American Academy of Pediatrics DC Chapter

Improvement partnership of Washington, DC adolescent health experts, including health care providers; direct service providers; community, government and non-profit leaders working together to promote positive adolescent health and to reduce teen pregnancy in DC.

Increase awareness and understanding of the impact of poverty and early childhood toxic stresses on brain development and long term health outcomes. As a member of the Bainum Birth-to-Three Policy Alliance, DC AAP is conducting a health provider education series focused on raising awareness and understanding among local child health providers regarding the devastating developmental effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on children within their first five years of life. DC AAP also is working in conjunction with Children's National Health System's Child Health Advocacy Institute and MedStar Georgetown on piloting screening projects in pediatric practices, conducting an awareness campaign to increase policy maker and key stakeholder knowledge of the elements of an effective early learning system for infants and toddlers, providing medical/technical assistance to policy makers on early childhood health issues, and convening joint policy forums with health providers, civic leaders, and policymakers to promote policy and regulatory solutions and build support for expanded public funding for infants and toddlers.

Through a Healthy People 2020 grant, DC AAP is creating a “toolkit” for primary care providers caring for recently arrived immigrant children.

DC AAP is a member of the DC Collaborative for Mental Health in Primary Care which aims to improve the integration of mental health in pediatric primary care for children in the District of Columbia. The Collaborative has a strong commitment to addressing the mental health needs of diverse children and their families through culturally competent, family-focused initiatives that: 1) support families, 2) support pediatric practices and providers, 3) facilitate the integration of mental health services into primary care, and 4) support relevant policy/advocacy efforts.

Joyful Markets are monthly pop-up fresh food markets at elementary schools in the city, co-sponsored by Martha’s Table, Capital Area Food Bank, and DC Public Schools. DC AAP’s youngest members, pediatric residents from both Children’s National Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center host and staff an “Ask the Doc” booth at the monthly Joyful Market at the Anne Beers Elementary School. Each month, there is a health-related theme, complete with a fun activity or game for the kids and informational handouts for the parents who stop by to enable the markets to promote health and wellness. In the 2016 school year, the project will expand to additional schools.