Health Care and Access

A child’s health and development is only as good as their access to health care. But major roadblocks persist for children and their families: financial barriers, language barriers and geographic barriers to quality health care. (Photo: The Washington Post)

Health Care and Access

Latest in health care and access

Increasing Referrals and Follow-Up Treatment in Medicaid and CHIP

Research, Reports & Data — January 31, 2011, The Urban Institute

The research brief examines obstacles public programs can present for families seeking services.

Holding Steady, Looking Ahead: Annual Findings of State Actions on Medicaid and CHIP

Research, Reports & Data — January 12, 2011, Center for Children and Families

The report finds that states have made significant progress in expanding Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage for children, but that eligibility for their parents lags far behind.

Advancing the Economic Security of Unmarried Women: Overview of Laws and Legislation in the 111th Congress

Research, Reports & Data — March 18, 2010, Center for American Progress

The report reviews and suggests policies to improve the economic state of unmarried women.

The Nation’s Children 2010

Research, Reports & Data — March 04, 2010, Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)

A compilation of the latest statistics on the health and welfare of U.S. children, including individual fact sheets on each state.

Persistent Fear and Anxiety Can Affect Young Children’s Learning and Development

Research, Reports & Data — February 26, 2010, National Scientific Council on the Developing Child

The report summarizes the effects of and misconceptions about fear-eliciting experiences that occur early in life.

The Cost of Delay: State Dental Policies Fail One in Five Children

Research, Reports & Data — February 23, 2010, Pew Center on the States

The report describes the costs of poor dental health, grades the states on dental policies and suggests approaches to ensure dental health and access to care for disadvantaged children.

Improving Access to Public Benefits: Helping Eligible Individuals and Families Get the Income Supports They Need

Research, Reports & Data — February 22, 2010, The Ford Foundation, Open Society Institute and The Annie E. Casey Foundation

At least $65 billion in vital government services and support remain unclaimed. The authors highlight methods to extend outreach efforts to ensure that low-income families receive the benefits they critically need.

Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) One Year Later: Connecting Kids to Coverage

Research, Reports & Data — February 08, 2010, InsureKidsNow.gov/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This federal study finds that Medicaid and CHIP enrolled 2.6 million more children in the past year, yet 5 million eligible children remain uninsured.

“There’s No Place Like Home: Home Visiting Programs Can Support Pregnant Women and New Parents”

Research, Reports & Data — January 06, 2010, Center for American Progress

The brief reviews the effectiveness of existing home visiting programs for vulnerable families.

“Overlooked and Undercounted 2009: Struggling to Make Ends Meet in California”

Research, Reports & Data — December 23, 2009, United Way of the Bay Area

The analysis finds that 3 in 10 California households lack adequate income, opposed to the 1 in 10 households reported by the federal poverty measure.

“Why Are Young Children Missed So Often in the Census?”

Research, Reports & Data — December 15, 2009, The Annie E. Casey Foundation

The study explores why more than 1 million children under age 10 and more than three-quarters of a million children under age 5 were missed in the 2000 Decennial Census.

“Financial Burden of Raising Children With Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN): Association with state policy choices”

Research, Reports & Data — December 09, 2009, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.)

The study suggests that financial burdens are deepening for families with disabled children, with Medicaid and SCHIP expenses varying widely by state.

“Rural and Urban Children Have Lower Rates of Health Insurance Coverage and are More Often Covered by Public Plans”

Research, Reports & Data — December 02, 2009, The Carsey Institute

The research brief finds that 1 in 10 American children has no health insurance coverage, and insurance rates vary considerably by geographic area.

"Household Food Security in the United States, 2008"

Research, Reports & Data — November 23, 2009, USDA Research Service

The USDA's latest survey of U.S. households finds that the prevalence rates of food insecurity and very low food security were the highest recorded since 1995, when the first national food security survey was conducted.

“Stress in America 2009”

Research, Reports & Data — November 16, 2009, American Psychological Association

The nationwide survey suggests that stress and worry are having more of an impact on young people than parents believe.