By: Kari Radjewski, director of Marketing & Communications
In Detroit, two major barriers—transportation and language access—can keep children from the care they need. For families served by the Children’s Center of Wayne County, an organization that provides comprehensive emotional, behavioral, and developmental support for kids and their families, these obstacles are more than just inconveniences: they result in missed therapy appointments, untreated issues, and delayed developmental support.
The data paints a stark picture:
- 17% of Detroit children live in households without a vehicle. *
- 22% of households report that English is spoken “less than very well.” *
- 90% of kids served by the Children’s Center are economically disadvantaged, making access to reliable transportation and communication supports even harder.
These challenges affect every aspect of a child’s health journey. Missed therapy sessions mean children are left without vital care. Lack of translation support means parents struggle to communicate with providers, relying on their children to interpret complex medical information or complete forms. These situations place unnecessary burdens on our young people, delay critical interventions, and lead to poor health and unaddressed needs.
Increasing access to quality and equitable services for children has become a national imperative, especially locally. Michigan is ranked 32nd in the United States for child well-being.**
But philanthropy is working to change this reality.
Thanks to a collaborative effort among funders, including a $20,000 grant from the Children’s Foundation, the Children’s Center’s Equity Project is tackling these barriers head-on.
The project provides transportation services to ensure kids can attend appointments consistently and on time. Additionally, it offers translation services in languages such as Arabic, Bengali, Spanish, Russian, Polish, and American Sign Language, ensuring every family has equal access to care.
The Equity Project aims to serve more than 370 children who might otherwise miss out on care due to barriers beyond their control.
“These services not only make it more convenient for kids and families to get the care they need – but these services are creating transformational change by increasing attendance rates for therapy, medication reviews, and evaluations. This empowers parents with the ability to understand and engage fully in their child’s care,” said the Children’s Center’s President & CEO, Desiree Jennings.
This initiative highlights the power of philanthropy in addressing systemic inequities. The grant from the Children’s Foundation is part of a broader mission to improve the physical and mental health of Michigan’s children. In 2024 alone, the Foundation awarded $4.8 million in grants to organizations working to remove these kinds of obstacles.
By investing in solutions like the Children’s Center’s Equity Project, we aren’t just helping kids today—we are shaping a healthier, more equitable future for generations to come. When children have access to consistent care and their families can communicate effectively with healthcare providers, they are better equipped to thrive, learn, and grow.
*Kids Count in Michigan Data Book, 2021
**Kids Count in Michigan Data Book, 2023
