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A Change in FocusA letter from Dr. David Alexander, Foundation president and CEO, and Marjorie Fujiki, interim director of grants: Jan. 30, 2009 Dear Colleagues, We are writing to let you know about a forthcoming change in focus for the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. For nearly a decade, the Foundation has devoted a major portion of its Grantmaking and Information work to promoting the emotional and behavioral health of preteens, ages 9 to 13. Over that time, the Foundation has invested $18 million in grants, funding 62 individual agencies that have served approximately 64,000 preteens. The majority of our preteen grants have supported after-school programs. In recent years, more funding has become available for such programs, particularly with the implementation of Proposition 49. Funds from our Foundation and others also have strengthened the after-school field over the last decade, with more research available on what works, increased efforts in professional development, and stronger networks and collaborations, among many other advancements. Since the inception of its grantmaking program, the Foundation has periodically reassessed its priority areas, to ensure that we are making the most strategic use of funds. To this end, the Foundation last year undertook a strategic planning process, resulting in a Board decision to exit the preteen area over the next few years and change our focus to another critical area -- children with special health care needs. We will leave the preteen area gradually. In November 2008, the Board approved another $1.3 million in grants to support preteens, and we will award a final docket of preteen grants in June 2009. Our current preteen grants run through 2011. We also will continue to provide data and information about preteens as part of our broader work of raising awareness about children's health. Organizations that provide after-school services should note that the David and Lucile Packard Foundation just posted guidelines for its Local Grantmaking program, which includes funding for after-school programs. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation (DLPF) has indicated that recent LPFCH grantees who apply will be given careful consideration if they meet the Local Grantmaking criteria. DLPF also has scheduled a series of public meetings to explain its Local Grantmaking program. Additionally, we have posted a list of other resources for local programs. The Foundation is working to leave a strong legacy when our grantmaking in the preteen area ends. In addition to the grants we have made to individual agencies, much of our recent funding has focused on systemic changes that will improve programs for preteens on an ongoing basis. We also have sponsored numerous conferences and convenings, funded extensive research, and provided a wealth of data on preteens that we will continue to update on our website. Our Preteen Alliance has brought preteen issues to the forefront, and brought together parents and professionals who work with preteens. Please see a fuller description of the Foundation's work in the preteen area. Our decision to focus on children with special health care needs is based in part on the fact that children living with chronic diseases utilize the majority of the health care resources used by children. While this group of children is well cared for when they receive care in a children's hospital, the system of care in their homes and communities is much less robust. Our Board believes that the Foundation must play a role in ensuring a better and more complete continuum of care for these vulnerable children. Also, one of the Foundation's primary roles is to fundraise for Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and pediatric programs at the Stanford University School of Medicine. This new focus also will bring our investments into closer alignment with the work of our partners, and will enable us to leverage our increasingly limited resources. The Foundation currently is developing grantmaking priorities and processes regarding children with special health care needs, and these will be posted on our website. We are not accepting Letters of Inquiry at this time. In addition to changing our focus, the Foundation will be expanding the geographic breadth of its program that provides data and information about the state of children's health and well being. More information on this initiative will be announced soon. We are grateful to all our grantees and our longtime community
partners for their devotion to children's well being, and we are thankful
for the opportunity to share in their work on behalf of preteens. We look
forward to continuing our efforts to ensure that all children reach their
maximum health potential. Sincerely, David Alexander, MD Marjorie Fujiki
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