When someone suffers a catastrophic workplace injury, it’s not only the worker who’s affected. The effects and loss of income from these injuries can be felt throughout the entire family, especially if there are children involved. Paradigm Outcomes partners with Kids’ Chance of America, a non-profit organization that supports the educational aspirations of children of workers seriously or fatally injured on the job.

In 2012, there were 4,383 fatal occupational injuries. There are no records of how many children were affected, but 2,872 of these fatalities were workers between the ages of 20 and 55—the prime years of parenthood when children will be most affected by the loss of a parent and the parent’s income. Across the nation, 29 state-level Kids’ Chance organizations help these children. Today, we’re going to meet two recent Kids’ Chance Scholarship recipients.

Jessica

When Jessica’s father suffered a traumatic brain injury while on the job, the family’s hopes of getting their two daughters through college were in jeopardy. Thanks to a Kids’ Chance Scholarship, Jessica is on her way to earning a degree in Early Grades and Special Education from West Chester University. Read more about Jessica in her own words here.

Taylor

Taylor was able to attend Winthrop University with a Kids’ Chance Scholarship from the South Carolina chapter. She now uses her talents to teach kindergarten in Kuwait. Learn more about Taylor’s experience abroad here.

Thanks to Kids’ Chance of America and its supporters, families can receive help overcoming the adversity of paying for higher education following a catastrophic injury. This helps everyone live a happier and fuller life. To learn more or apply for a Kids’ Chance scholarship, visit www.kidschance.org. For more information on how Paradigm Outcomes supports the efforts of Kids’ Chance of America, visit our website, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.