Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Children’s Health Project (PRCHP), a partnership between Salud Integral en la Montaña (SIM) and the Children’s Health Fund (CHF), was launched in 2018 to support recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane María. PRCHP serves children and families in communities affected by Hurricane María as well as by poverty and healthcare access barriers that existed long before the storm.

Through a mobile program and nine fixed-site clinics, PRCHP provides high quality pediatric primary care to children and adolescents in seven municipalities across northern Puerto Rico. The mobile clinics allow PRCHP to reach children and families living in isolated rural areas in the central mountain region. The program also leverages partnerships with schools and community sites, allowing PRCHP to meet young people where they spend most of their time, feel comfortable and are open to learning.

Serving Communities in Need: PRCHP is dedicated to caring for children impacted by poverty, healthcare system deficiencies and geographic isolation. Given the complex nature of patient needs, clinicians, social workers, and health educators deliver services far beyond simple primary care – they administer important social and behavioral health screenings, make referrals to subspecialty care, and connect families to other essential services (ie. WIC, Early Intervention Services, and medical insurance).

PRCHP provides primary and preventive care services without regard to income level or insurance status. Over 90% of patients served are at or below the poverty line. Eighty-seven percent of patients are on Medicaid or CHIP and 6% are uninsured. The remaining patients are enrolled in private insurance. Services are never denied due to a patient’s inability to pay.