Boston Community Pediatrics

02/24/2026

Last week, we had a very special staff meeting as we continue to commemorate Black History Month ❤️🖤💚

BCP Family Partners Jenice and Kim led us in a Black History-inspired trivia game, and let’s just say, the (friendly) competition was real!

Although every Wednesday, after our staff meeting, BCP provides lunch for all staff and interns, sometimes—for truly special occasions—our team cooks for each other.

This week was one of those moments. With support from BCP’s Care Navigation team and our amazing interns, Jenice and Kim prepared an unforgettable feast in honor of Black History Month. The kitchen was filled with incredible aromas, and the spread was nothing short of amazing. More than just a meal, it was a celebration of culture, history, community, and the powerful tradition of connecting through food.

Thank you Jenice and Kim, and everyone who helped make this experience so meaningful. We are so grateful to celebrate and share such rich culture through delicious soul food. ✨

02/20/2026

Good healthcare shouldn't require private donations. But for practices like ours, it does.

Two-thirds of our budget comes from philanthropy because insurance doesn't cover what families actually need: integrated behavioral health, care navigation, and real time with providers.

We've proved comprehensive care works. Now we need systemic change to make it sustainable for everyone.

Every child deserves this. Not just the ones lucky enough to find us.

Read Dr. Riseberg's full thoughts in The Boston Globe:

Boston Community Pediatrics proves that accessible, humane primary care is possible — but only because donors are subsidizing an insurance system that won’t.

02/19/2026

Although influenza severity in MA has started to decline, the flu is still circulating and it is never too late to get vaccinated. Tragically, there have now been 7 pediatric deaths this year from the flu in Massachusetts alone.

The flu vaccine saves lives––Dr. Caitlin Woo-Pierce and Dr. Robyn Riseberg explain what you need to know.

Tens of thousands get sick every year with symptoms ranging from fevers and congestion to serious complications like pneumonia, dehydration, and respiratory distress. And we continue to see high flu rates in our community.

The good news? It’s not too late to protect yourself and your kids.

The flu vaccine is safe, effective, and available for everyone 6 months and older.

The vaccine:
✅ Decreases severity of symptoms if you do get the flu
✅ Significantly reduces risk of hospitalization
✅ Protects vulnerable populations, such as babies, the elderly, and the immunocompromised
✅ Cannot give you the flu (despite myths you may have heard)

At BCP, we provide flu vaccines for both children AND their caregivers.

Questions or concerns? Reach out to your provider–we're always here to connect.

At BCP, we stand with science because all of our children deserve proven protection.

02/18/2026

This is a win: A few weeks ago, Congress extended Medicare telehealth coverage through 2027. 💙

Telehealth is an asset for all patients, but especially for families with low income. We know that getting to a doctor's office can mean lost wages, transportation costs, missed school, and childcare challenges. Telehealth removes those barriers to care.

At BCP, we believe healthcare should meet families where they are. That’s why we've offered telehealth since Day One, and our data shows that it works:

🩺 1164 telehealth visits annually
✅ 99% patient satisfaction
👏 9% no-show rate (vs. ~30% at some traditional community health centers)

Telehealth isn't about convenience, it's about equity and removing barriers that shouldn't exist in the first place.

Two years of coverage is progress. But we know families need certainty, not temporary fixes. So we're celebrating this extension—and we'll keep on advocating for the permanent access all families deserve.

02/17/2026

✨ Meet Roselani! ✨

Roselani is fabulous at so many things—from school to skiing to dance to step. She recently taught us about the origins of step, sharing: "Back when slavery was happening, sometimes Black people couldn't talk, so they used step to communicate."

Step is especially meaningful to her because it was a way for enslaved Black people who were not allowed to speak to use body language, such as stomping and clapping, to communicate with one another. ❤️

When asked what Black History Month means to her, Roselani said: “It means a lot to me as I get to learn about the experiences of Black people in the past.”

At BCP, Roselani participates in our weekly cooking classes (her favorite dish so far? Butternut squash mac and cheese 🧀🎉 ) and helps out at Camp Night, where she is a young spokesperson for Camp Wonderland, encouraging other young children to give sleepaway camp a try!

When she’s not in school, you can often find her at the Salvation Army passing out food and helping others.

Roselani inspires us with her talent, leadership, and heart for community. During Black History Month and every month, we celebrate young leaders like her who honor the past while building a brighter future.

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine's Day from the BCP team! To celebrate, we asked our staff what they love most about their work 💙🩺

The relationships. The time to truly listen. Watching kids grow up. Helping families in comprehensive ways. Working with an incredible team. And cooking new things together every week—"A mí me encanta las clases de cocina!" 👩‍🍳

We love what we do!

02/13/2026

A heating bill shouldn't be a healthcare crisis. (Swipe to see why utilities are healthcare →)

To access the low-income utility discount in Massachusetts, families that already have a balance must pay part of their bill first, even when they have no income. It's an impossible catch-22.

Children living in homes where utilities get shut off face chronic stress, nutritional insecurity, and barriers to learning and development. At BCP, we treat utility insecurity for what it is: a health problem that requires healthcare solutions.

Last year, our family partners assisted 79 families (163 patients) with utilities, from helping them enroll in discount programs, preventing shut-offs, and reducing eviction risk.

Our 30-60 minute appointments let us address the root causes of problems, not just their symptoms. We ask about housing, food, and utilities at every well visit. And when families tell us they're struggling, we work with them to solve the problem.

This is what putting patients first actually means and this is how BCP treats utility insecurity – the same way we would treat any other medical condition. With care, compassion, and determination. Because we know these systems are complicated. And good healthcare shouldn’t be.

02/13/2026

Valentine's Day arrived early at BCP! 💕

Today, our entire team was treated to a delicious and nutritious lunch, goodie bags with treats and cozy Valentine's beanies, and 20-minute chair massages. 💆‍♀️

At BCP, we believe rest and self-care are essential to health, and that applies to our team too. When you invest in your staff's wellbeing and treat them like family, they show up fully for the families who trust us.

Rest, gratitude, and a little love—that's our vibe heading into Valentine's Day. 💙✨

02/11/2026

We talk to families every day about how rest, connection, and mental health are essential to being healthy. Earlier this month, we practiced what we preach. ✨

Our entire BCP team traveled north to the Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa in New Hampshire for a staff retreat—a chance to reconnect, recharge, and refocus on our shared mission of bringing equity to pediatric healthcare.

With the support of an outside facilitator, our team spent time reflecting on the purpose behind our work and our shared goals including the relationships we build with families, the integrated care we provide, and the trust we earn every single day. We connected as people through team-building sessions, snowshoeing adventures, gondola rides up the mountain, s'mores by the fire, and yes, even a brave plunge into the outdoor heated pool in single-digit temps. 🥶♨️

We gave ourselves permission to recharge in a beautiful setting. Because the same values that guide our patient care–partnership, dignity, time, and taking a broader view of health–matter for our team too.

When we invest in our team's wellbeing, we can show up fully for patients. 100% provider retention since 2020 doesn't happen by accident. It happens when an organization truly invests in the people doing the work.

02/06/2026

January's Produce of the Month: Apples! 🍎

Throughout January, BCP Nutritious Cooking Class featured apples in recipes that kept our Little Chefs warm all month long.

One class favorite? Apple Cheddar Biscuits & Homemade Chili!

On cold winter days, there's nothing better than warm biscuits fresh from the oven paired with a hearty bowl of chili. Based on all the smiling faces, our Little Chefs definitely agreed! 🥘✨

What our Little Chefs learned:
✅ Measuring ingredients for homemade biscuits
✅ Collaborating as a team to prepare a full meal
✅ Working with seasonal produce
✅ Kitchen confidence and life skills

BCP Nutritious isn't just about cooking—it's about building confidence, trying new foods, and creating meals families can make together at home. After participating in BCP Nutritious, 88% of families say their child is more willing to try fruits and vegetables they don't usually eat.

Participants who attend receive no-cost ingredients, and those that attend virtually have these delivered to their homes each week, so that there are no barriers to participation, and they can follow along and cook with their families. 💙👩‍🍳

02/06/2026

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02/06/2026

Happy National Patient Recognition Week! 💙

To the parents and caregivers who advocate, ask questions, and trust us as a partner in their children's health.

To the kids who are brave, curious, and resilient.

You all are our partners, not just our patients.

At BCP, we listen, build trust, and make decisions about your care with you. That's what relationship-driven care means. It's why we take 30-60 minutes per appointment instead of 15. It's why we truly listen to what you need. And it's working: 96% of our families say BCP helps them feel like a partner in their child's healthcare.

Thank you for choosing BCP. Thank you for showing up and reminding us every day that the best care happens when families and providers work together. We're honored to change the way healthcare is delivered to all children WITH you. 🩺