Children’s National receives $56.25 million Pediatric Prevention Network award

Washington, DC, Sept. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Children’s National will receive $56.25 million over five years to help lead the Pediatric Prevention Network’s (PPN) work to strengthen pediatric disaster preparedness and improve access to high-quality care for children nationwide. Formerly known as the Pediatric Pandemic Network, the network received a total five-year award of $112.5 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to continue and expand its work.

The network will collaborate with national partners, including Safe Kids Worldwide, the globally recognized child injury prevention organization that was founded at Children's National and continues to advance child health and safety through community-based prevention efforts across the nation and around the world.

Joelle Simpson, MD, MPH, PPN co-lead principal investigator and division chief of Emergency Medicine at Children's National, said the renewed support will help children's hospitals strengthen care and access nationwide.

"This funding allows children's hospitals to continue leading efforts to deliver high-quality pediatric care in any circumstance," Dr. Simpson said. "By working alongside communities and partners such as Safe Kids Worldwide, we can strengthen prevention efforts, improve preparedness and expand access to high-quality care for children and families across the country."

The funding will support an expanded focus beyond pandemic preparedness, strengthening pediatric response capabilities in rural, remote and tribal communities. Priorities include direct engagement with families and young people, mental and behavioral health support, and care for children and youth with special health care needs.

"Safe Kids Worldwide is honored to partner with the Pediatric Prevention Network to advance a shared vision of prevention, preparedness and child well-being," Torine Creppy, president of Safe Kids Worldwide and vice president of Community Engagement and Impact at Children's National, said. "Founded at Children's National nearly four decades ago, Safe Kids was built on the belief that prevention saves lives. By bringing together children's hospitals, community organizations and families, we can help create safer environments for children, reduce preventable injuries and strengthen resilience in communities nationwide."

Through collaborations with national partners, including Safe Kids Worldwide, the network will advance evidence-based prevention strategies, strengthen community engagement and improve access to resources that help keep children safe and healthy before, during and after emergencies and disasters. Recognized as a leading global nonprofit dedicated to preventing childhood injuries, Safe Kids Worldwide brings a powerful community-based infrastructure that helps connect health systems, community organizations and families.

PPN will operate through 10 children's hospitals serving as regional centers, supported by affiliate and associate regional centers, nationally recognized subject matter experts and strategic national partners. Organizations such as Safe Kids Worldwide will help extend the network's reach into communities by supporting family engagement, prevention education and initiatives that promote child health and safety.

Over the past five years, the network has brought together children's hospitals and national partners to help health systems and communities provide high-quality pediatric care during everyday emergencies, disasters and global health threats. As the network expands its mission, collaborations with partners such as Safe Kids Worldwide will further strengthen community-centered approaches to pediatric preparedness, prevention and resilience.

The network's mission is to strengthen pediatric disaster preparedness, build resilient regional systems, engage communities and develop the pediatric emergency management workforce through data-driven quality improvement and collaboration.

Media contact: Media | Media@childrensnational.org | 202-476-4500

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About Children’s National

For 155 years, Children’s National in Washington, D.C., has delivered expert pediatric care at every milestone. As the region’s only standalone children’s hospital, kids have been the center of its mission since 1870. Today, it is one of the top 10 children’s hospitals in the nation and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children’s National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children.

The Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus opened in 2021, a first-of-its-kind pediatric hub dedicated to developing new and better ways to care for kids. Children’s National has been designated four times in a row as a Magnet^® hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children’s National is home to the Children’s National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. 

In 1987, Children’s National founded Safe Kids Worldwide, a non-profit dedicated to reducing unintentional injuries among children through comprehensive national and global education, research and advocacy. As a non-profit, Children's National relies on generous donors to help ensure that every child receives the care they need. 

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Ariana Perez
Children's National Hospital
301-244-6760
media@childrensnational.org