Who We Are
Evidence and analysis from the front lines of pediatric care.
Children's HealthWatch works to improve child health by bringing evidence and analysis from the front lines of pediatric care to policy makers and the public. Our research is grounded in the experience of pediatrician researchers who see first-hand in clinics how economic conditions and public policies are reflected in the health and well-being of their youngest patients.
Very young children are uniquely vulnerable to deprivation. The health and learning potential of too many of our nation's youngest children are put at risk because of hardships associated with poverty – not enough food, unstable housing conditions, and inadequate home heating or cooling to name a few. Children's HealthWatch works to bring timely scientific evidence about the links between these conditions and children’s health into the public policy arena.
Our network of pediatricians and public health researchers collects data on children up to the age of four in emergency rooms and clinics at
Our Vision
A nation where local, state and national policies support the healthy development of all our young children.
Our mission
To improve child health by bringing evidence and analysis from the front lines of pediatric care to policy makers and the public.
Our methods
Primary adult caregivers accompanying children under four years of age are invited to participate in the Children’s HealthWatch survey and are provided with resource and referral assistance if they identify unmet needs as part of the interview. At present, we have records on over 38,000 children and their families, with 4500 new records added each year. This sentinel sampling allows us to identify early warnings of harm to a wider population of children.
Learn more about our research and methodology.
