Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), a founding member of Mass General Brigham and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital (BWFH) provide compassionate, high-quality care in virtually every medical and surgical specialty to patients locally, regionally, nationally and around the world. 

Our team is a special group, as we are the social workers of Brigham and Women's Hospital. We provide mental health care and behavioral health care to the patients. In part of our work we often come across patients who have needs that are greater than the resources available to them. In instances like this, we have often called on the Patient Assistance Fund (PAF) to help out in times of emergencies. The PAF allows up to 200.00 in gift cards to patients a year to help with things like groceries, transportation, clothing and hygiene items. The PAF also allows up to 1000.00 a year to patients in more crisis terms to help prevent evictions, keep heat or electricity on in the winter and any number of extreme events for people. This allocation of funds is only used by social workers to help patients when resource allocation or managing them out into the community is not an option. 

Our PAF fund has been empty for several months. I have personally had to turn away many patients who come to my office hungry, unhoused, and in very difficult situations. Our current economic downturn has only exacerbated these conditions. 

Thank you for supporting this extraordinary group of runners as we run for fun and help us refill the FUND!

All social No Work!