Child Health & Wellness Partnership

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse ministers to a central New York region that is economically challenged. Child poverty in Syracuse is nearly 46%, the highest rate of any city in the United States with a population over 100,000. The Child Health and Wellness Partnership (CHWP) exists to support the flourishing of children and families in disinvested Central New York neighborhoods. CHWP addresses needs related to social determinants of health, including essential support (food, clothing), physical health (medical, dental), and mental health (behavioral, psychological).

CHWP supports students through need-based scholarships and resilience/capacity-building programs. Cross-age mentoring is a capstone example, pairing same-gender high school seniors with fifth graders. This program celebrates trusting, appropriate relationships for empowerment, including academic enrichment and service learning.