When Dr. Megan Callanan Lasaponara, Executive Director and Founder of Kids Thrive 585, Inc. was completing her residency medical training in Pediatrics at the University of Rochester; she was able to choose what CARE (Community Health and Advocacy Resident Education) she wanted to create. Megan who embodies the quote by Raktivist that says “Kindness is the ability and desire to have a positive impact on others” decided she wanted to create something that would raise awareness and improve access to local services for kids and families in Rochester, New York and surrounding areas. As Megan was going through her residency she was struck by the amount of services in the area she had no knowledge of. The perfect storm of ideas came together to create the non-profit Kids Thrive 585, Inc.
“Never underestimate the difference you can make in the lives of others. Step forward, reach out, and help. Reach out to someone that might need a lift.” Pablo
Kids Thrive 585 began in 2012. In the first phase Megan used a binder filled with resources to turn it into an online directory medical staff could print off to give to patients. It was clear that having a website with resources was important, but did not meet the needs of many children and families. In order to identify any possible needs of patients, Kids Thrive partnered with Doctors to use the “We Care” screening tool to identify unmet social needs. This project was modeled on the original study of this screening tool. Two follow up phone calls were used to check in with patients in regards to connecting with services they requested information about. The data found that the follow up phone calls significantly improved the likelihood that a patient reached out to a resource. They also utilized information gained from ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) surveys by pushing into Doctors’ offices and schools to better understand what is needed and how Kids Thrive 585 could help meet that need and facilitate more effective connections to local resources.
Using multimedia approaches, Kids Thrive 585 provides a plethora of information on topics such as community and family, health, crisis, food sources, education, childcare, adolescents, and more. You can print off information. The group of four that is all things Kids Thrive 585 keep tabs on what information on the website gets the most hits and then makes that information easiest to access. The website utilizes a background link checker to make the websites from resources listed on Kids Thrive 585 are current and working. There is the “Thriving Forward” podcast with Megan and Dr. Sarah Collins-McGowan co-hosting. They interview people doing good things and spreading positivity. Kids Thrive 585 has a close partnership with the 211 Lifeline which helps them keep current with community resources.
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Frederick Douglass
While Kids Thrive 585 provides a hub to locate resources they also want to push the needle in helping people get connected to these resources that provide support. If people do not access resources that could help them, nothing changes. As a practicing Pediatrician Megan knows she and other Pediatricians are advocates for children and families. If a child or family does not have a need that is being met, the Kids Thrive 585 website can be a tool the Doctor or any child advocate (eg. teachers, librarians, nurses, social workers, family members) can utilize in developing a robust response plan to support them by offering a central location for locating resources.
When Megan was choosing a residency program she wanted to participate in a robust advocacy program that could provide benefits to people in the community, especially children and families. The University of Rochester leads the way in supporting advocacy programs that have a purpose to facilitate positive change. For those individuals whose social determinants of health, which are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age, are creating adverse environments, helping to connect them with effective resources can help them become healthier in many aspects of their lives. When the question “what do you need” is asked, Kids Thrive 585 want to support the plan in place to meet that need.
“We are not on earth to see through each other, we are here to see each other through.” Unknown
Kids Thrive 585 would not be able to do all it does without a dedicated and determined group of partners of positive change. In addition to Megan, Dr. Marc Lavender is the president of the board, Jennifer Farah, PhD is the treasurer, and Amy Albanese is the secretary. All of these working individuals devote effort and time to keep Kids Thrive 585 current and useful, along with a podcast that showcases the positivity and goodness of people in the Rochester New York area.
Kindness Champions is honored to shine our spotlight on the incredible Kids Thrive 585, Inc. in Rochester, New York. We thank you for being you and bringing your awesome to the world!
To learn more about the amazing Kids Thrive 585, Inc. here is their information:
Twitter: @KidsThrive585
Facebook: @kidsthrive585
*** Social Determinants of health information obtained by health.gov
