Seattle Children’s Provides More Than $500 Million in Community Benefits in 2023

At Seattle Children’s, we’re always thinking of the health and well-being of every child, teen and family in the community. Our Community Health and Benefit Programs reach beyond our hospital every day to provide programs and services to make children, teens and families safer and healthier where they live. Our commitment to caring for the community is our passion, our duty and our privilege.

Community benefits are classified as uncompensated care, research, health professions education and community health improvement.

“We go well beyond our hospital walls,” said Lara Sim, director of community health in the External Affairs Department.

Community benefit is the basis of the tax exemption of nonprofit hospitals such as Seattle Children’s. Last fiscal year, we provided more than $500 million in community benefit activities.

One example is Seattle Children’s Community Outreach and Education. This includes classes such as Youth Mental Health First Aid and Better Babysitters and extends to community health and safety events such as free car seat checks and helmet or life jacket fittings.

Another example is Seattle Children’s Positive Parenting Program, which works to support parents in guiding their child’s healthy development within the context of their family’s culture. We provide information and resources for our patient families and the community, as well as training for providers.

“Our Promoting First Relationships Program is a way to train providers to recognize and support families with early childhood social and emotional development,” said Sim.

Seattle Children’s also partners with Harborview, Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic and Northwest Justice Project to provide healthcare-related legal assistance to patients and families through the Washington Medical Legal Partnership.  Since its inception, the Washington Medical Legal Partnership has assisted patient families with housing, public benefits, education, family law and more.  Depending on the case, Washington Medical Legal Partnership attorneys offer advice and counsel all the way to direct legal representation.  “We offer a myriad of health and safety interventions throughout the region as part of our standard work,” said Sim.

Please email our Community Health and Benefit team to learn more about how you or your organization can partner with Seattle Children’s to improve the health and safety of children and families in the region.

Upcoming community event sponsored by Seattle Children’s

Kid’s Day
Federal Way’s Steel Lake Park
Aug. 7, 2024
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Free