Children's Health Board: Serving Children for 150 Years

You may know that Children’s National Health System was founded in 1870, 146 years ago. But did you know that the Child Health Center Board was created four years earlier?

Many men who died in the Civil War left behind widows and orphans, and the Child Health Center Board (now called the Children’s Health Board) was created in 1866 to meet their health needs. Initially starting as milk stations for children, the cause soon grew into neighborhood health centers. By 1913, these centers included medical supervision, patient education, and a mission to “keep the well child well.” And in 1925, the relationship between this board and Children’s National was born.

2016 marks the 150th anniversary of the Children’s Health Board, and a partnership that has served Children’s National in many remarkable ways. Remaining true to its initial mission, the board supports community advocacy through annual grants to different areas of the health system. Notably, the Children’s Health Board has funded the Child Health Advocacy Institute and the Obesity Institute. Most recently, the board funded a redesign of the dental clinic, which will give more families access to comprehensive oral health care.

At a special luncheon celebrating the milestone on May 19, Dr. Kurt Newman, president and CEO of Children’s National, commended the group for their commitment and generosity. “The fingerprints of the Children’s Health Board blanket this hospital,” he said. “The grants program has made so much possible across the organization. With projects from asthma care to Brainy Camps, these grants improve the daily life of our patients and their families, and help fuel innovation and change. This board’s impact can be felt in ways large and small all around us.”

Learn more about the Children’s Health Board and its impact on Children’s National.