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The St. Louis Children's Hospital advocacy program strives to translate the hospital's advocacy mission into actionable plans and initiatives involving many constituents -- employees, medical staff, donors and families in the region.

St. Louis Children's Hospital has developed a number of education and outreach initiatives in order to improve the health and wellness of the children it serves. In order to fulfill its mission to "Do What is Right for Kids", St. Louis Children's Hospital has made a commitment to ongoing advocacy, beyond the hospital setting. Funded by generous donors to the St. Louis Children's Hospital Foundation, advocacy and outreach staff have dedicated themselves to these endeavors because they know that children's health needs reach far beyond the hospital walls.

Current Events

No events currently scheduled.

Injury Prevention Initiatives

• Injury-Free Coalition for Kids-- The day after a young boy came to the emergency unit at St. Louis Children's Hospital with gunshot wounds, emergency doctors and nurses discussed the need to give children safer places to play and to teach children and families how to avoid preventable injuries. This incident launched the hospital's comprehensive injury prevention program.

The Injury Free Coalition for Kids of St. Louis is a chapter of a nationwide program that is among the country's fastest growing and most effective injury prevention programs.  The Injury free Coalition for Kids is composed of hospital-based, community-oriented programs anchored in research, education and advocacy.  The coalition includes 40 sites in 37 cities, each housed in the trauma centers of its participating institution.  The sites are independent, physician-led programs driven by the coalition's mission of "preventing injury to children."

Injury Free St. Louis encompasses several injury prevention initiatives, including our Safety Streety program, ATV safety program, Click it Crew, and our car seat and bike helmet distribution initiatives.

• Bike Helmets-- Using a specially designed "prescription" pad, pediatricians may refer children to locations throughout the St. Louis area to get properly-fitted bike helmet. Physicians may also distribute helmets through their practice after office staff attend an hour-long training session.
• Safety Street-- Safety Street is a program that allows kindergartners, first and second graders to experience potential street hazards in a controlled, safe learning environment. It is a life-sized cityscape, complete with homes, cars, a school bus, stray dogs, strangers and more.
• ATV Safety--With the support of numerous community partners such as Air Evac Lifeteam, ARCH Medical Transport, Barnes Jewish Hospital and Kohl’s Department Stores, St. Louis Children's Hospital is increasing ATV safety awareness through educational outreach.  The “Survive the Ride” ATV Safety Coalition urges Missouri and Illinois residents to wear a helmet and ride responsibly.  Coalition partners attend various community events and school functions, presenting a curriculum that teaches adults and children the importance of riding smart — and the consequences if they don't.
• Click it Crew - Seat Belt Safety--Led by a partnership of  St. Louis Children's Hospital and community leaders, the Click it Crew program brings seat belt safety education to the classroom to teach ninth-through 12th graders the importance of buckling up.  Utilizing real-life crash sounds, video and visual effects, this interactive presentation allows students to experience a firsthand simulation of how it feels to be in a car accident and the tragic repercussions that can occur if a seat belt is not worn.  The studnets are shown video testimonials of families of teenagers who have been injured or killed in car accidents as a result of not wearing seat belts.  At the end of this free, one-hour workshop, participants sign a pledge to always wear their seat belts, and they receive Click it Crew membership packets, including a membership card, bracelet, keychain and CD car visor, to reinforce the Click it Crew mission of "saving lives one click at a time."
• Car Seat Fittings--Coming Soon! St. Louis Children's Hospital will soon be opening a car seat fitting station in the Children's Hospital garage, just across the street from the hospital, on the second floor of the garage.  The station will be staffed with certified car seat fitting technicians, and low-cost booster seats and car seats will be available for purchase.  Watch this site for dates and times this service will be available.

Wellness

• Head to Toe Program --This is a unique approach to weight management that teaches youth (ages 8-17) how to live healthier lives by eating right and exercising regularly. While building self-esteem, kids engage in fun physical activities and learn about proper nutrition.
• The FAN Club --The FAN Club at St. Louis Children’s Hospital is a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to an epidemic medical problem facing our community.  The FAN Club is a pediatric weight management program for kids age 8-12 which focuses on family, activity and nutrition.  Our family-based program is centered on medical management and incorporates behavioral therapy, dietary intervention and exercise. 
• Healthy Kids Express

For a comprehensive list of social service agencies in St. Louis visit www.cap4kids.org