Children’s Hospital New Orleans is changing the health of a generation starting in schools

Changing the health of a generation often happens outside the four walls of the hospital, in places like our schools. At Children’s Hospital New Orleans, we’re bringing health directly to kids through innovative school-based programs and partnerships across the region. ThriveKids, The Student Wellness Project, allows for care coordination amongst students and families, school nurses and school mental health professionals to advance the health and well-being of Louisiana’s students.

ThriveKids is a comprehensive community-based program that provides in-school virtual care, mental and behavioral health services, sports medicine, chronic condition management, COVID-19 support, a dedicated nurse hotline for school wellness and virtual care, and education and resources for schools throughout the state. As the first program of its kind in Louisiana, ThriveKids was born out of the hospital’s support of schools at the onset of the pandemic and seeks to improve both academic and health outcomes by getting the right resources to the right kids at the right time. 

“By bridging our school communities together with our healthcare community, we’re aiming to make meaningful progress to advance students mental and physical well-being,” says Children’s Hospital New Orleans CEO, Lou Fragoso. “We can’t expect teachers, school nurses and school counselors to do it alone – they can’t be everything for every child. ThriveKids is here to stand in that gap and provide the resources necessary to ensure that every child – especially the underserved—receives the support they need.” 

Children’s Hospital understands that each school is unique and works to best support school partners with a wide range of programs and services, customized based on each school’s specific needs. Together, our pediatric experts provide the tools, education, inspiration and expertise to help all kids grow up healthy – and thrive.

To stay healthy, children need age-appropriate immunizations, regular preventive care and timely medical treatment for both acute and chronic illnesses and injuries. A lack of access to healthcare, and the significant barriers facing many families in our state make staying on top of healthcare difficult. ThriveKids functions like a student health department, proactively working to improve pediatric outcomes – mentally, medically and academically.

Commitment to community has been part of Children’s Hospital’s DNA throughout its 67-year history. ThriveKids was born out of that same commitment and is another way the hospital is working to shape a healthier and safer future for kids from birth through graduation.

The program has already helped children across the state, including 10-year-old Estefani, who after failing a vision screening at school got enrolled in the ThriveKids program. When Children’s Hospital called the family to help, they learned Estefani usually missed 90% of his healthcare appointments due to the family having no transportation, no insurance, language barriers and a dire need for multiple specialists. Children’s Hospital arranged three doctor’s appointments in one day, transportation vouchers, insurance coverage, translators and even a meal voucher. After only missing one day of school, Estefani was quickly back on campus with glasses and hearing aids, ready to learn. 

ThriveKids also supported Michael, who witnessed first-hand three homicides in his family in just one year and wound up hiding in a closet at school on test day because the trauma, grief and anxiety of trying to succeed was just too much. Working with his school, Children’s Hospital was able to provide the specialized care Michael needed. 

“These stories are not uncommon. And ThriveKids is running toward the problem,” says Fragoso. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work, rolling up our sleeves and showing up for kids in new ways, each and every day. But this is how we change the health of a generation – and it happens together.”

Since its inception, the ThriveKids program has experienced exponential growth. This past year alone, the program has touched the lives 10,000 children in more than 3,000 schools across all 64 parishes. With the addition of school nurses and social workers, ThriveKids is improving the student-to-staff ratio for medical and mental health needs. Children’s Hospital’s physician education webinars for schools is helping to identify mental health diagnoses in school-age children, tips on identifying and responding to human trafficking and managing several chronic conditions in school setting like diabetes.

To learn more about ThriveKids and to access free resources, visit chnola.org.