Funded Projects

Addressing Urban Heat Risks in Children

Project Year

2026

City & State

Richmond, Virgnia

Program Name

Resident

Topic

Environmental Justice/Climate Change

Program Description

Problem: Playing outdoors is well established to provide significant benefits for children, including increased physical activity and improved mental health. However, rising environmental temperatures and children’s increased vulnerability to heat-related illness require pediatricians to proactively address heat exposure as a growing child health risk. In urban areas, higher proportions of impervious surfaces and limited tree canopy lead to heat retention and reduced cooling effectiveness. This is the urban heat island effect, where urbanized areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas. Even within cities, heat intensity can vary between neighborhoods. In Richmond, neighborhoods with higher temperatures frequently overlap with communities of racial and ethnic minorities and lower-income populations, reflecting the lasting impact of historical housing discrimination and disinvestment. The elevated neighborhood temperatures create a barrier to safe outdoor play and physical activity, disproportionately placing children in these communities at an increased risk for heat-related illness.

Primary setting: The primary setting for this project will be in Richmond, Virginia. Key implementation sites include the Children's Hospital of Richmond, particularly the resident primary care clinic, and outdoor community spaces throughout Richmond, through community partnerships with organizations working to expand the tree canopy.

Number of children affected: The exact number of children impacted is hard to determine. However, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 41,000 children under 18 years of age reside in the city of Richmond and are affected by the urban heat island effect.

Project goal: Advance child health equity through pediatrician-led effective anticipatory guidance on heat exposure and support youth engagement in enhancing Richmond’s urban tree canopy.  

Proposed intervention: Aim 1: Increase pediatric resident knowledge of the urban heat island effect and heat-safety anticipatory guidance, measured through pre- and post- education surveys by the end of the grant.  

Aim 2: Increase caregiver confidence in recognizing heat-related illness by distributing heat-safety educational material to a minimum of 200 families seen in the resident primary care clinic before the end of August 2026, with a QR code to track access to additional resources.

Aim 3: Collaborate with community partners to increase engagement of youth in efforts to enhance the urban tree canopy and reduce heat vulnerability in Richmond, with documentation of increased youth participation in tree planting events within 12 months.

Anticipated outcome: Pediatric residents will have increased knowledge of the health impacts of extreme heat and the urban heat island effect on children. Families will be empowered with the knowledge and tools to recognize early signs of heat-related illness in children, supporting timely intervention. By supporting community partners, the project will promote expansion of the Richmond tree canopy, contributing to long-term reduction of neighborhood temperatures and help advance child health equity.

Project Goal

Advance child health equity through pediatrician-led effective anticipatory guidance on heat exposure and support youth engagement in enhancing Richmond’s urban tree canopy. 

Project Objective 1

By the end of the 12-month grant period, pediatric residents who attend the specialized heat-health education session will demonstrate a minimum 30% average increase in knowledge scores related to the urban heat island effect and heat-safety anticipatory guidance

Project Objective 2

By the end of August 2026, increase caregiver confidence in recognizing heat-related illness by distributing heat safety educational materials, including a QR code linking to local cooling center resources, to at least 200 families seen in the resident primary care clinic, with at least 10% of recipients engaging with the linked resources.

Project Objective 3

Within the next 12 months, partner with Richmond based community organizations to engage at least 30 local youth in urban greening projects in high heat vulnerability zones, with participation tracked using volunteer logs. 

AAP District

District IV

Institutional Name

Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Program

Contact 1

Caitlyn Tuffy, DO