Help Us Create Healthier Kids!

At Healthier Kids Foundation, we uphold the belief that access to healthcare is an inherent human right.

OUR MISSION

Healthier Kids Foundation removes barriers impacting the health, learning and life success of Silicon Valley youth. To achieve our mission, we focus on three key strategies:

Improving health care access and utilization, Changing health behavior through education and Advocating for health policy and systems change

Our Impact

503,943+
Overall Services Provided
403,346+
Vision, Dental, Hearing and Universal Social Emotional Screening Services Provided
67,827+
Number of Class Attendees

Impact in the Community

“There is a general understanding that kids should have access to health insurance, what is not understood is how hard it is to get that child from having health insurance to getting the best care they can.”

President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
Cindy Chavez

Discover Healthier Kids in the News

abc - bay-area
fox 2 black logo
san-jose-spotlight logo
kron-4 logo
the mercury news logo
Stanford womens soccer-min

Watch the Stanford Women’s Soccer Team discuss Mental Health.

Click here to watch!

Our Programs

At Healthier Kids Foundation, we envision a future where every youth in Silicon Valley attains optimal health, educational equity, and lifelong success. To make this vision a reality, we collaborate with community organizations, schools, preschools, daycare sites, and parents. We strive to remove obstacles that may hinder good health and ensuring no barriers stand in the way of our youths bright and prosperous future.

10-steps program icon 10 Steps

A free, five-class series for parents that focuses on integrating healthy lifestyles within their homes to prevent or reduce childhood and adolescent obesity.

smile-first icon SmileFirst

Classes for students and families that focus on good oral health education.

PregnantFirst

We assist future parents/pregnant persons in accessing dental treatment through individualized care
coordination.

vision first icon VisionFirst

Using a high-tech, photo optic scan camera, this program screens children for undetected vision issues and assists them with accessing follow-up vision services and treatment through case management.

hearing-first icon HearingFirst

Using the AuDX Pro OAE screening device, this program screens children for undetected hearing issues and assists them with obtaining appropriate services and treatment through case management.

dental first icon DentalFirst

Using a licensed dentist, this program screens children for undetected dental issues and assists them with accessing follow-up dental care through case management.

my-health-first icon My HealthFirst

Using physicians, this program provides Universal, School-Based Wellness Checks to identify students with unmet social and emotional needs and assist them—along with their family—in accessing supportive services

AppointmentFirst

Using Parent Advocates to assist foster parents in accessing medical and dental appointments in a timely manner

baby-gateway icon Baby Gateway

Enrolls newborns into Medi-Cal, ensures they secure a medical home, and provides parenting and health resources before being discharged from the hospital.

cope icon COPE

Identifies uninsured children and assists their parents in obtaining subsidized health coverage.

CommunityFirst

Our commitment to serving and supporting other agencies, applying our leadership capabilities to boost positive outcomes across the community.

Upcoming Events

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Children in the under-served communities of Silicon Valley:

dental icon hkf
1 out of 3
Have urgent dental needs
vision icon hkf
1 out of 7
Have vision problems
hearing icon green
1 out of 25
Have hearing issues
insurance icon hkf
1 out of 50
Need Insurance

Our Stories

The information that I was able to see through the 10 Steps! classes was very good and gave me a new perspective about how to live a healthier lifestyle. One important thing I discovered was the number of seemingly healthy foods that in reality are not good for you. I was surprised to find out that some of the snacks I would give to my children had so much sugar! Now that I know what to avoid, I have started to focus on only buying foods I want my family to eat. Now that my kids are used to eating healthier snacks it is easier for them to choose the right option and avoid junk food. The class taught a lot about creating habits, and that is something I have tried to do for my children. I was also very interested by the ideas around routines and food that we learned in class. As a mom it isn’t possible to constantly be cooking for my family, so in order to make sure I don’t spend my whole life in the kitchen I emphasize eating times for my kids. If they get hungry before mealtime I reinforce that we must stick to the routine (and give them whole fruit to eat in the meantime). Even though this can be difficult, I found this to be a great way to avoid falling into the fast-food/sugary drink trap. My kids choose how much to eat, but not where/when. I’m very happy with what I learned through 10 steps!
-Beatriz, Mother
I first heard about the diaper program through FIRST 5 programs at my local FRC. I was pregnant in the beginning of the pandemic and was nervous with stores being closed, not knowing where I will get my baby supplies. I had stopped working and we were living off of just my husband’s income. I was very excited and happy when the staff told me I could register for the free diaper program. She called me over the phone, and the process of registration was fast and easy. Since I was pregnant, I was very cautious about going out and seeing other people. The process of picking up diapers was also very easy and convenient. After the staff told us our appointment day, we would show up at the school’s drive through. There was a phone number for us to call, we told them our name, and they would bring the diapers directly to our trunk without any contact. I felt very safe, and happy because I was one step closer to being ready for my baby’s arrival. I would like to thank the funders for helping my family through the pandemic. Even though it’s just one item, it has made a huge impact on my family. It was very comforting to know that there are still generous donors and funders out there in our community, who still cares about us even through we were going through a global pandemic.
-Huong, Mother
As a single mother of two sons, I did not know how to provide my kids with all the love and care that they need. Six months ago, my husband passed away because of Covid 19. I was under depression because I have relied on my husband for everything. I was never worried about my children's well-being. My husband took care of all the doctor appointments, medical insurance, and bills. My child has astigmatism on both eyes; however, I did not know until the Healthier Kids Foundation's staff notified me and explained the vision screening results. I was scared about raising a ten years old boy without my husband. Moreover, I sometimes had mental distress and emotional trauma. I could not always have a positive mindset and manage daily aspects promptly. Adding up, I did not know how to schedule an appointment because I could not understand English. I did not know where to bring my child for an eye exam. However, the staff offered to help me schedule an appointment. She helped me to find an optometrist close to my house. Then she followed up with me right after my child’s appointment to ensure that my child received a comprehensive eye exam. I also shared with the staff my concerns regarding raising my children as a single mother. The staff comforted me, let me know that there would be help available anytime for the well-being of my family. I appreciated the great support from the Healthier Kids Foundation’s staff. I never knew another organization that did all the works, like Healthier Kids Foundation. In the future, I hope that the Healthier Kids Foundation will continue providing programs that help all children and parents that need better health and well-being.
-Phuong, Mother
I am grateful that my daughter received the wellness check program at school, and now I have a chance to share my thought with your organization. As a mother, I feel helpless to connect with my child, to support her at home and school. My daughter changes a lot during her teenage age. She tends to keep her distance, limits her communication with family members, eats less, and falls behind on her schoolwork. At night, she stays up late and plays video games till 2 AM. For that reason, her academic performance drops significantly, leading to the lack of motivation for her to go to school. I always keep all the concerns to myself as I don't know any sources of help. When receiving a call from the Healthier Kids Foundation staff, I realize there is a place that could help our family. My daughter has not received any treatment yet. The staff follows up with me regularly about my daughter's well-being. I trust that the program will help my child and other students in the same situation. The program will enhance the bonding between the parents, the school, and the HFK organization to focus on our children's health and growth.
-Xuan, Mother
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