Children's Health Fund (CHF) is anonprofit organization that provides health care to children and families on mobile medical clinics throughout theUnited States. CHF was founded in 1987 by singer/songwriterPaul Simon and pediatrician/advocateIrwin Redlener. The organization began with a single mobile medical unit funded by Simon and designed by Redlener's wife, Karen.[1] More than 20 years later, the organization has 23 programs with more than 50 mobile medical units[2] and is the nation's leading provider of mobile-based health care for homeless and low-income children and their families.[3] Karen Redlener remains with CHF, currently serving as the organization's executive director.[4]
CHF programs are committed to the full range of children's health care from health education and preventative care[5] to the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic diseases.[6] CHF programs provide or coordinate care that fosters oral and mental health, as well as specialty or hospital care.[7]
In 1985, Irwin Redlener joined the board ofUSA for Africa as the organization's medical director and director of grants, where he metPaul Simon.[8] In 1987, Redlener and Simon founded Children's Health Fund to provide health care to homeless and medically underserved children in New York City.[9]
Throughout the years, Simon has held charity concerts and benefit events supporting CHF[10] and has traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak to elected officials on behalf of CHF.[11]
CHF's National Network serve children and families in Arkansas;[12] Austin, Texas;[13] Baton Rouge, Louisiana;[14] Chicago, Illinois;[15] Dallas, Texas;[16] Detroit, Michigan;[17] Harlem, New York;[18] Idaho;[19] Los Angeles, California;[20] Memphis, Tennessee;[21] Mississippi;[22] Mississippi Gulf Coast;[23] New Orleans;[24] New York City;[25] New Jersey;[26] Orlando, Florida;[27] Phoenix, Arizona;[28] San Francisco, California;[29] South Florida;[30] Southern Arizona;[31] Washington, D.C.;[32] and West Virginia.[33]
CHF has two affiliate programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Montrose, Colorado.[34]
CHF works with the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University[37] to help document and assess the impact of major disasters on children and the communities they live in.[38]
SinceHurricane Andrew, Children's Health Fund has activated a crisis response plan to help provide medical assistance to the victims of the disaster. CHF initiated this plan again after theterror attacks of 9/11 providing support at ground zero in New York City;[39] afterHurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in 2005;[40] and most recently after theBP Oil Spill.[41]
