by Lelach Rave, MD, FAAP, WCAAP Interim Executive Director
It has been a challenging month. Massive cuts and layoffs in the public health sector have directly disrupted the work of many of our members—and threaten the health and well-being of countless patients. Amid this turbulence, WCAAP has been fortunate—so far. While many AAP Chapters around the country are seeing their budgets decimated due to loss of federal grant funds, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has chosen to continue funding our immunization work, even while laying off hundreds of their own staff. This decision is a testament to the value of our work and the trust we have built as a partner. It reflects how central immunizations are to DOH’s mission and how deeply WCAAP is respected for delivering results that matter for public health.
That same trust exists between each of us and the families we care for every day. A colleague recently told me about a parent who arrived at their child’s appointment with social media posts in hand, worried about the measles outbreaks. They asked whether their two-year-old needed an early second dose of MMR. My colleague was able to reassure the parent that their child was protected by the first dose of MMR at 12 months and that the current risk level did not warrant an early booster. The parent replied, “Oh, that makes sense. I thought so—I just needed to hear it from you.”
That moment speaks volumes. In a world flooded with misinformation, the relationships we build and the trust we carry are among the most powerful tools we have for protecting children’s health. Whether it’s with parents, patients, lawmakers, or community collaborators, when pediatricians are trusted partners, we can move the needle toward healthier, thriving children.
In these unusual and challenging times, WCAAP is working to fortify that trust and our future. With 88% of our revenue historically coming from grants, we are rethinking how we will fund our work and which efforts we can realistically sustain. Even our strongest agency partners may lose the ability to support us, no matter how much they value our work. We are contingency planning, even as we hope to be pleasantly surprised.
One path forward is to pivot to private support. If you are among those who feel enraged by the flood of misinformation, the dismantling of public health infrastructure, the slashing of education and environmental protections, and the withdrawal of research funding for topics as fundamental as vaccine hesitancy, I invite you to join what AAP President Sue Kressly calls “rage philanthropy.”
Donors currently make up less than 3% of our annual revenue. Personally, I give to WCAAP because I value child and family health, and I know of no organization better positioned to advocate for them than WCAAP. A donation to WCAAP is about walking the walk and placing my resources in alignment with my values. I hope you will consider doing the same. Together, we are a powerful force for children and families in Washington. Thank you for all you do, and for standing strong with us.