Highmark Foundation Grant Enables The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center to Expand Clinical Staffing

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent $100,000 grant from the Highmark Foundation will enable The Children's Home & Lemieux Family Center to provide additional pediatric medical services and expand clinical staff services at the Pediatric Specialty Hospital.

The Pediatric Specialty Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility located in Pittsburgh's East End, provides pediatric patients with acute care and social support services such as clothing, food and other critically needed items in a home-like setting for medically fragile children and their families.

"The Highmark Foundation is proud to support the Pediatric Specialty Hospital," said Highmark Foundation President Yvonne Cook. "By expanding the clinical staff, the hospital can ensure that more pediatric patients and their families will receive the highest quality health care that they deserve."

The request for services has risen dramatically over the years at the facility, which has served more than 3,500 children and their families since 1984. Recent renovations have increased the number of private rooms available so that more children can be served.

The Pediatric Specialty Hospital employs a staff of 88 full-time and part-time employees and consists of a team of neonatologists, transplant specialists, pediatric clinical and support staff. The Highmark grant will help fund salaries for three certified nurse practitioners, three registered nurses and a nurse education program.

"It is with a great deal of gratitude that we receive the grant from the Highmark Foundation," said Pam Shanwald, CEO of The Children's Home & Lemieux Family Center. "The award will have an immediate impact on the number of children we serve with the highest quality of expertise and care."

A previous $400,000 grant from the Highmark Foundation in 2006 provided support for nursing salaries, which enabled The Children's Home of Pittsburgh to hire a certified nurse practitioner and a clinical director.

About The Children's Home & Lemieux Family Center

The Children's Home of Pittsburgh, established in 1893, is an independent, non-profit licensed organization whose purpose is to promote the health and well-being of infants and children through services that establish and strengthen the family through its three programs: Adoption, Child's Way®, and the Pediatric Specialty Hospital as well as the Lemieux Family Center.

About the Highmark Foundation

The Highmark Foundation is a charitable organization, a private foundation and an affiliate of Highmark Inc. that supports initiatives and programs aimed at improving community health. The Foundation's mission is to improve the health, well-being and quality of life for individuals who reside in the communities where we do business. The Foundation strives to support evidence-based programs that impact multiple counties and work collaboratively to leverage additional funding to achieve replicable models. For more information, visit www.highmarkfoundation.com.

SOURCE Highmark Foundation