Flint Child Health & Development Fund will provide support to Flint children exposed to lead
A group of concerned community members have created a charitable fund so that people nationwide can contribute to support both short and long term needs of Flint’s children exposure to lead. The fund, established at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, is a supplemental resource to the ongoing pursuit of additional state and federal funding.
“Our Flint children deserve every opportunity to be healthy and successful,” said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Hurley Medical Center physician. “The creation of this fund will further ensure that our children are afforded the resources and interventions to overcome this population-wide exposure to lead.”
The Flint Child Health & Development Fund will support the delivery of critical public health, medical, and community-based services and interventions that address and mitigate the short and long term impacts experienced by Flint, Michigan children exposed to lead as the result of the 2014-2016 Flint Water Crisis. The fund will be used to aid children with interventions that support positive health outcomes for Flint children, including:
- Immediate response
- Optimal child health & development
- Early childhood education
- Continuous access to a pediatric medical home
- Access to infant and child behavioral health services
- Nutrition education
- Healthy food access
- Safe and healthy home environments
- Integrated social services
- Research
Grants from the fund will be advised by a committee of community members with representation from residents, Hurley Children’s Hospital, Mott Children’s Health Center, Greater Flint Health Coalition, United Way of Genesee County, and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.
“The Fund, and its Advisory Committee structure, ensures that donations will be used in the most effective way to help Flint children,” said James Gaskin, Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Genesee County. “We extend our deep appreciation to all the donors who have responded generously to this emergency.”
The Community Foundation is extremely grateful to the United Way of Genesee County and their CEO, Jamie Gaskin, for the dedication of staff, time and resources in the day to day coordination of the immediate response to this ongoing crisis, said Kathi Horton, President, Community Foundation of Greater Flint. “Together, the Community Foundation and United Way will be working with the fund advisory committee to ensure that the needs of Flint’s children are addressed.”
Give online to the Flint Child Health & Development Fund at here.
