct mentorship to middle school students who also get the opportunity to obtain firsthand experience with working in a health care setting onsite at CHOP. CHOP’s Homeless Health Initiative provides medical screening, health education and wellness programming for children living in Philadelphia’s shelters.