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Mission Statement

Our mission is to create educational opportunities for youth to develop advocacy skills, build relationships with Children’s National faculty and staff members and obtain professional development with hands-on experience.

The Child Health Advocacy Institute's Youth Engagement team is committed to investing in the future of healthcare. Children’s National partners with several schools, universities and youth-serving organizations to provide training on healthcare careers, health sciences and health equity.

Vision Statement

Our vision for youth engagement is to create equitable opportunities for our youth to become change agents for a healthier community.

CHAI Youth Engagement Programs

    DC-CTE is a locally funded program that promotes the District of Columbia's mission to strengthen the pathways to college and careers for high school students. The DC-CTE mission is to reshape Washington, D.C.'s workforce by effectively preparing high school students for college and careers through the use of the National Academy Foundation educational design.

    2024 Youth Engagement Programs 

    Through interviews, we captured the voices of students who have participated in youth-focused career programs at Children's National Hospital and how these programs have impacted their career trajectories. Mentors from these programs also shared insight on how health organizations can improve youth career programs to support workforce development opportunities.

    2022 Youth Engagement Assessment Report

    This is the first youth engagement assessment at Children’s National Hospital, and HSC Health Care System (now Rehabilitation & Specialized Care) conducted by members of the Child Health Advocacy Institute’s (CHAI) Community Affairs department. The report provides a look at our 31 youth engagement programs, a definition of youth engagement work at Children’s National and HSC Health Care System, a review of other children’s hospital programs and recommendations for our institution to become leaders within this field to better serve youth. View the report.