A Compassionate Social Prescription Project Launches at the Montreal Children’s Hospital

We’re proud to announce the launch of an initiative with true heart: the Social Prescription Project, aimed at helping young patients live well-rounded lives beyond the hospital walls.

Social prescribing is a clinical practice that enables healthcare providers to refer patients to non-medical services that address the social determinants of health — such as education, physical activity, and social support. At the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH), the Export Support Foundation has assembled a dedicated team of paediatric residents, medical students, and community advocates to bring this meaningful service to life.

Clinicians can now connect families with resources such as school supplies, sports equipment, and tutoring. Even educational electronics are made accessible to families. Clinicians use ‘social prescription pads’ to do so, a tool that addresses each patient’s social needs.

Special recognition goes to medical students Kedar Mate, Alexandra Yacovelli, Meygan Brody, Tracy Liu and Edouarda Taguedong, who recently showcased the project at the More Than a Cure (MTAC) event at the Jewish General Hospital.  

“The social prescription pad is a simple yet transformative tool — it lets us write hope into every referral. As medical students, we’re often taught to treat illness, but with social prescribing, we’re learning to treat people — with compassion, connection, and care,” states medical student Kedar.

The project has received enthusiastic support from everyone who’s heard about it so far. We commend the team for their commitment to compassionate care — your work will make a lasting difference in the lives of young patients and their families.

This project was funded by CéAMC-Qc and Special Projects and Community Involvement (SPCI) from McGill Medical Students’s Society.