Encouraging Early Literacy: Books for Babies
When it comes to reading to children, it's never too early to start. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends pediatricians “use a robust spectrum of options to support and promote literacy.”
CHOP's Books for Babies program is designed to begin a child's journey to literacy. “We know that reading with young children results in improved language skills in toddlers and improves school readiness,” says Shelia Knerr, MD, a CHOP Pediatric Hospitalist who led the creation of the program. Learn More
It's in the bag!
Through the Books for Babies program, parents of newborns receive a gift bag that includes a board book, a bookmark, an application for a library card at their local library, and information on the well-established benefits of reading to their newborn.
This was an incredible journey that began, grew and continues to prosper due to the ongoing support of the CHOP Community Impact department, the CHOP grants programs, and the commitment of the whole CHOP enterprise to help their employees support children and families in their communities.
Sheila Knerr, MD, Books for Babies Founder
Dr. Knerr recently retired from her role as a CHOP Pediatric Hospitalist and passed the torch of Books for Babies leadership to Koryse Woodrooffe Ekouevi, MD, a CHOP neonatologist at Grand View Health, pictured left.
Learn more about CHOP's literacy programs
Healthy Food, Healthy Childhood
When a family doesn't have the resources to put nutritious food on the table, providing a bag of groceries just answers an immediate problem. The Food as Medicine program takes a broader approach that includes nutrition education for families and activities for kids so they're learning about healthy food while having fun. And it happens right where the kids receive their healthcare: The Nicholas and Athena Karabots Primary Care Center, Norristown.
The program began when social worker Victoria Armstrong saw Norristown families facing food instability coming out of the pandemic. Learn More
Food — and So Much More for Families
Families Enrolled in Food as Medicine receive:
- Weekly delivery of fresh produce May through November, complete with info on what's in the box and recipes to try
- Twice monthly delivery of nonperishable groceries
- Monthly family sessions with exercise, story time, gardening, cooking demonstrations and dinner
- Cooking equipment that includes cutting boards, knives, grater, pots, pans and more, plus a cookbook of family-friendly, healthy fare
- Monthly children's book related to gardening or healthy eating
- Yoga mat and water bottle for each child
It Takes a Village to Offer Family Nights
Community partners that support Food as Medicine:
- Cutloose Cares and leaders Jordan and Emily Deane
- Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, which provided the on-site garden, cooking demonstrations and weekly produce boxes
- Martha's Choice Marketplace, a Catholic Social Services food pantry in Norristown
- Norristown-area restaurants
- Reach Out and Read and other CHOP volunteers
Learn About CHOP's Food-related Programs
Photos of a Food as Medicine family night
Medicine and More: The Family Connects Program
Sometimes, a family visiting the Emergency Department at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has social needs that go beyond their child's immediate medical problem. Families may struggle to have enough food or a safe place to live. CHOP created Family Connects to provide community resources to meet those social needs. Learn More
Working to Build a Future Workforce at CHOP
Part of CHOP's mission is to fill the registry of future healthcare workers with young people who reflect our diverse community and patient population. We have numerous programs that give youth from grade school through college opportunities to learn about the many roles across the institution — in patient care, administration, research and beyond.
Our robust internship programs, in particular, provide hands-on experience that can transform a student's career aspirations and prepare them for a job across the spectrum of healthcare. Learn More
Training at CHOP Is a Nationwide Draw
The nine REU interns for 2023 came from colleges that spanned the United States.
Safer Driving and Brain Injury Dominate Research Topics
Summer 2023 REU research topics included:
- Biomechanical Responses during Pre-Crash Maneuvers and Autonomous Driving Scenarios
- Understanding Eye-Glance Behaviors Among Young Drivers
- Analysis of Pediatric Occupant Kinematics and Kinetics in Motor Vehicle Crashes
- Social Equity and Spatial Effects on Safe Mobility
- Developing 3D-Printed Anthropomorphic Models to Improve Clinical Training
- Examining Learning to Drive, Risky Driving Behavior, and Crashes in Young Drivers
- Human Subject Study with Parents and Teens to Study Effectiveness of Driver Safety App
- Optimizing Concussion Care for Children and Adolescents
- Cognitive and Circuit Impairments Induced by Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
The Power of a Picture
Dermatology is a visually oriented specialty that lends itself well to remote consultation.
Pediatricians at participating CHOP Care Network sites can send a picture of a child's skin issue through the Electronic Medical Record system to the Dermatology team for a consultation. The Dermatology team typically responds within just a few days, as opposed to patients having to wait months for an in-person consult.
The E-Consult program in dermatology has become an important part of my clinical practice. I love the fact that I can save families time, money and the anxiety of waiting for an answer, while also equipping pediatricians to manage their dermatology patients. A well-taken photo truly is worth a thousand words!
Amanda Moon, MD, CHOP Pediatric Dermatologist
The teledermatology program plans to expand to all CHOP Primary Care sites in the future. CHOP is also exploring using e-consults for other subspecialties to improve access to care and the patient family experience.
Learn more about the ways CHOP is using technology to enhance care to help children everywhere