Child Health Advancement Research Trust Fund

Posted on: 01/03/21

On November the 16th 2020 the Northland District Health Board (Northland DHB) Child Health Services Team and Northland Community Foundation (NCF) held an afternoon tea and presentation to celebrate and energise the CHART fund (Child Health Advancement Research Trust). The presentation showcased research and quality improvement projects across many child health disciplines. Original organisers of the fund, Roger Tuck (retired Senior Northland Paediatrician) and Rod Gates (prior Executive of the CHART Trust) attended the event and offered closing comments applauding the quality and extent of staff input, both large and small projects, all contributing collectively to a rapidly evolving landscape. Yvonne Hunter, Child Service Manager thanked her team for all their hardwork

Ailsa Tuck, Roger Tuck’s daughter, Community Paediatrician at the Child Health Services Centre, helped coordinate the event. Ailsa mentioned, “Collaboration between the Northland Community Foundation and Child health services to re-invigorate the CHART fund has been a real win for Northland. This year’s project presentations are a heartfelt celebration of all the mahi that is happening. Equity, quality care and improving the whanau journey are all at the forefront of everything that we do. Whilst the data continues to hi-light the high levels of unmet need in Northland the CHART fund backs the clear evidence to prioritise investment in the early years of life. Northland is well known for innovation and we hope that growing the CHART fund will in turn support investment in local solutions.”

Greta Buchanan kick started the proceedings introducing NCF and the origins of the CHART fund “I believe Child Health is one of the most important areas of funding for our society. By investing in the first few years of a child’s life you will see significant long-term positive outcomes for that child.” “As a mother, I have also personally experienced the hospital system with my own child, James. James suffered a meningitis like illness, which nearly killed him, when he was one. The doctors could never identify what the illness was and called it a mystery virus. They informed me that there were millions of viruses out there that they still did not understand, and needed to research. This highlighted to me how much work there was still to do for children’s health, and how we all need to do our part to support them. Since working for NCF, I decided to personally pledge $25,000 via my Will for the CHART Endowment Fund. As I can see no better way of investing my funds; for our children’s future.” Over the afternoon seven presentations were heard and topics ranged from using technology to supporting very early identification of conditions such as cerebral palsy, improving access to services for children with learning and behavioural needs, improving coverage of influenza immunisation for high need children and supporting whanau and tamariki with additional sensory needs such as those with Autism. Regional projects including data collection and provision of tier 1 universal health care, better understanding and providing for children seen within Gateway services. The Gateway service provides a coordinated collaboration between government departments for vulnerable children that have unmet health needs. Most presentations mentioned the need for further funding for research, equipment, services and support for Whanau.

The CHART Fund annual distribution has been able to support purchases of sensory resources for the Occupational Therapy Sensory Workshop Library. However, they also hope to gain extra funding to enable their sensory workshops to reach further throughout Northland.

The Child Health Advancement Research Trust (CHART) Fund was established in February 2007, with Northland Community Foundation (NCF) under the Health Endowment Fund. The objectives of the fund are for the advancement and research of health needs of children and young people in Northland. It is also to establish seed funding for a longer-term endowment in the hope that the fund may attract further donations so that over time it can provide an ongoing source of funding. CHART was set up initially by clinicians at the Child Health Centre of Northland District Health Board (DHB). The acquisition of the assets and funding of previous projects was a result of the voluntary efforts of the group led by Dr Roger Tuck as Chair of the Committee. (Please note: the CHART Fund can also accept direct pass-through donations to projects happening now.)

If you would like to donate to the CHART Fund, you can gift directly to the fund so your gift can be used now and you can receive a 33 percent tax credit. Visit our donate page here: https://northlandcommunityfoundation.org.nz/donate/ to donate by credit-card or through via bank account. You can also promise a gift through your Will, and it can be as much or as little as you want. See our Legal Resources page here for more information: https://northlandcommunityfoundation.org.nz/resources/legal-resources/

Full Media ReleaseMedia-Release-CHART Fund – 220221

For enquiries, please contact:

Greta Buchanan

greta@northlandcommunityfoundation.org.nz

General Manager 021 558 224

Northland Community Foundation

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Child Health Advancement Research Trust Fund

Posted on: 01/03/21

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