Testimonials

Karel R. Amaranth - Executive Director - JE and ZB Butler Child Advocacy Center at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore - NY

“ Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, serves the children and families of the Bronx in New York City. The children and families who are treated at Montefiore are faced with numerous hardships simultaneously:  abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, poverty, unemployment, poor mental health status, teen motherhood and limited access to health care and insurance.  Many families also lack support systems, access to appropriate educational opportunities, parenting training, and have minimal social service intervention. High rates of crime, drug abuse, and domestic violence in the Bronx place children in perilous situations and compound the many risk factors children face while growing up.  Despite the multiple number of stressors impacting upon the daily lives of children and families in the Bronx, families are hopeful as they continually strive for better opportunities that will lift them out of poverty and out of substandard living conditions.  The cultural values and the significant role of families among the different ethnic groups that reside in the Bronx are positive factors in helping to keep families together and strengthening their resolve to secure a brighter future for their children.

With a population of approximately 1.3 million people, the Bronx is among one of the most populated areas in the United States.  It is comprised mainly of minorities (Latinos make up 48% and African Americans compose 36%), who are historically medically underserved.  It is a vibrant borough, but it is also an area with some of the nation’s worst indicators of urban poverty, crime and public health status indicators.  As the Bronx’s population is young--one-third of its residents are 18 and under--there are more children per capita who are living in poverty, sick or in poor health, and at-risk for abuse than nearly anywhere else in the nation.

The population of this borough is poor. New York City data on poverty levels indicate that the Bronx has significant populations of children that live in poverty.  Nearly one third (27.6%) of all households in the Bronx have incomes below $10,000, significantly higher than the citywide rate of 17.3% (Citizens’ Committee for Children, Keeping Track of New York City’s Children, 2000).  Seventy percent of children born in the Bronx are born into poverty, the highest rate in all of New York City (Citizens’ Committee for Children, 2000).  Dependence on public assistance subsidies is another indicator of poverty in a community. Nearly 114,000 children (0 - 17 years of age) who live in the Bronx receive public assistance (Citizens’ Committee for Children, 2000).  Eighty five percent of infants and 39% of children (0-5 years of age) receive the special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Unemployment, like poverty, is highly correlated with child maltreatment (Garbarino & Kostelny, 1989). The adult unemployment rate in the Bronx is 8.1%, higher than the citywide unemployment rate of 6.7% (Citizens’ Committee for Children, 2000).        

The Citizens’ Committee report also indicates that many New York City children are sick or in poor health. The Bronx has one of the highest infant mortality rates at 8.0 deaths per 1,000 births in New York City.  In addition, 10% of babies have low birth weight, the highest rate of all New York City boroughs. These high rates are largely due to prematurity, low utilization of prenatal care and high rates of teen pregnancy. Teen parenthood has also been correlated with higher than average rates of child maltreatment (Daro, 1988).  In the Bronx, the percentage of births to teen mothers is the highest in New York City at 14.5%, and significantly higher than the citywide rate of 10.2% (Citizens’ Committee for Children, 2000). 

Chronic health issues are seriously affecting the children and families in the Bronx, including high rates of HIV infection, asthma, lead poisoning, and mental illness. These critical medical needs demonstrate an urgent need to develop new community health programs.

The Renascer model of comprehensive care is being studied and considered as a care model to address these multiple life and lifestyle issues that affect the health of children and their families.  The five pronged strategy of health, income, housing, education and citizenship could address the same complex issues of health and poverty that exist in the Bronx, New York.  Although many services exist in the borough to promote the health and well-being of children and families, there is no single organization that brings all of these components together the way Renascer does in a very personal way with a strong volunteer component. 

My visit to Renascer in November 2008 was a life changing experience as I was able to meet with staff, volunteers and families who were the participants in the program.  I was very impressed by the leadership of Renascer, especially Dr. Vera Cordeiro and Manuela Solero and the volunteers who so tirelessly provide the services to the participants.  Indeed I am committed to assisting the Friends of Renascer in raising funds for the program. Although challenges such as the ability to engage such a strong volunteer component would need to be surmounted, a Renascer model could be a vital support to the community and health services in an American urban community such as the Bronx.

The Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) has been ranked one of the top children's hospitals in the nation by the prestigious U.S. News & World Report 2008 edition of America's Best Children's Hospitals. The CHAM was ranked 28th out of 143 hospitals nationwide in its first year of eligibility.”