CHOP & The Enterprise Center Team Up to Remediate Asthma Triggers

PHILADELPHIA- Despite numerous business and community disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Community Asthma Prevention Program Plus Home Repairs (CAPP+) initiative has forged ahead, managing to repair more than 50 homes to date to make them safer for children with asthma.

“Our CAPP+ initiative addresses the impact of unhealthy housing on pediatric asthma outcomes in West Philadelphia neighborhoods, where asthma affects approximately one in four children,” said Tyra Bryant-Stephens, MD, Founder and Director of the Community Asthma Prevention Program and Senior Director of its Center for Health Equity at CHOP. “Through our partnership with The Enterprise Center, we are able to help our families address chronic asthma triggers in their homes, while providing opportunities for minority and women contractors to gain experience and build their businesses.”

Through this initiative, The Enterprise Center (TEC), in collaboration with Philadelphia’s Rebuilding Together Program (RTP), provides training and resources to identify Minority, Women and Diverse Business Enterprises (MWDBEs) to become approved contractors, creating economic opportunities for underrepresented small business owners.

“Our partnership with CHOP’s CAPP+ program not only improves the quality of life for local communities, but it also strengthens economic inclusion for Black, brown, and women business owners in our city,” said Kim Carter, Vice President of Partnerships at The Enterprise Center. “We work with contractors to help them obtain the necessary licensing and prepare them to become eligible to compete for RTP jobs, which helps create equitable job opportunities.”

“This program makes it affordable to scale up,” said Calvin Schofield, owner of C. Schofield Finish Carpentry, LLC. “A unique feature is that this program provides working capital to purchase the materials required to complete home repairs.” Schofield, who began working on CAPP+ homes in November 2020, adds, “The Enterprise Center has been extremely helpful, and I would not be in the position I am now without the help of their team.”

CAPP+ is part of CHOP’s Healthier Together Initiative. Launched in 2019, Healthier Together aims to tackle the social determinants of health in West and Southwest Philadelphia in partnership with nonprofit organizations, community groups, and local government agencies.

In 2019 and 2020, the CHOP and TEC partnership assisted 19 businesses with obtaining a diverse business certification, which is a critical component in helping them secure future contracts from large organizations. Through the partnership, TEC provides assistance to nearly 950 individuals through on-site and virtual instruction. Courses include best practices for responding to an RFP, sales and marketing, and minority business certification workshops.