FY25 CHOP Cares Community Grant Awards
The CHOP Cares Community Grant provides funding to CHOP employees to fill a specific health need identified in the Regional Community Health Needs Assessment, in communities served by CHOP and the CHOP Care Network across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In the first ten years of the program, the Office of Community Impact, with the assistance of the CHOP Cares Community Advisory Board, has awarded over 200 grants and more than $1 million to CHOP employees.
Below is the list of FY25 CHOP Cares Community Grant projects - the largest cohort of grants ever awarded!
Contact the Office of Community Impact at CHOPcaresgrants@chop.edu with any questions.
FY25 CHOP Cares Community Grants
Are You Grief Informed? A Community Collaboration to Educate Therapists and Counselors on Supporting Those Who Are Grieving
Kelly Goldin, CCLS, CTRS, Bereavement Coordinator
Morgan Lieberman, MS, PACT Program Manager
The project is a free educational series for community providers to learn about supporting families through grief. It will provide continuing education credits for those who attend and create a network of grief-informed therapists in our local communities. After participating, community therapists will be added to referral lists used by CHOP, local grief centers, and children’s hospitals, thereby increasing access to skilled mental health clinicians.
Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County
Autistic Ambassadors: A Summer Program for Autistic Adolescents and Siblings
Kate E. Wallis, MD, MPH, Attending Physician, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
The project will support Spectrum Success 911, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing life-changing programs and resources for individuals living on the Spectrum and/or mental health differences along with their siblings, with a 6 weeks of summer programming (Monday – Thursday, 20 hours/week) to empower marginalized individuals living on the Spectrum and to develop and reinforce skills, building self-advocacy and self-efficacy in the process.
Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County
CHOP Nursing Pathway Program
Sophia Collins, MSN, RN, Program Coordinator
Kellie Wharton, MSN, RN, Interim Primary Care Director of Nursing
Daneen Smith, MSN, RN, VP & Associate Chief Nursing Officer
Cody Gathers, MD, MSHP, Pediatric Critical Care Fellow
James Randolph, Senior Life Supporter Educator
The program provides an impactful learning experience for students in Philadelphia in partnership with the Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia High School and Middle School, and Belmont Charter High School located in West Philadelphia. The program aims to expose students to the field of nursing and other healthcare fields through clinical on-site shadowing, mentoring, simulation lab training and community engagement opportunities.
Priority Health Need: Socioeconomic Disadvantage
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County
CHOP Resident ExPERT Group Stop the Bleed Training for Youth in Philadelphia
Rachel Rothstein, MD, MPH, PL3 Pediatric Resident; ExPERT Pediatric Resident Outreach Ambassador
Priya Shah, MD, PL2 Pediatric Resident; ExPERT Pediatric Resident Outreach Ambassador
Khoon-Yen Tay, MD - Attending Physician and Director of Simulation, Division of Emergency Medicine, CHOP; Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine; Associate Medical Director of Outreach and Emergency Medicine, CHOP Center for Simulation, Advanced Education, and Innovation; Medical Director, CHOP Outreach Center for ExPERT
John A Erbayri, MS, NRP, CHSE, Manger, Center for Life Support Education & Outreach; Director, Prehospital & Community Outreach, Academy for Resuscitation of Children, Outreach Center for ExPERT
The CHOP Expertise in Pediatric Emergency Readiness and Training (ExPERT) group seeks to organize and lead school and community based Stop the Bleed training for youth in Philadelphia. Children in Philadelphia are uniquely exposed to risk factors that increase their exposure, morbidity and mortality secondary to injuries. Addressing these many risk factors requires large-scale multifactorial primary injury prevention strategies; However, downstream interventions, such as teaching youth how to recognize and acutely stabilize traumatic injury as a bridge to further care, may reduce the impact of the above health care education and access inequities.
Priority Health Need: Socioeconomic Disadvantage
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County
CHOP Space for Spectrum Support: A Parent Education & Support Group for CHOP Primary Care Patients on the Autism Spectrum!
Jennifer Keller, DNP, CPNP-PC, PMHS, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner & Autism Champion
Barb Picard, MSN, FNP, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner & Autism Champion
Nicole Jaffe, MD, Primary Care Pediatrician & Autism Champion
In CHOP Primary Care, there are 5 identified “Autism Champions” that partner with CHOP Developmental Pediatrics to evaluate for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within their respective practices. Due to office visit time constraints and a lack of community resources for parent education and diagnosis support, families are often forced to navigate their child’s new ASD diagnosis in solitary. The project is a monthly, educational support program for CHOP Primary Care parents to learn more about their child's diagnosis in a convenient, virtual format.
Priority Health Need: Healthcare and Health Resources Navigation
Geographical Location: Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia County
Community "Cuddle & Care" Baby Showers
Megan Chiu, RN, BSN, Clinical Nurse
The project, in collaboration with Health Promotion Council, will host inclusive community baby showers that will celebrate and support expectant families in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. This initiative aims to provide essential resources through local partnerships, such as baby supplies, access to guidance from healthcare professionals, and educational workshops, to empower families, especially marginalized families, to seek support for various challenges, from breastfeeding to mental health.
Priority Health Need: Socioeconomic Disadvantage
Geographical Location: Montgomery and Philadelphia County
Field to Fork: Empowering Abilities in the Kitchen
Beth Senay, CHOP Director Data Trust & Enablement
The Field to Fork initiative at A Meaningful Purpose at Reed’s Farm empowers individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) through immersive culinary training, providing them with invaluable life skills. The program encourages exploration of the benefits of healthy cooking and equips participants with culinary skills that extend beyond the kitchen, translating into both personal daily activities of living and potential job opportunities, fostering greater autonomy and choice in their lives. Through hands-on experiences in cooking with fresh farm produce, participants not only gain familiarity and proficiency in culinary skills but also develop a profound understanding of the importance of healthy eating habits for overall well-being.
Priority Health Need: Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
Geographical Location: Atlantic County
Food Opportunities to Improve Outcomes in Dialysis (FOOD)
Christine Burke, MSN, CRNP, Dialysis Nurse Practitioner
Amy Kogon, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology
Carly Athan, MSW, LSW, Dialysis Social Worker
Abbe Stern, Food Pharmacy Manager
Hannah Derwick, MPH, Clinical Research Study Lead
Using the Hunger Vital Sign screen, 52% of the families of children on dialysis at CHOP were identified to be experiencing food insecurity. Children on dialysis with food insecurity have worse biochemical parameters, increased rates of infection, and lower quality of life than children on dialysis who are food secure. The project will provide one hot meal per patient and caregiver for each hemodialysis treatment, home hemodialysis clinic visit, or peritoneal dialysis clinic visit.
Priority Health Need: Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
Geographical Location: Families from SEPA at CHOP Philadelphia Campus
Fresh is Best Initiative
Jessica Lalli, Program Manager, Division of Nephrology
Kim Turner, Sr. Nursing Aid
The project will support Vare-Washington Elementary School in South Philadelphia by combining nutrition curriculum with the creation of school community garden. The project aims to have students understand the complete cycle of “seed to table”: how to plant an idea, work the project through to completion, and forward their success into a legacy for others. All produce grown at the student garden will then be available to school families which will help combat food insecurity within the community. Priority Health Need: Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County
FY25 Girls Inc CHOP Project Accelerate
Joanne McCool, VP, HR Operations & Administration
Mark Parris, Attending Physician, Anesthesia & Critical Care Medicine
Kristen Miller, Attending Physician, Pulmonary
Jonathan Chen, Division Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Kisha Hawthorne, SVP & Chief Operating Officer, Care Network
Donna Krammer, Sr. Manager, Onboarding and Employee Experience Human Resources
Sara E Baumgarten, Cardiac Center and Frontier Programs Manager
Claudine Coke, Director, HR Client Services
The project will support young women and introduce them to careers in healthcare while providing hands on experience. CHOP employees will serve as mentors, preceptors and advisors throughout the students' time at CHOP and will assist in providing networking opportunities for the students.
Priority Health Need: Socioeconomic Disadvantage
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County
Garage Community & Youth Center Nutrition Education Program
Rebecca V. Rosenberg, Executive Associate III
The project will support a new nutrition program and kitchen staff member at The Garage Community & Youth Center who will provide nutritious meals and implement nutrition education in a culturally appropriate, lesson-based program. Healthy eating improved dietary habits, disease reduction and meal preparation independence will be the results of this program.
Priority Health Need: Food Access
Geographical Location: Chester County
Healthy Connections at Hope
Colleen Schlotter, Senior Director Primary Care Operations
The project will enhance outdoor spaces at Hope Learning Center (HLC). HLC supports teens and young adults on the autism spectrum as they develop skills to be successful socially, vocationally, and academically while gaining independence. The development of the outdoor space will include a walking trail, outdoor exercise equipment, relaxation areas, and upgrades to the catch-and-release fishing pond. All areas will foster socialization among the students as they develop healthy routines for caring for themselves physically and mentally.
Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
Geographical Location: Bucks County
Improving Patient Access to and Engagement in Behavior Health Homework Strategies
Dr. Kristin Garcia, Psy.D. Psychologist with Healthy Minds Healthy Kids (HMHK)
The project will provide patients seeking behavioral health treatment with HMHK at Norristown Care Network access to materials (visual aids, fidget items, journals, etc.) that encourage patient and family engagement in assigned homework strategies in between therapy sessions. Providing patients with immediate access to materials that can aid in completion of assigned homework will help to improve equitable access to necessary items. Practicing homework strategies/interventions can in turn result in symptom and impairment reduction which can also have a positive impact on reducing the need for follow up with a BH provider in the community.
Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
Geographical Location: Montgomery County
Keeping Kidneys Hydrated
Claudia Szczepanek, RN, Subspecialty Practice Nurse III, Nephrology Nurse Coordinator
Christine Thames, RN, Subspecialty Practice Nurse II, Division of Nephrology
Lashae Briggs, Practice Operations Manager I, Division of Nephrology
The recommendation for patients with stone disease is to hydrate with a minimum of half the body weight in ounces of water daily. The project will provide a 32-ounce inspirational water bottle with time markers and a diary to help our patients, ages 7 through 18, keep track of their water intake in our Stones clinic.
Priority Health Need: Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County
Lactation Support: Empowering with Knowledge and Tools
Meghan Devine, RN, BSN, IBCLC Manager of Lactation Services and Mothers’ Milk Bank
Susanne Trout, MS, RDN, LDN, IBCLC, Senior Director Clinical Nutrition and Lactation Services
Meg Kawan, MD, MPH, IBCLC, Attending Pediatrician
Tonae Simon, RN, BSN, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant
Melanie Savoca, MS, RD, CNSC, LDN Lead Clinical Dietitian Cardiac/Lymphatics Program
The project will address the critical need for lactation support among underserved families, particularly undocumented immigrants without access to insurance or federal assistance. In addition to lactation education/support in the moment, this program will assist in procuring and providing much needed tools to maintain human milk production and continue to provide human milk to infants in need.
Priority Health Need: Access to Care (Primary and Specialty)
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County
Lighten The Load (LtL)
Shedia R. Laguer, Ed.D, Manager- Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In partnership with Refresh Laundry and Camden City School district, the project will provide a monthly voucher-based program for students enrolled in public or charter (PreK-12) schools in Camden, NJ. The project is designed to provide free or cost reduced laundry services for children and their families. LtL will help to mitigate barriers and challenges preventing low income and unhoused families from maintaining clean clothes and the confidence that comes along with it, including but not limited to transportation, access, and cost. Through this project we intend to “lighten the load’ of laundry labor and expenses for families across the city of Camden.
Priority Health Need: Socioeconomic Disadvantage
Geographical Location: Camden County
Standardization of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Patients with Hypertension
JoAnn Panus Rn, Rebecca Scobell, MD Uche Nwaogazie, MD (graduating fellow)
Recognition and use of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) have dramatically increased over the last 20 years and current guidelines make strong recommendations for the use of HBPM in patients with hypertension. The goal of the project is to improve BP control among children with hypertension by creating a HBPM bundle/toolkit and improving use of the bundle. The bundle includes provision and use of validated device for home BP measurement, training of caregiver and/or patient on home blood pressure measurement and provision of BP education material.
Priority Health Need: Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County
Support Breastfeeding in a Primary Care Level
Denise Fox-Sulitzer, RN, CPN
Samantha Murray, RN, BSN
In line with the Academy of Pediatrics objective to increase the prevalence of breastfeeding through the age of two, the project will educate new parents on breastfeeding and its benefits, to offer support for breastfeeding in the ambulatory setting.
Priority Health Need: Healthcare and Health Resources Navigation
Geographical Location: Burlington County
Supporting Families in Need of Essential Supplies for Central Line Care at Home
Catherine (Katy) Murtaugh, RN, BSN, CPHQ, LSSGB – Safety-Quality Specialist
Jean Abraitis, RN, BSN, Subspecialty Practice Nurse IV
Lakshmi Srinivasan, MBBS, MSTR, Attending Physician
Lauren LeGoff, MS, MLS(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC, Infection Control Manager
Stacey Morrisey, RN, BSN, CPHQ, Safety-Quality Specialist
Amanda Shanahan, MSN, RN, CPHQ, LSSGB, Safety Quality Manager
Lauren Brennan, MHA, RT(R), Enterprise Improvement Advisor
Lindsay Brim, MS, CIC, Infection Preventionist
The project will provide non-medical supplies essential to central line care at home to families who need them through inpatient screening, including an innovative approach to supply organization. We will monitor this intervention for usefulness to the families served, as well as monitor for any impact to an observed disparity in CLABSI rates for children living in areas classified as “very low” on the Childhood Opportunity Index.
Priority Health Need: Healthcare and Health Resources Navigation
Geographical Location: Families from SEPA at CHOP Philadelphia Campus
Teen Wellness Workshop Series
Meredith Link, PT, DPT, ATC,CSCS
Eli Epstein, PT, DPT, OCS, MBA
The Teen Wellness Workshop Series pilot program is a comprehensive initiative aimed at enhancing the physical and mental well-being of teenagers. Each class, held as a group session, provides education and skills practice on key aspects of teen fitness and mental health. Workshops include introductory weightlifting techniques, personalized workout program design, and essential mental skills training.
Priority Health Need: Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
Geographical Location: Camden County
Vaccine Pain Management in Primary Care
Laura Baker, RN, BSN, Clinical Nurse Expert
Eden Barker, MS, CCLS, Child Life Clinical Advisor
Melanie Hoynoski, MPH, CCLS, CTRS, Child Life Clinical Advisor
Javier A. Rivera, RN, BSN, Clinical Nurse Expert
Allison Tappon, MS, CCLS, Child Life Clinical Advisor
Priority Health Need: Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
Geographical Location: Philadelphia and Delaware County
Walk with CHOP: A Prescribe Outside Series
Dr. Barbara Rolnick, Attending Physician – CN
Dr. Natalie Minto, Attending Physician – PCC
The project will partner with Prescribe Outside, Philadelphia’s nature prescription program that provides physicians and families with tools to improve the health and wellness of Philadelphia children by helping them locate and use safe, accessible, and convenient public green space. Based on the “Walk with a Doc” they will provide monthly walks at Cobbs Creek Park for both patient families and providers, allowing everyone to get a dose of nature, foster community, and have fun outside.
Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County
Zeralda Pulaski Garden Expansion
Patricia Burns-Lynch, MSN, RN, CPHON, Oncology Patient/Family Education Specialist
The project will support the transformation of an abandoned lot next to the Zeralda Pulaski Community Garden into a space to be enjoyed by neighbors. Engaging local youth in growing vegetables and tasting the fruits of their labor.
Priority Health Need: Food Access
Geographical Location: Philadelphia County