Melissa Berrios Honored by National Homeless Network (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA LEND)

June 27, 2012

Melissa Berrios

LEND graduate and clinical faculty Melissa Berrios, MSW of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Homeless Health Initiative (CHOP/HHI) was chosen as the Outstanding Service Award Winner by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. She received the award during the Plenary at the National Health Care for the Homeless Conference on Wednesday, May 16, in Kansas City, MO. This national award honors a clinician who has made a significant contribution to improving the health and quality of life of those experiencing homelessness and who has demonstrated vision and creativity in their work. According to Karen Hudson, MSW, LSW, HHI Program Leader and LEND faculty, "Melissa Berrios is a dedicated and passionate social worker who is able to work on the front lines, teaching and serving mothers and children in shelter on a daily basis, and connecting them to the highest quality healthcare and community services tailored for their needs..."

Melissa mentors CHOP's LEND fellows in their community projects with HHI, including a popular fitness programs for children living in the shelters, trauma-informed care of infants, and developmental screening activities.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Homeless Health Initiative is a volunteer health outreach program which was established in 1988 when concerned pediatric resident physicians and nurses began to offer free health services to children temporarily housed at Philadelphia homeless shelters.