Medical Clinic
The Atkinson Family Clinic provides affordable healthcare to children and families associated with The GOD’S CHILD Project and its many programs. The clinic also serves walk-in patients from the greater community, who travel several hours by bus after hearing of the quality care available. The Clinic serves as many patients as possible. Patients must prove they are of very limited economic means and are asked to make a small donation based on what they can afford.
Dental Clinic
The GOD’S CHILD Project has two dental clinics that provide care to children and families who would otherwise not dream of accessing such services. Clinic staff educates patients on the importance of oral hygiene and provides toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash when these donations are available.
Casa Jackson
More than half of Guatemalan children under the age of 5 suffer from malnutrition, the highest rate in Latin America. Casa Jackson is a private hospital opened in 2008 to address Guatemala’s chronic malnutrition problem by providing intensive rehabilitative treatment to infants and children suffering from acute malnutrition and its side effects. Equipped to treat 20 patients at a time, babies and children are admitted to Casa Jackson by their families or through referrals from local health centers. An international team of volunteers assist 24 hours a day with feeding, bathing, changing diapers, and spending time with the children. The love and attention of these dedicated volunteers helps the children recover just as much as the individualized medical care they receive during their stay, which can vary from a few weeks to many months. Throughout the treatment process, Casa Jackson staff involves families through regular visits and education about nutrition and child care. More than 150 babies and children have been rehabilitated through in-house care at Casa Jackson, but supervision doesn’t end when we send healthy children back to their homes and families. Social workers continue checking in with families to make sure the children continue to grow up strong and healthy. Casa Jackson also conducts field clinics to monitor malnutrition, educate the public on proper nutrition, and identify patients. Hundreds of out-patient cases have been treated in surrounding communities since 2008.
Psychologist
Many of the children participating in our programs have suffered physical, emotional or sexual abuse, while others have been forced into labor or prostitution. The psychologist counsels those children and anyone requiring emotional or mental assistance in dealing with past or present situations. By working through their problems, participants have a better chance of completing their education and effectively breaking out of poverty. The psychologist also runs the Mothers’ Club.
Field Clinics
Our medical and dental clinics regularly host ServiceTeams of nurses, doctors, dentists, dental hygienists and other medical professionals. Throughout the year, but especially when these specialized groups are visiting the Dreamer Center, our staff hosts large medical field clinics in remote communities that rarely have the access to or the money for these services. Casa Jackson also conducts field clinics to monitor remote villages, where malnutrition can affect up to 80 percent of children under 5. Our medical professionals educate the public on proper health and nutrition, and identify potential patients. Hundreds of out-patient cases are treated annually in urban communities and remote villages of Guatemala and El Salvador.
