Background
The Children in Crisis (CiC) Program seeks to address the health needs of children in humanitarian contexts. Over 400 million, or approximately one in six, children live in conflict zones. Nearly 37 million children are displaced due to conflict, poverty, or natural disasters. These children face disproportionate risks that have significant impacts on their ability to attain the highest level of health possible. In conflict settings, they are particularly vulnerable to harm from the loss of caregivers, disruption of social systems, direct violence, and limited access to pediatric health services. Understanding and responding to the unique needs of children in these environments is crucial to supporting children’s right to health and to prevent, mitigate, and address detrimental health consequences.
‍Mission
The CiC program partners with non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, donors, governments, and academic institutions to provide technical expertise and implementation support to address pediatric health needs in humanitarian contexts. By working collaboratively with partner organizations and communities, we help to define both immediate and long-term needs of affected populations, guide program development and implementation, and strengthen national and international resilience strategies. Our focus is on delivering targeted, effective, and sustainable interventions in collaboration with communities and partners.
‍Program Streams
CiC supports affected communities, partners, and governments through the following program streams: Knowledge Production, Technical Support, Education, and Policy and Advocacy.  

Current and Past Projects:

Pediatric Anesthesia Training in Africa‍

To address the critical shortage of pediatric anesthesiologists in Africa, the Paediatric Anaesthesia Training in Africa (PATA) Collaborative focuses on building local capacity through fellowship programs and intensive training

Thriving Child Tigray

To address the unseen impacts of armed conflicts on children, a team of child protection workers, social workers, nurses, and sociologists, evaluate mental health and psychosocial support needs to explore how factors such as health and hygiene, food and nutrition, and education impact mental health in Tigray, Ethiopia.

Pediatric Oncology Nutrition in Myanmar

Enhancing pediatric cancer care by building a Pediatric Oncology Nutrition Program at Yangon Children’s Hospital in Myanmar to provide personalized counseling and monthly nutrition packages to over 400 children, training staff and caregivers to support malnourished patients.

Trauma Care Training across Ukraine

A novel pediatric and nursing trauma care training program was developed and implemented across Ukraine to strengthen trauma care capacity. Training has been transitioned to locally-led programs integrated within national education systems.

Global Pediatric Innovation Scholars Program

The BCH Global Pediatric Innovation Scholars program is an initiative created to support partners in implementing a project to improve pediatric clinical care or medical education in their home institutions. Visiting scholars are invited for a month-long observership at BCH and, in the following year, participants meet virtually with BCH collaborators for continued support towards their goals.

TB Screening in Pregnant and Postpartum Women Living With HIV in Botswana

Dr. Melanie Dubois contributed to two research studies on maternal, pediatric and adolescent tuberculosis, contributed to improved tuberculosis care delivery for pregnant women and children.

Transforming Pediatric Critical Care: AI and Telehealth in India

Global Health Pathway Residents have partnered with a NGO, CloudPhysician, to understand impact of a tele-NICU service in Indian hospitals where neonatal specialists are otherwise inaccessible.

Addressing Neonatal Mortality in Rural Guatemala

Mothers and midwives contribute to research study addressing high rates of neonatal mortality in rural Guatemala.

Sickle Cell Disease Research in Tanzania

In 2023, Dr. Jeffrey Edwards, a global health pathway resident, joined long time partner Muhimbili National Hospital and Muhimbili University in Dar es Salaam to support clinical education and research initiatives supporting analyses of clinical trials, case reports, and investigating the role of vitamin D in sickle cell disease.

Predicting and Preventing Post-Discharge Mortality Among Children in Sub-Saharan Africa

Former fellow Dr. Chris A. Rees and his collaborators worked on developing and validating clinical prediction rules to identify children at risk of death or readmission after hospital discharge in sub-Saharan Africa, conducting studies in Liberia and Tanzania to improve post-discharge care.

Mental Health Training for Frontline workers in Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine continues, the mental health needs of children in de-occupied areas are vastly under recognized and under addressed. BCH is partnering with a Ukrainian NGO called Community Self-Help to train front line protection workers and first responders on mental health and psychosocial skills to support children and families in newly de-occupied areas.

Pediatric Resuscitation Training in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Training and education around the identification and management of hospitalized sick children was identified as a priority by the leadership in two oncology wards in the occupied Palestinian Territory.