Community Outreach Assistance for Children's Health - COACH for Kids and Their FamiliesŪ
Improving the Well-Being of Children and Their Families in Los Angeles
More than a half million children in Los Angeles County live in poverty, with 25 percent of those being homeless. For most, access to quality healthcare is severely limited not only because uninsured families have little money for doctor visits but because limited transportation, language difficulties and even cultural issues create additional barriers.
Keenly aware of the plight of medically underserved children, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center sponsors the COACH (Community Outreach Assistance for Children's Health) for KidsŪ program in an effort to bring no-cost, quality healthcare services to low-income youngsters. Staffed by Cedars-Sinai professionals, large, fully equipped mobile units - "medical clinics on wheels"- visit economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Los Angeles County on a regularly scheduled basis. Preventive care, such as immunizations and screenings, are available in addition to diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses.
COACH for KidsŪ collaborates with more than 200 public and private community organizations. Through this network, COACH and its partners help families make long-term lifestyle changes to promote better environments for children to grow and reach their full potential. Counseling, parenting education classes, parent support groups, mental health, children's groups and youth services are provided, as are referrals for housing and job training and placement.
To date, COACH for KidsŪ has provided more than 250,000 patient visits to over 100,000 children and their families. In providing primary healthcare services to some of Los Angeles County's neediest populations, the program has led to healthier children, families and communities.
