We Need to Talk About Our Children…

In the United States of America:

• ~ 25% of kids ages 0–18 are underinsured[1]
• ~ 35% of kids ages 2–17 are not receiving needed mental health treatment[2]
• ~ 40% of kids ages 0-18 do not have a medical home^[3]
• ~ 30% of kids ages 10-17 are overweight or obese^[4]
• ~ 55% of kids in high school do not meet minimum physical activity levels^[5]
• ~ 22% of kids under 18 (or 16 million) live at or below the poverty line^[6]
• ~ 25% of kids under 18 (or 17 million) go to bed hungry every night^[7]
• ~ 10% of kids under 18 (or 7 million) have asthma^[8]
• ~ 26% of kids under 18 (or 19 million) are raised in single-family homes^[9]

 “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

– The Once-ler from The Lorax by Dr. Suess

There is an often repeated sentiment whispered with a slow headshake, lips taut, eyes focused downward and shoulders slightly slumped in resignation, “There, but for the Grace of God, go I.”

Yes, that’s the phrase. We’ve all said it—or, thought it—sometimes making a mental note to do something about it. But, for most of us, we simply count our blessings and move on about the business of the day. “I’m really busy right now. Besides, I’m sure someone is doing something about it. And, maybe it’s not as bad as I think it is.” Feeling a little more righteous for at least taking notice, we move on about our business echoing the mantra that begins and ends with, “Someday.”

First of all, the at-risk children of our community haven’t fallen from God’s Grace; they have fallen between society’s cracks. They are victims of a failed system. Remove the notion that these children are without Grace and the phrase becomes, “There…I go.” That means you, me, all of us; our entire community. Communities collapse the moment we sever the connective tissue—humanity—that joins us as a collective unit. Second, the conditions are as bad as we think they are, even worse. And, third, the village of “Someday“ is extremely crowded. It is lined with streets, boulevards and avenues with names like, “Not Now,” “Maybe Soon” and “Next Year.”

Another often quoted query …

“If not now, when? If not us, who?”

– John F. Kennedy

Current State

Overall, throughout our country, despite extensive and excellent cutting edge medical facilities, the current state of our children’s health and wellness is not acceptable. This is not meant to be just a moral judgment; it is a fact.

To be clear, this is not a call for—nor a time for—blame, condemnation or pillory. This is a request for collective action leading to collective positive impact. We are all equally culpable for the eyes-half-shut-indifference that has led to this crisis. Certainly there are pockets of compassion, dedication and accomplishment, but, for the most part, these efforts are isolated, fragmented and, in many cases, redundant. In any case, they are simply not enough. The challenge is too broad, the cost of continued failure too devastating.

So, what’s the good news? Oh, there’s plenty of good news. Informed, aroused, harnessed, coordinated and given a call to action, there isn’t anything this country can’t accomplish. We have talent, passion, energy and — with collective focus — we can save our kids and put them on a path to optimal health and wellness.

“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.”

– The Once-ler from The Lorax by Dr. Suess

A Moral Imperative…An Economic Urgency

Every child is entitled to an equal opportunity for life-long optimal health and wellbeing.

The Economic ROI:

• A Reduction in Unnecessary and Expensive Hospital Services
• Improved Student Graduation Rates
• Reduced Need for Special Student Services
• Fewer Incarcerations
• A Rise in Business Development Opportunities
• Fewer Unwanted Pregnancies
• A Reduction in Premature Births (“Million Dollar Babies”)
• Improved Employment Outlook
• Reduced Chronic Disease and Associated Costs

A Call to Action

Despite the best efforts of the healthcare system, we are losing the battle to attain and sustain adequate levels of health for all of our children.

The core mission of every healthcare provider has always been to improve the health of the patient. Unfortunately, medical care provides only one point of contact with children and their families and, unfortunately, the context tends to create a relationship of dependency.

To advance quality of life, prevent avoidable illness and compress morbidity, community leadership must embrace and advance a health model that goes beyond reactive care. In addition to treatment, providers need to focus on effectively engaging children and their families in self-management and lifestyle behaviors that enhance health. In addition to medical treatment, a comprehensive, preconception-to-adult model must include attention to the social determinants of population health, primary prevention, and wellness. The goal is to keep all children healthy, purposeful and out of the hospital and emergency rooms.

A “Whole-Child” model requires that today’s healthcare providers identify and mobilize community-based coalitions with a focus on advancing new and bold initiatives to transform (not tweak) how we protect and serve the health and wellness needs of our kids. This transformation from a reactive, paternalistic model to a proactive model driven by shared responsibility (and accountability) requires a different skill set than the direct provision of acute medical care.

The challenge is immense but, collectively, we are more than up to the task. We can, and we will, save and facilitate the wellbeing of our children.

“I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights.”

– Yertle the Turtle and Gertrude Mc Fuzz by Dr. Suess