We are deeply grateful for your continued support in these uncertain times. THANK YOU. Already there has been a lot to think about in 2022: inflation, rising gas prices, Monkeypox, Roe v. Wade, the war in Ukraine, and an ongoing pandemic among many other things. In spite of the seemingly constant negative news and major lifestyle changes, our focus remains on our patients who continue to need access to high quality, affordable health care.
Throughout it all, People’s staff are here, continuing to serve our community, doing our best to level the social inequities that affect health. We are grateful to be able to grow our programs and services and see the immense benefits for our patients. As we navigate a new time in health care, we are excited about new partnerships, new programs, and new ways we can better serve our community.
In addition to difficulty finding high quality health care, People’s patients face hurdles like food insecurity, housing insecurity, transportation challenges, and lack of quality childcare. These challenges not only have direct effects on adults but on children too. These stressors can trigger chronic stress in children, resulting in long-term negative consequences for children’s brain development. One way People’s addresses these issues is by expanding programs for early childhood development, to help parents and children survive and thrive.
Here is a look at how your support has helped alleviate the most urgent needs:
People’s has transformed regular well-child checkups and has developed a robust resource library for early brain development and support for parents. The clinic’s pediatrics department not only provides primary care and preventive services but also cutting-edge programs that foster healthy interactions between caregivers and children, aimed at reducing depression in parents and decreasing behavioral issues in children.
Play-to-Learn provides parents and children ages 1-5 a space to enjoy educational activities, games, songs, and crafts. Through virtual group sessions, children are encouraged to share and engage with each other in developmentally appropriate activities designed to enhance children’s cognitive and language skills.
Filming Interactions to Nurture Development (FIND) is a video coaching program that strengthens positive interactions between caregivers and children. Families are filmed for 10 minutes as they engage in everyday activities. Then parents watch short video clips of their positive interactions. Reviewing these clips helps boost parents’ sense of competence, decreases parent stress, and promotes resilience in children.
Finally, studies show reading aloud is the most important thing parents can do to prepare their children for a strong start in school. Because of this, People’s is proud to offer Reach Out & Read™, a national program to promote childhood literacy in a health care setting. Children receive new, age-appropriate books to read with their parents during visits. And, children can choose their favorite book to take home from the selection of donated books in the clinic lobby. In 2022, young patients have received more than 3,500 new books from People’s.
These are only a few of the many programs People’s offers for parents and their children. With your support, we are continuing to expand programming, grow our reach, and help more patients. If you haven’t done so already this year, please consider making a gift to People’s Community Clinic. We are counting on your renewed support. Together, we will continue to find innovative ways to improve our patients’ lives.
With Gratitude,
Regina Rogoff, JD
Chief Executive Officer
People’s Community Clinic