Enfant Soleil is announcing funding for more than 100 new impactful projects that will provide the best in healthcare for children across Quebec. In addition to giving major, essential support to the four major university pediatric centres, it is continuing to support the medical teams of more than 100 hospitals and organizations spread throughout every region. This year, a total investment of $19.4M—$1.7M more than last year—will help strengthen access to care tailored to children across the province.
“Every action Enfant Soleil takes is driven by a single goal: to offer a bright and healthy future to thousands of families. Thanks to the commitment of donors, partners and volunteers, we support the ambitions of medical teams across the province so they can continue to excel at what they do best: care for children. That’s why we’re here, by their side: to foster excellence and innovation by providing the technologies and resources needed for care that is more compassionate, more precise, safer and faster, and to facilitate access to local care while reducing costly and exhausting travel. This way, children spend less time in the hospital and more time playing. With you by our side, we will continue to build a future in which every child can glow with health.” –Jonathan Gendron, President and CEO, Enfant SoleilSpotlight on your impact
Each year, specialists who understand the realities of pediatric care conduct an in-depth analysis of needs in the field, according to the priorities, the impact the projects will have and the level of care provided by the medical establishments. Enfant Soleil then funds different initiatives based on its five areas of action. These initiatives provide concrete advantages for children and their families: they facilitate access to essential services, increase the availability of services in the vicinity, reduce the number of hospitalizations, enhance the precision of care, improve comfort, adopt a gentler approach, and much more. Here are a few examples:
Promoting healing through optimal, welcoming care environments
Currently, a single pediatrician sees to the care of 1,100 children at Hôpital de Gaspé. Enfant Soleil will fund the development of a new pediatric clinic, which will welcome a second pediatrician, include a new nursing station and provide adapted rooms for other specialists (including nutrition, social work and specialized education). In addition to expanding outpatient pediatric services across the region, this project will allow nearly 3,000 young patients to receive care. It will reduce wait times for families, significantly improve access to care and help relieve pressure on emergency departments across the region.
Providing state-of-the-art equipment, adapted to children’s size and needs
Pediatric cardiology has been a subspecialty at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont for more than 30 years. With Enfant Soleil’s support, the hospital will be able to purchase a neonatal and pediatric cardiac ultrasound for inpatient and outpatient use. This acquisition will give families in the east end of the island of Montréal quicker access to pediatric cardiology consultations and follow-ups close to home. It will help make care gentler by enabling faster and safer patient management, while also keeping families from having to travel to other hospitals.
Enhancing care through innovative programs
For families of children with complex care needs who are under the care of several specialists, managing schedules and appointments is a real challenge. To help ease and simplify their daily lives, Enfant Soleil contributed to the establishment of a pediatric complex care network team at CHU de Québec–Université Laval. The clinic’s mission is to coordinate care and provide sustained, personalized support. The team can also direct patients to services suited to their needs, ultimately helping to prevent emergency room visits.
Supporting clinical research to improve care and take it to the next level
Asthma affects 300,000 children in Quebec and, without a proper diagnosis, can prevent young people from fully enjoying their activities for fear of triggering an attack. The financial support received each year makes it possible to carry out innovative projects. Like the research project on pediatric asthma currently being conducted at Hôpital Fleurimont, CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, with the aim of accelerating diagnosis and gaining a better understanding of the condition’s underlying mechanisms. To facilitate assessment and access to care, respirologist Dr. Simon Couillard is looking to introduce a new, non-invasive test that is much gentler than the traditional one, which involved causing an asthma attack—obviously very stressful for young patients and their loved ones.
Fostering physical and mental well-being with the Sport and Sustainable Health Fund (Fonds sport et santé durable)
The first pediatric palliative care home in Outaouais, Butterfly House (Maison Papillon) will offer specialized support and be able to meet the needs of more than 300 families in the region. Enfant Soleil will contribute to the acquisition of eight pediatric beds and one bassinet, ensuring comfortable and appropriate care. It will also fund music therapy instruments through the Sport and Sustainable Health Fund. Thanks to these adapted instruments, children will be able to play and experience music despite their motor or sensory limitations. This will help promote relaxation, support emotional regulation and enhance their overall well-being.
To discover all the funded projects: www.enfantsoleil.ca/en/news
Luminous support, year after year
Since its foundation in 1988, Enfant Soleil has dedicated more than $356M to help make thousands of promising, concrete projects a reality throughout Quebec. This commitment is fulfilled year after year across the entire pediatric ecosystem. The four major university pediatric centres, which welcome more than 450,000 children each year from all regions for specialized and sub-specialized care, receive 87% of the allocations. Enfant Soleil also supports more than 100 hospitals and organizations across the province. Receiving 13% of the allocations, these healthcare establishments play a vital role in delivering essential community-based care to thousands of children. This year, nearly 100,000 children will benefit from the projects supported by Enfant Soleil in these establishments.
Next up: The Telethon!
The culmination of an entire year of commitment and generosity, the Telethon will take place on May 30th at 12:30 p.m. on TVA. It is nearly 10 hours of live coverage, filled with emotion, generosity and talent. Artists, ambassadors, families and partners will come together to show the real impacts of supporting the cause across Quebec. Every gesture counts! To donate now: www.enfantsoleil.ca/en.
Interested in learning more about a specific region? Explore the projects funded by region:
Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Capitale-Nationale, Centre-du-Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Côte-Nord, Estrie, Gaspésie, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Laval, Mauricie, Montérégie, Montréal, Nord-du-Québec, Outaouais, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean