In the nation’s capital, Project HEALTH is a partnership between The George Washington University, Children’s National Medical Center, the Anthony Bowen YMCA, and the Eastern Branch Boys and Girls Club. In developing the youngest site in the Project HEALTH network, DC volunteers are still in the early stages of ensuring sustainable programs and establishing strong relationships with the DC community.
The need for Project HEALTH in DC is clear. When compared to the rest of the country, DC places at or near the bottom of the list in a number of socioeconomic and health-related indicators. Child poverty in particular is highly concentrated in the District, with a reported 100,000 children living below the poverty line. A network of services to help these children continues to evolve, but the awkward share of power between local and federal governments often complicates the administration and delivery of such services. There is a tremendous need for additional help in improving the accessibility and quality of educational and developmental programs for DC youth, and as the Morino Institute declares, “the opportunity to invest in Washington’s children is now.”
Project HEALTH DC volunteers currently run three programs:
Community-Based Programs:
Hospital-Based Programs:
Download a brochure about Project HEALTH!