Child Health

Child Health2021-01-15T08:58:00-08:00

The Problem

Despite tremendous progress expanding access to health coverage to children across California, poor children and children of color continue to have worse access to health care, and as a result lag behind their wealthier and healthier White peers. Unmet health and mental health needs can result in children falling behind developmentally and having trouble catching up physically, socially and academically.

Our Vision

All children should have comprehensive, affordable health coverage and timely access to the care they need to reach their full potential. No child should face barriers to healthy development based on their race, zip code, family income or immigration status.

The Solution

To ensure that all children have a healthy start, we must:

  • Protect Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Affordable Care Act against cuts or harmful changes
  • Enroll all children in comprehensive, affordable health coverage
  • Ensure coverage translates into timely access to appropriate pediatric and specialty providers for all children regardless of race, zip code, family income or immigration status
  • Increase access to trauma-informed mental health services, particularly in schools and communities with concentrated need
  • Support communities to offer a full-range of services in schools to address students’ health and mental health needs
  • Advance Innovative Policies and Practices to Improve Children’s Access to Health Coverage and Care

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