Riley Children’s Health has launched The Office of Community & Child Health (OCCH), a new initiative designed to improve health outcomes for children and families in Marion County.
The initiative will focus on investing in community-rooted programs, expanding access to care and focusing on prevention.
The OCCH was made possible by a landmark gift from Julie Wood of the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation. The donation is one of the largest contributions to Riley Children’s Foundation’s Every Child Deserves Riley campaign, which aims to extend health care beyond the walls of the hospital into neighborhoods across Central Indiana.
“Our family has always believed that giving back is both a responsibility and a privilege,” said Julie Wood. “This gift is about making sure children and families don’t just receive care when they’re sick, but that they have the resources and support they need to live healthy, safe lives right in their own neighborhoods.”
As part of its launch, the OCCH announced $250,000 in Community Youth Grants to support six local organizations addressing pressing child health needs, including gun violence prevention, injury prevention, immunizations and childhood obesity.
Grant recipients include the Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis, which received $45,000 for its Community Diversion Initiative to prevent gun violence and high-risk behaviors among youth. The Indiana Immunization Coalition received $40,000 to expand vaccine access through mobile clinics serving uninsured and underinsured families. Struggle Made Us was awarded $45,000 to provide trauma-informed programming to youth and caregivers in high-risk neighborhoods.
The Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation received $40,000 to launch a districtwide swimming program focused on water safety and drowning prevention. Eclectic Soul Voices was awarded $45,000 to grow its Power & Promise Youth Council, which develops youth-led public health campaigns to address gun violence and mental health. Jump IN for Healthy Kids received $35,000 to embed nutrition and physical activity programs in schools and early childhood education centers.
“Keeping kids safe and well is at the core of our mission,” said David Biggerstaff, president of Riley Children’s Health. “This Office helps us organize these efforts, and this generous gift helps us propel our mission.”
The OCCH will work alongside IU Health’s Healthy Communities team to strengthen partnerships and develop strategies to build a healthier future for Indiana’s children.
For more information, visit rileychildrens.org.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
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