Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation Awards $75K to Support Pediatric Patients

The grant funds the Childhood Support Specialist program at MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children's Hospital.

Portland, Maine - The Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation has awarded a $75,000 grant to the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children's Hospital (MHBBCH) to help meet the physical and emotional needs of pediatric patients and their families. The grant will also fund a new Childhood Support Specialist (CSS) position in York and Cumberland counties.

The CSS helps providers build trust with families and reduce social barriers to health that come from difficulty affording medications, transportation, food, books, diapers, cribs and strollers. The CSS also assists families with needs ranging from applying for assistance programs to supporting their child's development and addressing parenting challenges.

Since 2016, the Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation has provided more than $150,000 to MaineHealth Primary Care, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Portland, enabling the care team to provide at-risk families with resources that are not covered by insurance or the hospital's operating budget.

"The Barrett Foundation's funding has been a cornerstone in our ability to improve health equity for the children we serve," said Dr. Steve DiGiovanni, medical director at MaineHealth Primary Care, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Portland. "I am thrilled that this generous funding will also allow us to add another Childhood Support Specialist to a southern Maine pediatric practice. By strengthening families, alleviating stress and empowering parents, we are helping to lay the groundwork for healthier, more resilient futures for our patients."

The CSS at the Portland pediatric office completed 239 visits with 107 patients between January and June of 2024, providing one-third of those families with assistance in accessing state or federal support programs and three-quarters of them with education to support their children's social and emotional growth.

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About MaineHealth

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, "Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America," and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Care at Home in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Heal System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.

About The Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation

The Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation is a private charitable foundation. The genesis for the Foundation's formation in 2007, was Evelyn and her husband Kenneth's mutual concern for helping children. It aligns with the belief that their good fortune in life created a responsibility and provided an opportunity to give back to those less fortunate. Their hope is that this Foundation will continue to provide hope and assistance to children across the world for generations to come. The Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation supports organizations that are working to improve children's health, safety and education to create opportunities for their enrichment so that they may live fulfilling lives. For more information, visit eskebarrettfoundation.org.