Delivering Coordinated, Comprehensive Services for Children and Families

The physical and mental health of young children is a critical part of their development. Embedding supports for families within their pediatrician’s office and offering high-quality home visiting programs can improve child health and development. But in the District of Columbia, there is no single place for families to find the services they need, and there aren’t enough slots to meet the needs of all families that could benefit from these services.

The Foundation is working to establish, expand and sustain health supports for families in pediatrician’s offices and the home. The Early Childhood Innovation Network (ECIN) is a local collaborative led by MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Children’s National Medical Center. The Foundation supports ECIN’s work to integrate child development specialists and family champions into pediatric clinics in D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8.

We also support the DC Home Visiting Council — which represents government agencies, providers and policy/advocacy organizations focused on home visiting — in its work to develop a sustainable home visiting system for the District. We also have invested in Community of Hope to expand its home visiting program to serve more families in Wards 7 and 8.