Children's Health Foundation

Volunteer with us! Do you have a passion for helping children and their families? We have volunteer roles that suit any interest and schedule, from assisting at London Knights games to helping out with our annual Toy Drive to support at Foundation events. Our volunteers' gift of time moves forward our mission to save lives and improve children’s health and quality of life! Apply for our volunteer roles right here: childhealth.ca/volunteer

Dr. Beary Goode was pleased to bring some high fives to WFCU Credit Union's grand opening of their new branch at 336 Wellington Road alongside City Councillors Corrine Rahman and Hadleigh McAlister, and WFCU President and CEO, Eddie Francis. Welcome to the neighborhood, WFCU! We love having a new friend around who wants to make our community an even better place.

On October 19 and 20, hundreds of runners turned out for RBC Race for the Kids, raising important funds for child and youth mental health in Western Ontario. “RBC’s purpose – to help clients thrive and communities prosper – inspires our teams to do what’s right every time. And a big part of this commitment focuses on helping to build healthy, resilient employees, leaders, and community members,” says Claude DeMone, Regional President for Southwestern Ontario with RBC. “That’s why I’m so proud to share that through the RBC Virtual Race for the Kids, we’ve raised more than $150,000 over the past 5 years – an incredible support for youth mental health services at Children’s Health Foundation in London.” That's an amazing number that represents an incredibly meaningful impact for children and youth in our region from the many kilometres paced on the trails and in the parks over the years. Runners, donors, volunteers, and RBC, you have our gratitude for all you've accomplished through Race for the Kids. Be proud of yourselves for making a difference.

Your voice matters! As part of our commitment to providing the best care for children and families in Western Ontario, we invite you to share your feedback through Children's Health Foundation's survey. By taking just a few minutes, you can help shape the future of our programs, resources, and research—ensuring better childhoods for kids facing serious health challenges. Your insight can make a real difference. Share your voice! https://lnkd.in/gB-bRYiR

Congratulations to Nicole Yawney, Youth Indigenous Wellness Consultant at Children’s Hospital, on earning the 2024 Truth & Reconciliation Advancement Award from Children's Healthcare Canada. In her role, Nicole provides critical support to Indigenous youth and their families, helping them navigate Children’s Hospital through every step of their health care journeys, as well as bridging traditional Indigenous ways of healing with Western methodology. Children’s Health Foundation proudly supports the Youth Indigenous Wellness program at Children’s Hospital. 

It’s #NationalRespiratoryTherapyWeek, so we’d like to show our appreciation for some vital team members at Children’s Hospital: the Paediatric Respiratory Care team. Whether due to an asthma attack or other emergency, when children are in trouble, these specialists help kids breathe. Respiratory therapists are also incredibly important in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Because lungs are among the last organs to develop fully, babies born prematurely often need ventilators to breathe. Respiratory therapists are right there alongside NICU nurses and doctors, 24/7. Our donors proudly supply respiratory therapists with the cutting-edge tools like jet ventilators and oxygen blenders that help them help kids facing serious challenges. Thank you, Paediatric Respiratory Care team, for all you do!

New to her role as Manager on the Paediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU) in March, Amanda proudly shared that with the help of the PCCU Educator who is leading the Children’s Hospital Integrated Learner Development (C.H.I.L.D) onboarding program, new nurses are feeling confident and comfortable joining this acute care unit. Your generosity helps make this comfort and confidence possible. Our donors help fund a vital piece in nurse onboarding in the PCCU – simulation training in the Michael Gunning Simulation Centre. With simulations that cover respiratory emergencies, seizures and more, staff gain confidence in caring for acutely ill children during respiratory illness season. Amanada shares, “Respiratory season in this PCCU will be a new experience for me. The PCCU team is fully prepared with their training and experience and I’m looking forward to learning from them. Whether it’s managing complex respiratory conditions, or offering support during difficult times, we are committed to ensuring the highest standard of care for every patient. We collaborate to support and guide each other daily, and our dedication to communication is essential to providing proactive care.” The PCCU is also celebrating a significant decrease in pressure wounds in September! That means fewer kids experiencing bed sores or other kinds of pressure wounds. This best care is thanks to the PCCU staff’s dedication and collaboration with their Quality Improvement team! As staff noticed an uptick in pressure wounds, they brought their concerns to the Quality Improvement team. The frontline and quality improvement teams worked together to find which evidence-based solutions fit the PCCU and jumped into action. With equipment like foam sheets and gel pads, and at-the-elbow education for skin assessments, PCCU staff are preventing pressure wounds - even when our kids are intubated and unable to move independently. YOU help fund quality improvement initiatives and national databases that help Children’s health care teams implement evidence-based solutions. YOU are part of ensuring staff have the data and resources they need to improve children’s health! 

It’s RBC Race for the Kids weekend and wow, what a gorgeous day to lace up the sneakers and go for a walk in support of Children's Health Foundation and youth mental health. I’m still matching donations today! Donate here: https://lnkd.in/gcNKG4yz A D H D Take my hand and come with me, I want to teach you about ADHD. I need you to know, I want to explain, I have a very different brain. Sights, sounds, and thoughts collide. What to do first? I can't decide. Please understand I'm not to blame, I just can't process things the same. Take my hand and walk with me, Let me show you about ADHD. I try to behave, I want to be good, But I sometimes forget to do as I should. Walk with me and wear my shoes, You'll see its not the way I'd choose. I do know what I'm supposed to do, But my brain is slow getting the message through. Take my hand and talk with me, I want to tell you about ADHD. I rarely think before I talk, I often run when I should walk. It's hard to get my school work done, My thoughts are outside having fun. I never know just where to start, I think with my feelings and see with my heart. Take my hand and stand by me, I need you to know about ADHD. It's hard to explain but I want you to know, I can't help letting my feelings show. Sometimes I'm angry, jealous, or sad. I feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and mad. I can't concentrate and I lose all my stuff. I try really hard but it's never enough. Take my hand and learn with me, We need to know more about ADHD. I worry a lot about getting things wrong, Everything I do takes twice as long. Everyday is exhausting for me... Looking through the fog of ADHD. I'm often so misunderstood, I would change in a heartbeat if I could. Take my hand and listen to me, I want to share a secret about ADHD. I want you to know there is more to me. I'm not defined by it, you see. I'm sensitive, kind and lots of fun. I'm blamed for things I haven't done. I'm the loyalist friend you'll ever know, I just need a chance to let it show. Take my hand and look at me, Just forget about the ADHD. I have real feelings just like you. The love in my heart is just as true. I may have a brain that can never rest, But please understand I'm trying my best. I want you to know, I need you to see, I'm more than the label, I am still me!!!! Author Unknown Scott Dickson Jennifer Santamaria Jennifer Moore Tanja Wilkins Stephen Mattis