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• “If we could have but one generation of properly born, trained, educated and healthy children, a thousand other problems of government would vanish." Herbert Hoover
Child advocacy is the work of pleading, defending, publicly recommending or raising one's voice on behalf of children and their families in order to improve their health and well-being. At the University of Virginia, advocating for our patients - whether on an individual basis or within the community or to the legislature - is an integral part of patient care and our residency training program. Click on the links below to find out more.
IN THE NEWS "A Culture of Advocacy": Leonard P. Rome CATCH Visiting Professorship Awarded to Advocacy Program! The UVA Child Advocacy Program has received funding through the Leonard P. Rome CATCH program to bring Dr. Barry Zuckerman, The Joel and Barbara Alpert Professor and Chair of Pediatrics at Boston Univeristy School of Medicine, to Virginia for a 3 day visiting professorship next spring. Dr. Zuckerman is a nationally recognized leader in pediatrics, focusing his career on the social determinants of child health and strategies to improve them. He developed the medical-legal partnerhsip model and 80 programs now provide access to legal aid in the medical setting. He is at the forefront of building effective interdisciplinary and community partnerships at the local, state, and national levels. The program, entitled "A Culture of Advocacy" will seek to bring increased awareness of the importance of advocacy for child health, to promote dialogue between the health care systems and other stakeholders for children's health, and to find ways to further develop a culture of advocacy in our health care systems and our communities. While in Virginia, Dr. Zuckerman will work with residents, faculty and community leaders at both UVA and MCV. He will present Grand Rounds at both institutions and will meet with pediatric faculty, residents, law students, law faculty, community leaders and others to encourage dialogue and develop strategies for increasing collaboration and advocacy initiatives in Virginia.
UVA Delegation Attends AAP Legislative Conference 2008!
Along the way, they also participated in a mock caucus (Woodrow Wilson won), spent
The Honorable Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Pediatricians in the Capitol! Residents Ready to Visit Legislators!
Dr. Arthi Krishnan and Dr. Martha Hellems Receive Dyson Grant for Advocacy! Dr. Arthi Krishnan, senior pediatric resident, and Dr. Martha Hellems, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, were awarded one of 6 Dyson Faculty/Resident Grants. With this award, they will be attending the 2008 AAP Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. and will also receive $1,000 to be used in the development and implementation of a resident advocacy workshop to be presented at a state AAP meeting during the next year. It is hoped that this will become an annual event for resident legislative advocacy training. Dr. Kate Schrecengost Receives AAP Scholarship to Legislative Conference!
First Annual Virginia General Assembly Day Held for Pediatric Residents and Fellows!
On January 24, 2008, 22 pediatric residents, fellows, faculty and practicing
Sen. Ralph Northam, pediatric neurologist The physicians, in groups, then walked to the General Assembly Building where each had several meetings with legislators scheduled to discuss pediatric health issues. Many groups met with their legislator in person, other groups met with a legislative aide in the office. The General Assembly Building was filled with people - from all different walks of life and professions - each one there to plead their cause to their legislators. Many groups also toured the newly expanded and renovated Capitol Building while they were in Capitol Square.
2nd Annual Motorcycle Rally Benefits "Diaper Duty" Intern Project!
Over 120 motorcycle enthusiasts roared into the parking lot at the Kluge Children's
The event was organized by the Wal-Mart distribution center, motorcycle enthusists, and many other businesses throughout central Virginia. Business sponsors included the Wal-Mart Distribution Center 7045, Shenandoah Harley Davidson, and Outback Steakhouse, among many others. Event organizers have established this as an annual event and promise that it will grow bigger every year.
When all was said and done, the Diaper Duty storage closet was completely re-stocked
This is an annual event, so stay tuned for information on next year's "Rally in the Valley!"
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Drs. Arthi Krishnan, Kate Schrecengost, Martha Hellems and Diane Pappas attended the 2008 AAP Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. While there, they learned about the current policies threatening the health and well-being of children across the nation and honed their skills in preparation for meeting with their legislators on Capitol Hill. 
several hours learning the ropes as a "freshman congressman," and took a 2 mile fun run/walk under the cherry blossoms at the tidal basin! Dr. Ralph Northum, pediatric neurologist from tidewater and freshman Virginia state senator was one of the keynote speakers and shared with participants his perspectives, as a pediatrician and legislator, on how to affect change in our state and our country. 
As the 3 day event concluded, over 100 pediatricians from across the country, including 30 residents, descended on Capitol Hill to make their voices heard in support of children and their health. The Honorable Diana DeGette (D-CO) addressed them on their arrival to the Rayburn House onal Office Building, discussing frankly the difficulties that have plagued efforts to effectively address outstanding SCHP and Medicaid issues and applauded the efforts of pediatricians to speak up for children in Washington. The UVA delegation plans to use what they have learned to develop a state legislative training program for pediatric residents. 
Dr. Kate Schrecengost has received an AAP scholarship to the 2008 AAP Legislative Conference to be held in Washington, D.C. this April. When she returns from this national training in legislative advocacy, Dr. Schrecengost will work with Dr. Hellems, Dr. Krishnan and Dr. Pappas on the development of the resident legislative advocacy workshop that is underway.
pediatricians attended the first Virginia General Assembly Day in Richmond. Residents and fellows from all four pediatric programs in Virginia came to Richmond and learned first-hand about legislative advocacy. This event was held in collaboration with the MSV and the Virginia Chapter, AAP. The day started with a pediatric briefing by Dr. Colleen Kraft, President of the Virginia Chapter, AAP, on key issues faced by the legislature this session, including smoke-free air, EMS providers as mandated child abuse reporters, toy safety, and child and adolescent mental health services. Dr. Kurt Miceli, UVA med-psych resident and head of the MSV's resident section, discussed the benefits of bringing issues to the legislature and how effective it really can be to get to know the legislators and communicate regularly with them and their staff.
Everyone reconvened for lunch and de-briefing with Karin Addison, Virginia Chapter, AAP lobbyist. Many were surprised by the willingness of the legislators and their staff to meet with physicians. Some found that legislators did not always know about important legislation that was pending. Others found that it was easy to meet with the legislators and that they genuinely listened to pediatric concerns. Importantly, everyone also learned that legislative advocacy is not a one-time event, but is an ongoing process and will be most effective if everyone continues to follow up with their legislators on these issues as they move through the legislative process this session. As one participant summed up the experience, "I reallly feel like I made a difference today."
Plans are underway to make this an annual event. A resident advocacy workshop is also being planned to provide education and training about legislative advocacy in preparation for next year's Pediatric Advocacy Day at the General Assembly.
Rehabilitation Center on Saturday August 25, 2007, complete with a police escort and accompanied by a Wal-Mart truck loaded with toys and diapers as part of the 1st annual Toy Rally in the Valley! Thanks to patients and families from the Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center, as well as UVA Children's Hospital supporters, the motorcyles arrived to welcoming waves and loud cheers as they drove up to the center. Motorcyclists gathered early Saturday morning at the Wal-Mart distribution center at 
with diapers. For the past two years, the intern classes have developed a community advocacy project called Diaper Duty, a program which distributes diapers, free of charge, to qualified families who have an infant less than 12 months old who receives medical care at the Primary Care Center general pediatrics clinic. The event also raised money for the UVA Children's Hospital and brought a large supply of toys to be distributed to children in need at the hospital and clinics. Many of our pediatric residents and staff were on hand to help move diapers, sort toys and thank the event organizers and participants for all of their hard work and contributions for this wonderful event.
