Improving the Health and Well-being of Children in Foster Care
As a group, children in foster care may be the unhealthiest children in America. They are substantially more likely to have health problems than children in other groups at risk for poor health status, including children in low-income families, homeless children, and children in families receiving public assistance.
Addressing Maternal Depression
Maternal depression affects not only a woman herself, but also her family, friends, and coworkers. Of particular concern is maternal depression’s link to problems in children’s health, mental health, and development. This Issue Focus highlights ways that health grantmakers can address maternal depression and its consequences, including educating women and health care providers, promoting screening and treatment, integrating mental health services into programs serving pregnant and parenting women, and supporting research.
Creating a Healthier Future for Children: Precaution Is Prevention
With chronic childhood diseases and an array of learning and developmental disabilities on the rise, a burgeoning body of science is illuminating links between environmental exposures and children’s health. Health funders interested in childhood development and lifelong health are increasingly moving upstream to support precautionary action as a critical prevention strategy.
Connecting Children to Ongoing and Coordinated Health Care
Ongoing and coordinated care for children has been linked to better health outcomes, as well as lower overall costs. This Issue Focus highlights opportunities for grantmakers that include improving access to medical homes, coordinating care for children with chronic diseases, educating providers, colocating services, and reducing emergency department use.
Early Childhood Development: The First Five Years
This GIH Issue Focus dives into child development services provided in the health care setting in the first five years of life.
Outreach to Uninsured Children: Recent Foundation Initiatives
This GIH Issue Focus outlines what grantmakers are doing to reach uninsured children.
Protecting Safe Havens for the Nation’s Children
In the U.S., children continue to suffer from violence in environments that should be safe havens for them: their schools and their homes. This Issue Focus presents philanthropic strategies for transforming homes and schools into safe environments where children can thrive and reach their full potential.
Grantmakers Partner to Improve Children’s Development
The rallying cry “Think nationally, act locally” has proven to be remarkably successful for Healthy Steps for Young Children. Spearheaded by The Commonwealth Fund and launched at 24 sites around the country, Healthy Steps’ success is due in no small part to the commitment and organizational and financial support provided by a partnership of national, community, and new health foundations.
Terrorism and Meeting the Needs of the Nation’s Children
The events of 9/11 and the ongoing threat of terrorism have had a profound effect on all Americans. Moreover, the systems responsible for responding in the event of a terrorist act, such as health and public safety, are less prepared to address the needs of children than other populations. This Issue Focus looks at strategies funders can use to incorporate the needs of children into emergency preparedness planning by involving schools, hospital pediatric departments, and other youth-serving organizations.
Children’s Mental Health: Prevention, Early Intervention, and Treatment
Each year, 1 in 10 American children experiences a mental illness severe enough to cause some impairment in the child’s ability to function in school, family, and community settings. Yet only a small proportion of those in need receive treatment.