Pediatric Residency Community Involvement

Valley Youth House Resident-Led Education Series

Valley Youth House began in 1973 as a single shelter in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley region and has grown to more than 300 residential sites throughout Pennsylvania. The mission statement of the organization is as follows: Valley Youth House serves as a catalyst for youth to achieve their desired future through genuine relationships that support families, ensure safe places and build community connections. Valley Youth House is open day and night, ensuring that vulnerable, abused and homeless young people in the community have access to shelter, counseling and a nurturing environment. 

This emergency shelter is available to adolescents 12-17 years old who are homeless or have home instability. It provides services such as case management, individual, family and group counseling, life-skills education, adventure-based experiential education and recreational activities, and therapeutic follow-up and aftercare services. 

How do we as pediatric residents partner in providing care?

First-year residents, during the course of their community rotations, lead educational discussions with the adolescents residing at Valley Youth House regarding pertinent topics such as: healthy relationships and self-care, nutrition, STD prevention, stress management, substance abuse, indications for seeking medical care, and careers in the medical field. We try to encourage open discussion and engagement so that the teens feel comfortable speaking with a medical professional outside the confines of an office appointment.

IronPigs Partnership

A Lehigh Valley IronPigs game at Coca-Cola Park is one of our community’s most popular family fun events. That’s why Lehigh Valley Health Network is excited to partner with the team. It helps us reach out to the Lehigh Valley community, share important health-related information and remind them that we’re here when they need care.

Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley

Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley is a local nonprofit organization which supports children with cancer and their families, enabling them to LIVE their lives to the fullest.

HealthCare Explorers Day

In partnership with St. Thomas More School, pediatric faculty and residents help lead a fun day of exploration into the medical field with hands-on demos on CPR and intubation and a visit to the helicopter pad!

March of Dimes

The March of Dimes has changed the name of its biggest event to March for Babies. It’s a great change because it makes it very clear exactly who we are walking for – all babies. It was very exciting to be a part of the first March for Babies! Although the name of this signature event changed, the mission did not. The March of Dimes champions the needs of moms and babies in our community and across the nation. The money we raise from March for Babies will support lifesaving research, services, education and advocacy that help babies get a healthy start. Our team has joined thousands of compassionate teams across the country that support March for Babies. Won’t you please help us in this worthy cause? Join us in the walk that helps all moms and babies.

Community Canvas

A partnership between Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital and Lehigh Valley Art Spark – and in conjunction with the Kellyn Foundation–Community Canvas gives students at eight schools the opportunity to create artwork based on healthy eating habits and all-around wellness.

Flu Drive

Annual Community Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Campaign

Da Vinci Science Center

We recognize science isn’t confined to test tubes. So our clinicians partner with Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown, Pa., to develop interactive displays that introduce young minds to health care. The center has approximately 100,000 visitors each year.