The Children's Health Fund Launches The Idaho Children's Health Project

Children's Health Fund
Tuesday, 1 June 2004

New Mobile-Based Program to Provide Expanded Health Care Services for Medically Underserved Children of South Central Idaho

17th Project in The Children's Health Fund's 17th Year

The Children's Health Fund (CHF) and Family Health Services (FHS) are collaborating to launch The Idaho Children's Health Project (ICHP). This new program will use CHF's signature mobile medical unit (MMU), a state-of-the-art medical clinic on wheels, to provide medical and dental care to underserved children in the area. To commemorate the launch, United States Senator Michael D. Crapo, Irwin Redlener, M.D., president and co-founder, CHF and James Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer, FHS will speak at the event and mark the occasion with a ribbon cutting at Family Health Services on June 5, 2004.

2004 marks the 17th anniversary of The Children's Health Fund, and we are proud to add The Idaho Children's Health Project as the 17th member of CHF's National Network. We welcome Family Health Services as our partner in this venture, which will help children in South Central Idaho access quality health care," says Irwin Redlener, M.D. "We also applaud the leadership of Senator Mike Crapo, who saw the need for mobile-based health services in these rural communities and who championed our cause in Congress. Without Senator Crapo's commitment to the children of Idaho, we would not have been able to launch the project in Twin Falls."

A lack of insurance, inadequate transportation, cultural/language barriers and a shortage of health professionals are all barriers to health care for struggling families in the area.

ICHP's mobile medical unit will help FHS address the health care needs of the underserved children and families in the area by expanding their current primary care services. The mobile unit will also deliver care at local schools and Head Start Programs during the school year and at migrant labor camps during the summer.

"The MMU is an innovative idea tailored toward assisting patients that have difficulties accessing appropriate health care. With the new unit, the Idaho Children's Health Project will provide essential medical services to Idaho's most in-need communities," says Michael Duffy, M.D., Medical Director of The Idaho Children's Health Project.

"The Idaho Children's Health Project is one way to ensure that children throughout the state have access to quality medical care," says Senator Mike Crapo. "Thousands of children in Idaho miss out each year on fundamental health care needs like regular check-ups, immunizations and dental screenings. This mobile medical van will make a significant difference to those children whose families don't have insurance or have other barriers that prevent them from obtaining timely, regular medical care. I am thrilled to be part of this project and look forward to the success I anticipate from this new medical resource in our state."

The Children's Health Fund is committed to providing health care to the nation's most medically underserved children through the development and support of innovative pediatric programs and the promotion of guaranteed access to appropriate health care for all children. To date, The Children's Health Fund's national network of 17 pediatric programs has treated over 300,000 children. For more information visit www.childrenshealthfund.org.

The mission of Family Health Services is to provide high quality medical care to all members of the community without regard for ability to pay. Family Health Services is a non-profit corporation which is governed by a policy making board of directors. Board members are volunteer representatives of the local communities served by Family Health Services, and a majority of board members are Family Health Services patients.

For more information, or to contact Children's Health Fund, see their website at: www.childrenshealthfund.org