Federal Programs Protect Young Children's Health
June 10, 2011
An investment in children's health is an investment in our country's economic health. Infants and toddlers, whose bodies and brains are in their most rapid period of growth, are uniquely vulnerable to even short-term deprivation. Ensuring they have the basic physiologic building blocks for healthy bodies and minds is not only the right thing to do- its the smart thing to do.
Research has shown that children who suffer from poor nutrition, unstable housing and inadequate home heating have a greater likelihood of poor health, a higher risk of development delays, and in some cases, an increased risk of hospitalizations. Fortunately, our country has a number of highly effective programs, including SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP and subsidized housing, that helps protect brain and body growth in very young children.
For more than a decade, Children's HealthWatch has been monitoring the impact of these programs on the health, development and nutrition of low-income children.
Click Here to read Federal Programs that Protect Young Children's Health.
Protecting the health of our children
As our nation's leaders grapple with deficit reduction, we urge them to consider the evidence indicating the importance of investing in - and protecting - our youngest children. The costs of failing to do so will far exceed any possible short-term savings that might be achieved.
