Children's Health Fund

According to data, about 700K children lost insurance between March 2023 and March 2024, mostly due to the Medicaid unwinding. We urge states to protect children’s access to insurance coverage & ensure they can access the care they need to thrive.

Millions of people became uninsured as Medicaid programs cut coverage, new data show More than 27 million people had no health insurance as of March 2024 — an uninsured rate of 8.2%, up from 7.7% a year earlier, the CDC said Tuesday.

August is . We are dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to the immunizations that will keep them safe for the upcoming school year. Protect your kids by getting them vaccinated this summer!

We are thrilled to announce that CHF co-founder Dr. Irwin Redlener will be a keynote speaker at our 2024 conference, October 7-9 in NYC!

On Wednesday, October 9, Dr. Redlener will discuss the “unfinished business” in children’s well-being in the United States, and what we need to do now to ensure every child has access to quality healthcare, education, social services, and freedom from poverty. Learn more and register for the conference: https://www.childrenshealthfund.org/childrens-health-fund-2024-conference/
Early-bird pricing ends August 14!

Irwin Redlener, M.D., is founding president and co-founder of Children's Health Fund, founding director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, and co-founder of the Ukraine Children's Action Project. He is the author of "The Future of Us: What the Dreams of Children Mean for 21st Century America" and "Americans at Risk: Why We are Not Prepared for Megadisaters and What We Can Do Now.” Dr. Redlener works as an Adjunct Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

📢 Check us out in the New York Daily News! Children’s Health Fund partnered with the Center for Family Representation on an opinion piece shedding light on the harmful and traumatic impact of family separation on immigrant children.

“According to the Children’s Health Fund (CHF), children separated from their families are at an increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicidality. One study found that symptoms persisted after children were reunited with their families.”

Tens of thousands of asylum-seeking families in New York City have faced immense challenges, often resulting unfairly in neglect filings and family separations. We urge the Administration for Children’s Services and family court judges to recognize the unique struggles immigrant families face and the impact of their decisions on the health and well-being of immigrant families. We believe in supporting immigrant families and ensuring they have all the resources they need to thrive and succeed.

Read the full piece here:

Don’t remove immigrant kids from their families Over the past two years, tens of thousands of asylum-seeking families have arrived in New York City seeking safety for themselves and their children. Lacking local support, they find temporary hous…

rates in the US are high, especially for Black women & women in rural areas. Doulas offer vital support & help improve health outcomes. We hope more states expand access to doula care to save women’s lives & improve health equity.

Maternity Care in Rural Areas Is in Crisis. Can More Doulas Help? - KFF Health News Rural communities are losing access to maternity care, raising the risk of pregnancy complications, especially for Black women, who face higher rates of maternal mortality. Now, a Georgia medical school is trying to help by training doulas, practitioners who offer patients extra support before, duri...

Join us in celebrating Exercise with Your Child Week by finding fun ways to with your little ones. Make walking fun by creating a color scavenger hunt--can you spot something purple?? Or stay inside when it's too hot and play a game of "the floor is lava" with pillows. The opportunities to make physical activity fun are endless!

Every child deserves access to food year-round, not just when school is in session. The U.S.-based SummerEBT program seeks to do just that by providing eligible families with $120 per school-aged child to help cover the cost of groceries during the summer. However, six out of the 37 states that have opted into participating in SummerEBT are experiencing delays, leaving many families without adequate access to the food needed to keep kids healthy. We urge states to support families and address these delays to ensure no child goes hungry. https://bit.ly/3WiQCKb

📚✨ Celebrating ! Every child deserves equal access to quality education, regardless of background. Schools are more than places of learning—they're communities providing vital services and support. With our Program, we proudly partner with public schools to tackle health disparities and promote equity in education. Let's continue to advocate for inclusive, enriching environments for all our children. 🌟💙

Youth mental health is in crisis, especially for those growing up in underresourced communities. With youth su***de rates increasing significantly over the last two decades, we are glad to see Governor Hochul announce a $15 million investment toward su***de risk prevention for youth from underresourced communities. We hope this commitment to youth mental health ensures all youth can access the mental health resources they need to thrive and succeed. Read:

Governor Hochul Announces $15 Million to Fund Su***de Prevention Services for At-Risk Youth Governor Hochul announced conditional awards to help community-based services that will help reduce youth su***de risk.

Catch us tonight in Harlem! We’ll be joining the Classical Theatre of Harlem again during tonight’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
☀️ Swing by the Children’s Health Fund table for resources on how to help your child stay healthy, hygiene kits for the summer, and other goodies! Details below.

📍The area surrounding The Richard Rodgers Amphitheatre at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, NYC
⏰ TONIGHT, Thursday, July 25th from 5:30-7:30 pm

We’ll be joined by Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine who will be providing health screenings, and Art In The Park, which will be providing hands-on art activities.
RSVP here:

A Midsummer Night's Dream | Uptown Shakespeare in the Park Outdoors and free to the public. NOTE: The role of Nick Bottom will be played by Jaylen Eashmond

CHF is excited to offer an opportunity for our national network partners and others to come together to discuss ideas, strategies, and best practices. Past conferences have been the impetus for brainstorming and developing programs to provide quality access to all children in the US. To learn more go to https://www.childrenshealthfund.org/childrens-health-fund-2024-conference/

📉 Routine child vaccination rates are lower than pre-pandemic levels. With rising exemption rates in 41 states and significant declines in kindergarten vaccine coverage, our national network partners are working hard to increase access to life saving vaccines for all children, regardless of ability to pay.

Addressing racial & ethnic inequities in healthcare is critical for ensuring people have access to the healthcare they need to thrive. A new report from National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shows how far the US has come & how far it has to go to reduce barriers to healthcare access.

What can America do to make health care and health | Newswise Inequality in healthcare access and delivery, and in health outcomes, have changed somewhat in the past 20 years but more needs to be done to reduce racial

Big thanks to the Classical Theatre of Harlem for inviting us to be part of such an incredible community event! We had an absolute blast and can't wait to be back on July 25th. Get your tickets and see you all there!

Catch us tonight in Harlem! We’ll be joining Classical Theatre of Harlem during tonight’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Swing by Children’s Health Fund table for resources on how to help your child stay healthy, hygiene kits for the summer, and other goodies! Details below.

Where: The area surrounding The Richard Rodgers Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, NYC
When: TONIGHT, Thursday, July 11th from 5:30-7:30 pm

We’ll be joined by Columbia Pediatric Dental and Harlem Grown!
RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-midsummer-nights-dream-uptown-shakespeare-in-the-park-tickets-912045040267

Hurricanes are devastating and cause lasting damage to the communities they affect. Our hearts go out to the thousands of people impacted by Hurricane Beryl. If you or anyone you know has been impacted by a hurricane, Children’s Health Fund has a free Health Ed resource called “My Hurricane Safety Plan” that can help you and your loved ones stay safe. Our thoughts are with the survivors of Hurricane Beryl.https://www.childrenshealthfund.org/health-education-materials/

The Congressional Budget Office recently released its Medicaid baseline, reporting that children’s Medicaid enrollment is projected to decline by 6 million between 2023 and 2025, largely due to the unwinding. We hope all eligible children remain enrolled to ensure access to the coverage and care they need to stay healthy. Read more:

CBO Issues New Baseline Estimates on Child Enrollment Impact of Medicaid Unwinding The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently issued its June 2024 Medicaid baseline. According to CBO, total average monthly Medicaid enrollment (including both those receiving full benefits and …

Wishing a Happy Islamic New Year to all who celebrate.

Wishing you all a Happy Fourth of July from .

Summer is in full swing, and a pool can be a great relief from the heat. However, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1-4. This summer, keep a close eye on kids when they are in the water, only swim with lifegaurds in approved areas, tell children not to run near the pool, and learn CPR. Remember, floaties do not prevent children from drowning, they still need supervision! NYC offers a lottery for free swim lessons for children and teens- visit the NYC parks website to learn more. Stay safe and have some splashing summer fun!

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/water-safety-pools.html

🌞 Summer is the perfect time for play and growth! 🌻 Boost your child's development with our 5 creative play station ideas. Learn more about children's development with ! 🎨🚀📚

According to the Trevor Project, 60% of + youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to access it. At Children's Health Fund, we are dedicated to closing that gap and ensuring that + youth have access to the care they need. As Pride month comes to a close, we affirm our commitment to providing culturally competent, inclusive, and compassionate care to all of + patients.

Thank you to United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy for calling firearm violence in the U.S. what it is–a public health crisis. Gun violence is the leading cause of death amongst youth ages 19 and under. Addressing gun violence through the lens of public health ensures policymakers and other stakeholders pass legislation and initiatives that protect our communities and provide youth with access to the care they need to be safe & healthy. Read:

Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for a multipronged effort to reduce gun deaths, modeled on campaigns against smoking and traffic fatalities.

Happy Last Day of School to all NYC Students, Parents, and School Staff! Thank you for working with us🎉

We recognize and celebrate the vital role everyone plays in ensuring children can go to school and stay . Here's to a fantastic summer break filled with joy, rest, and exciting adventures! 🌟🏖️📚

🏳️‍🌈 Pediatricians can play a vital role in an + child’s life, care, and support system.
For instance, pediatricians may be the first or only individual a young transgender person feels comfortable speaking to about their gender identity.

Homophobia and transphobia, like racism, are deeply embedded into our society’s systems and, tragically, also show up in healthcare.
🌈 It is vital that pediatricians are intentionally inclusive of children and young people who identify as LGBTQ+, educated about issues that impact them and their unique health needs, and that they listen to and learn from them.
💙 This is especially true for providers working with youth of color and others who are impacted by discrimination in multiple ways.

23% of parents in a recent poll say their child is often or occasionally delayed from getting sleep due to being worried or anxious. As the youth crisis grows, we hope more children can access the resources they need to thrive & succeed.

Getting young children to bed: Sweet dreams or nightmare? 1 in 4 parents say their young child can’t go to sleep because of being worried or anxious. 1 in 5 parents give their young child melatonin to help with sleep. 1 in 3 parents stay in the room until their child goes to sleep.

A heartfelt thank you to all our amazing parents from P.S. 49 School! 🌟 Your participation in our Early Childhood Workshop Series from September to June has helped build a brighter future for our children. Thank you for your enthusiasm and dedication to keeping your children !