As usual, we have been busy here at BCP during the first quarter of the year! As spring finally arrives, we are thrilled to share our latest updates. Settling into our new space has allowed BCP to expand our services with onsite dental care in partnership with BU Dental and a bigger and better BCP Nutritious cooking class. We are looking ahead to summer by signing kids up for amazing summer camps while simultaneously planning our own summer programming, which will once again offer daily activities for patients throughout the summer. BCP is always navigating the latest healthcare challenges. Currently, that includes taking care of newly arrived migrant children and their families and navigating the complex housing and utility landscape with patients. As always, our dedicated team makes all of the work we do possible, and we are so grateful for their commitment to this work and the entire BCP community.

xoxo, 

The BCP team

This February, we highlighted the next generation of Black leaders—the kids and teens of BCP. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said “Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.” We are excited to introduce you to one of BCP’s inspiring future Black leaders.

Meet Grace-Markaysa

After analyzing patient feedback, BCP has expanded our services to include pediatric dental care through a partnership with Boston University Dental School. Every Tuesday, dentists and dental students from BU provide dental services, including dental exams, cleanings, sealants, and dental education - right here in exam rooms at BCP. This partnership ensures that dental services are provided for BCP patients regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Being able to have both a medical and dental exam at the same place on the same day makes a tremendous difference in parents’ ability to attend to their children’s oral health. We are thrilled to be able to provide high-quality dental care to all of our patients and are grateful to our partners at BU Dental School for making this possible.

BCP has always been a place that has opened its doors to new immigrants. Over the past 6 months, BCP has seen a greater influx of new migrants joining our practice. Many of these new patients live in Boston or surrounding areas, either in a shelter or doubled-up with friends and families. These patients come to our practice with a complex set of both health and social needs. With the support of Haitian Creole medical interpreters, BCP has been able to provide the highest quality medical care, referrals to specialists, assistance with transportation, education, childcare services, food and housing instability support, as well as all of BCP's onsite resources: food, diapers and wipes, hygiene products, underwear, and amazing clothing from Auntie Jane's closet.

BCP was featured in CommonWealth Beacon with an impactful Op-Ed detailing the harmful effects of poor housing conditions on health. Equity in pediatrics means advocating not only for equitable healthcare but also equitable and safe housing. Ensuring stable housing continues to be one of the most challenging crises affecting patients' health. Over the past two years, BCP has supported 330 patients with housing and utility advocacy that has resulted in better and safer housing for families. Healthy housing is healthcare!

This article brings attention to housing policies that protect landlords over children, put increased burdens on families, and greatly impact the health of children. BCP will continue to advocate for policies that protect our children and will continue to bring awareness to the many important issues that affect patients. Read the article here. 

BCP has a groundbreaking integrated mental health program which includes both traditional therapy and short-term therapy provided in collaboration with pediatric providers, the coordination of services and referrals with outside agencies, behavioral health check-ins during well-child visits, group visits, and the support of a consulting child and adolescent psychiatrist. In 2023, BCP provided 1,391 mental health visits to patients. BCP recently offered a preteen mental health group where patients met in-person to share challenges and successes, significantly reducing their feelings of isolation. The sense of community and support that this group created for young teens was so impactful on their mental health that we have already started a second group. This unique approach to mental health, which includes meeting patients where they are on their own journey and offering a multitude of ways to access mental health services, is what makes BCP's approach so accessible and successful.

Safety and well-being are top priorities at BCP, so when the need for a crosswalk in front of the office became apparent, we reached out to our state and city partners! They immediately answered our calls, came out for a site visit, and advocated for a new crosswalk, which will hopefully be finished by the end of this year. A special thank you to State Representative John Moran, State Senator Nick Collins, City Councilor John Fitzgerald, the Boston Transportation Department, the Boston Police Department, Holland Companies, and all of their teams for gathering to discuss how to make this crosswalk happen.

We are also grateful to have had the opportunity to meet with State Senators Creem and Friedman, and Representatives from the Secretary of Health and Human Services' office to discuss BCP's innovative model.

BCP’s Strong Mom, Healthy Baby group has completed almost half of the year-long program to support Moms and babies in the first year of life. This is a trauma-informed, parent-led, provider-facilitated group that brings new Moms and babies together monthly to navigate parenting, while getting their well-child visits and immunizations at the same time. In one session, Moms received new baby carriers and did baby-friendly workouts, including a very fun dance session, in order to encourage Moms to be able to hold their babies while doing other tasks. Supporting families in unique ways is part of the magic of BCP, and this group is certainly magical!

BCP Nutritious (our most popular after-school program) started a new series, Chef of the Week. Each week, one young chef who actively participates in cooking class is highlighted as the Chef of the Week. BCP Nutritious sends the recipe and ingredients to families at no cost so that there are no barriers to participate in cooking healthy and delicious meals. Recipes are based on the Harvest of the Month to create repetitive exposure to healthy fruits and vegetables. A special thank you to DoorDash and their Impact Grant which has supported some of the delivery costs of food to families.

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with EdNavigator, a nonprofit organization that helps families solve school-related challenges. BCP staff and providers can now refer patients to this incredible resource, which provides advice, support, and advocacy around the education system and supports families navigating an array of complex educational challenges in order to help students obtain all of the services they need to succeed.

One of our favorite additions to BCP that came with our expansion is Auntie Jane’s Closet! This is a large walk-in closet named after Jane R. Moss, an amazing aunt, sister, and friend who left a wonderful legacy of kindness, generosity, and style. Jane loved to take care of others, she had an incredible sense of style, and there was nothing she loved more than to shop for her great-nieces and nephews. Jane’s Closet is a special place where patients can "shop" with dignity and privacy for new or like-new clothing for children of all ages, along with essential baby items, toys, and games. Patients are able to browse in the closet and take whatever they need. Thank you to all of our amazing partners - Appaman, The Camp Spot, Cradles to Crayons, Kenzie & Hope, Kids Clothes Club, Olivia’s Organics, Operation Warm, and friends of BCP - who help keep this closet filled with lots of fabulous items for patients to choose from.

We Continue To Celebrate Staff

None of the work we do here at BCP would be possible without our fabulous staff! This year, we surprised staff with new BCP vests, a number of festive lunches, flowers, monogrammed bags, and even a chair massage at work. We are so grateful for their dedication, commitment, and incredible work.

Please consider telling a friend about Boston Community Pediatrics, Sharing our website, or making a gift today!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!