Funded Projects

Hearts in Play

Project Year

2026

City & State

Valhalla, New York

Program Name

Resident

Topic

Health Education & Prevention

Program Description

The Problem: Underserved youth in Westchester County face significant barriers to receiving essential healthcare, including routine pediatric care and screenings for sudden cardiac death (SCD). According to the Westchester County Department of Health, nearly 10% of children live below the poverty line, resulting in limited access to care. Sudden cardiac events pose a major risk for young athletes, particularly in communities lacking proper screening and training. Studies show that cardiovascular death rates in African American and other minority athletes are nearly five times higher than in white athletes. Additionally, CPR and AED training are often insufficient in youth community centers, where rapid response is critical. Many of these centers lack heart-safe protocols, leaving staff and families underprepared. This project seeks to address these gaps in care and preparedness.  

Primary Setting: This project will be implemented in collaboration with Backyard Sports Cares, an organization dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children. It will focus on youth centers in underserved areas of Westchester County, starting with the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon, with the goal of expanding Hearts in Play to other youth communities.  

Number of Children Affected: Approximately 1 in 5 children in Westchester live in poverty, with many lacking access to regular pediatric care. With over 40,000 children in the county, a significant portion could benefit from this initiative, particularly in underserved communities like Mount Vernon.  Project Goal: The goal is to increase the number of children receiving proper SCD screenings and to enhance the confidence in recognizing sudden cardiac arrest and initiating early intervention. This initiative would be new to the region and all of the involved community centers. The project aims to improve heart safety in underserved youth communities and create a scalable model for other youth centers/programs.  

Proposed Intervention: - Sudden Cardiac Death Screenings: Using the AHA 14-question guideline, youth athletes will be screened for potential heart conditions, identifying risks before participation in sports with expedited connection to Pediatric Cardiologists should a child have a positive screening. - CPR/AED Training: Offering CPR/AED training to improve ability to respond quickly to cardiac emergencies.  - Heart-Safe Emergency

Action Plans: Developing and implementing heart-safe protocols and emergency action plans at youth community centers to ensure timely responses to cardiac events. - Heart Safety Awareness: Raising awareness in the community to equip staff and parents with the knowledge to recognize and respond to potential health risks.  Anticipated Outcome: - Increased Confidence in Emergency Response: A significant increase in the number of adults and adolescents who feel confident in recognizing sudden cardiac arrest and initiating CPR/defibrillation. - Improved Access to Cardiac Screenings: A reduction in the number of youth in Westchester community centers who lack pre-participation cardiac screenings.  - Heart-Safe Protocols: An increase in the number of community centers in Westchester County with established heart-safe emergency action plans, improving preparedness for cardiac emergencies.  By addressing gaps in screenings, training, and emergency preparedness, this project will improve health equity, increase access to life-saving resources, and provide a safer environment for youth in underserved communities.

Project Goal

Improve heart safety and awareness within underserved Westchester County communities, starting with youth community centers like the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon and MVP Basketball Camp. 

Project Objective 1

A 40% increase in the number of children in the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon who receive cardiac screenings prior to sports participation by May 2027.

Project Objective 2

A 40% increase in parents who are properly CPR trained in the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon by May 2027.

Project Objective 3

A self-reported increase in comfortability with performing CPR amongst 40% of the parents/staff in the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon by May 2027.

AAP District

District II

Institutional Name

Westchester Medical Center

Contact 1

Dahlia Fischer, MD