Policy Action Briefs
Children's HealthWatch Policy Action Brief Series-
concise briefs on policy-relevant research
Energy Insecurity is a Major Threat to Child Health, February 2010.
With the recession and this winter's harsh weather, many families are facing a choice between eating and heating. Research by Children's HealthWatch shows that young children whose families struggle to pay their utility bills ('energy insecure' families) are more likely to suffer a host of problems including food insecurity, poor health, hospitalizations and development delays. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides low-income households with assistance in paying their utility bills, is effective at shielding young children from the harmful effects of energy insecurity. According to research by Children's HealthWatch, young children whose families received LIHEAP were less likely to be at risk for growth problems and had healthier weights for their age. By appropriating the maximum authorized funding for LIHEAP and ensuring that climate change legislation buffers vulnerable familes and children from the harmful effects of higher energy prices, Congress will be taking important steps to protect children's health.
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Child Care Feeding Programs Support Young Children's Healthy Development, January 2010.
Children’s HealthWatch finds that toddlers receiving meals from their child care provider are in better health than those who must bring meals from home. The Child and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP) is the nation’s only nutrition program for young children in child care. Children’s HealthWatch identified a group of children in it’s dataset that are very likely receiving CACFP meals. Children in participating child care centers or family child care homes are in better health, have decreased risk for hospitalization, and are at healthier heights and weights for their age than children whose meals are supplied from home. Changes to CACFP that expand access, reduce barriers and ensure that providers have the resources they need to provide healthy meals are beneficial for young children’s health and growth.
To see a list of full references, click here.
WIC Improves Child Health and School Readiness, January 2010.
Children’s HealthWatch finds that young children who participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are more likely to be in excellent or good health and have a reduced risk of developmental delay compared to children who are eligible for WIC but not enrolled. WIC provides vouchers for foods high in essential nutrients to young children and pregnant and postpartum women. Investing in WIC not only provides cost savings in infant health care, but also supports the nutritional needs of young children during a critical window of brain and body growth. Program improvements that decrease access barriers, provide the full amount of recommended fruits and vegetables, and accommodate working parents will help young children reach their full potential.
To see a list of full references, click here.
Funding Shortfall for Housing Vouchers Could Have Serious Health Consequences for Children, September 2009.
Children's HealthWatch finds that unaffordable housing endangers the health and development of young children. Due to a federal funding shortfall, state and local housing agencies will be forced to reduce or eliminate rental assitance to thousands of families starting this month. Voucher cuts will push more families into the ranks of the "hidden homeless" -- families that move frequently, crowd into apartments that are too small, or live doubled up with other households when they cannot find affordable housing. Children in hidden homeless families are at increased risk for poor health, nutrition, and growth, as well as developmental delays. Timely Congressional action to protect the Housing Choice Voucher Program will ensure that families have stable, affordable housing essential to children's health.
To see a list of full references, click here.
Affordable Health Care Keeps Children and Families Healthy, July 2009.
Children's HealthWatch finds that the health of young children is negatively affected when parents have to forego health care for themselves or other adult members of the household or when parents have to forego payment of household expenses in order to pay for health care. Children in families who struggle to pay for health care are at increased risk for health problems, developmental delays and food insecurity. The health and well-being of their mothers also suffer. Access to quality, affordable health care for all family members is essential to children’s health and development. It is critical that all plans for health care reform ensure that parents can afford quality health care for the whole family.
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Food Insecurity Rates Rise Steeply with Recession, June 2009.
Children's HealthWatch finds that the prevalence of food insecurity in a five-city sample of low-income families with young children increased from 18.5 percent to 22.6 percent between 2007 and 2008. This is the largest year-to-year change seen in the dataset since 2001. The increase is an indication of the economic hardships facing low-income families with young children. This data suggests that we are likely to see significant increases in food insecurity when the U.S. Department of Agriculture issues its own statistics for 2008 in late fall.
To see a list of full references, click here.
Even Very Low Levels of Food Insecurity Found to Harm Children's Health, May 2009.
This publication is the first in a series of Children's HealthWatch Policy Action Briefs, which will provide a summary of our research, as well as that of others, on issues affecting children's health and well-being. This brief finds that more children are at risk for health and developmental problems due to lack of food than were previously thought. These children and their families are classified as “marginally food secure” by the USDA, which suggests that they are not at risk. The data show that they are, in fact, significantly at risk.
To see a list of full references, click here.
