Welcome to the Medstart Coalition, an organization of university students working to educate communities about critical issues that impact today's children and to encourage a spirit of advocacy for children and families in need. Medstart was started in 1991 by public health and medical students concerned about the lack of focus on children and family issues in their standard curricula.
Today, Medstart gives students from the schools of public health, nursing, medicine, dental, law, education, social work, and others a "head start" toward understanding these critical issues. Through our efforts, students carry the tradition of advocacy with them into their professional lives, giving children a voice in the decisions of tomorrow's leaders. Members of the coalition believe it is important to take a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to child advocacy. We share a simple vision, that children should have every opportunity to be healthy and happy.
That's what Medstart is all about, helping children and their families by increasing awareness of today's problems and educating community members so they can make positive changes tomorrow. We sponsor six programs directed toward making the community a better place for children; they are described below. Advocacy is the first chapter of a child's success story. Won't you help write it with us?
Child Advocacy Speaker SeriesArrange speakers to help promote child advocacy in the local community. Recent speakers have included Jonathon Kozol, renowned author and child advocate, and Liz Murray, inspiration for “Homeless to Harvard.” Other activities have included community service projects, benefit concerts/dinners to raise money for the Ypsilanti Corner Health Center, educational seminars, and local health fairs for children and their families.
Doctors for a Day
Help expose high school students to medicine through activities including fetal pig dissections.
PI's for a Day
Help expose middle school students to scientific invenstigation by helping them design and perform their own experiment.
Health Fair
A spring time activity where children learn about topics ranging from dental hygine to bike safety.
MedArt
Make art each month with the children and families at Mott Children's Hospital, to be displayed at the end of the year in the annual patient art show.
MedBuddies
Provide ongoing friendship and emotional support to hospitalized children and their families at Mott Children’s Hospital.
MedMoms
Support expectant mothers during this critical period with information and friendship to make a difference in the health of both mother and child.
MedRhythms
Make music with hospitalized children at Mott Children's Hospital with help from a music therapist. Come December, participate in holiday caroling. No talent necessary :)
Project H
Provide care and education to an underserved population through monthly pediatric and adult clinics at the Wayne County Family Shelter transitional home.