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"Adequate health care is essential for every child. Without it, children may suffer enormously, losing the chance for a healthy start in life and a productive future."
Key Issues in Connecticut Because health and development in children’s earliest years sets the foundation for later health, development, learning and behavior, families, providers and policy makers would be well-advised to pay special attention to these issues during the first eight years of children’s lives. Uninsured Children. In 2000, 7% of Connecticut’s children and youth were uninsured. Budget cuts and program modifications to the state’s successful HUSKY health insurance program for low- and moderate-income children will increase the number of uninsured children in Connecticut Health Care Disparities. Dramatic disparities in health care access exist for African-American and Hispanic children, and for children living below Connecticut’s "self-sufficiency" level. Mental Health. Connecticut's children's mental health system has been in a state of crisis for sometime. Full implementation of home and community-based services is essential. Obesity and Oral Health. Connecticut faces an epidemic of obesity and dramatically poor oral health in young children across the state. Hunger. State and local budget cuts are already increasing food insecurity and will increase hunger over the coming months. Connecticut Reports "Caring for Connecticut's Children: A Handbook for Parents and Caregivers of Young Children" This incredible resource was developed by the Training Resource Academy of the Child Health and Development Institute of CT, 2004. (64 pp) A colorful, user-friendly handbook providing research-based, up-to-date information and local resources on early childhood health and safety issues.
Online at: http://www.chdi.org/files/caring_handbook.pdf "Families at Risk: The Impact of Premiums on Children and Parents in HUSKY A" First in a series of policy briefs commissioned by the Connecticut Health Foundation and the Anthem Foundation of Connecticut, Inc., November 2003. (4 pp) More than 86,000 children and adults, or 30 percent of all HUSKY A enrollees, could lose health coverage if the state imposes new premiums on Medicaid enrollees, according to a new policy brief. Of those who would lose coverage, approximately 69 percent would be children. The other 27,106 are parents or pregnant women. The FY04-05 state budget imposed premiums on HUSKY members; federal approval is required before these premiums can be implemented. The analysis was conducted by Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute and Connecticut Voices for Children.
Online at: http://www.cthealth.org/matriarch/d.asp?pn=policybrief1%2Epdf "Families at Risk: Impact of Co-Payments and Reduced Benefits on Children in HUSKY A" Third in a series of policy briefs commissioned by the Connecticut Health Foundation and the Anthem Foundation of Connecticut, Inc., January 2004. (4 pp) The policy brief, as part of a series about the impact of proposed changes to Connecticut’s HUSKY and Medicaid programs, discusses co-payments and benefit reductions on children in HUSKY A. According to the brief, Connecticut would be the first and only state to abolish federal minimum standards for children’s health services and the first state to charge co-payments for all children in its Medicaid program. Visits to children’s health providers are expected to decline by as much as 30% and the health of 30,000 to 40,000 children with special health care needs would be at risk. The analysis was conducted by Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute and Connecticut Voices for Children.
Online at: http://www.cthealth.org/matriarch/d.asp?pn=pb3+web%2Epdf "Too Young To Count? Promoting the Health and Development of Connecticut’s Young Children and Their Families." This very useful report is published by the Child Health and Development Institute of CT, February 2001. (32 pp) This report presents the most pressing health problems for early childhood health care, including dramatic racial disparities in infant mortality, pre-term births and low weight births, dental problems, asthma and lead poisoning. The report also proposes a set of key goals for children and their families and identifies Connecticut programs that address these goals for children during their early childhood years and their families. Online at: http://www.chdi.org/files/Tooyoungtocount.pdf "Promoting Healthy Children and Families in Connecticut: Part 1 of a 4-part Series: Health Problems in Infancy and Early Childhood." Published by the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut. March 2003. (12 pp) Recent data "suggest that about one in eight children from birth to 5 years old have some chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition." This report, and others to be issued in the series, calls "particular attention to the health problems experienced by Connecticut’s most vulnerable young children" and proposes early childhood investments in maternal prenatal care, children’s diet in infancy, and the urgent need for regular health care. Online at: http://www.chdi.org/files/Impact_low_0203.pdf "Making Room at the Table: Ending Hunger in Connecticut. 2003 Report." Published by End Hunger CT. About 90,000 people are hungry at some point during the year. Over 40% of households that are eligible for food stamps currently do not receive them. The report recommends increasing family economic self-sufficiency and participation in food support programs including food stamps, school breakfast and summer food programs. Town by town data are provided. Online at: http://www.endhungerct.org/End%20HungerRpt7Rev.pdf "Promoting Healthy Children and Families in CT. Part 2: Child Nutrition."Published by the Child Health and Development Institute. June 2003. (12 pp). This report discusses Connecticut’s epidemic of childhood obesity, research on nutritional practices in children’s earliest years (including breast feeding) and their implications for children’s physical and dental health. Online at: http://www.chdi.org/files/impact4_nutrition_0603.pdf "The Crisis in Dental Care." Published by the CT Oral Health Initiative. Fall 2003. (1 page fact sheet). The report identifies an epidemic in poor oral health among poor children and the poor record of dental services for children receiving Medicaid. Online at: http://www.ctoralhealth.org/factsheet.htm "The State of Children’s Mental Health in Connecticut." Published by CT Voices for Children. June 2000. (29 pp). The report reviews Connecticut’s nearly 30-year history attempting to develop a comprehensive system of community-based services and supports for children experiences mental health challenges, and their families. Online at: http//info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/CTvoices/kidslink/kidslink2/health/texts/childmh62100.pdf "CT Community KidCare Evaluation Update. Issue 1: Introduction to KidCare and the Evaluation Plan." Published by the Child Health and Development Institute. June 2003. (12 pages). Online at: http://www.chdi.org/files/kidcare_evaluation_brief.pdf Connecticut Online Resources Birth To Three, website of the CT Birth to Three system. This system serves children ages birth to 36 month who have a diagnosed medical condition resulting in a high probability of developmental delay or who show significant delays in development including in talking or walking. Online at: http://www.birth23.org Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition. BCAC, founded in 1985, is a coalition of over 81 member organizations that are committed to improving the well being of Bridgeport children through a research, community planning, advocacy, community education and mobilization. Their website is a wonderful resource for facts and action. Online at: http://www.bcacct.org Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut. CHDI is a "not-for-profit organization established to promote and maximize the healthy physical, behavioral, emotional, cognitive and social development of children throughout Connecticut. The organization conducts research and disseminates findings, proposes policy solutions, and promotes "comprehensive service and support systems for young children and their families." The CHDI website includes an extensive listing of other organizations in CT and nationally that address aspects of children’s healthy development. Online at: http://www.chdi.org Children’s Health Council. From 1995 to 2003 when state funding was eliminated, the Children's Health Council acted to ensure that all CT children had "access to health services by assisting families to enroll in the HUSKY program, a low-cost or free health insurance program for children, and by monitoring health care delivery to children within the HUSKY program." The Council was also CT’s lead agency for the Covering Kids and Families program, a national health access initiative aimed at (1) enrolling eligible children in Medicaid and other coverage programs, and (2) simplifying and coordinating existing coverage programs for low-income children. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is being asked for permission to transfer Covering CT's Kids and Families to CT Voices. The website of the Children’s Health Council includes an extensive listing of other organizations in CT and nationally that address children’s health care delivery. Part of the work of the CHC will be continued under the auspices of CT Voices for Children as former Council staff have worked with CT Voices to open a Hartford office of CT Voices for Children at the former location of the CHC. However, without encounter and enrollment data, the care delivered to children in Connecticut's HUSKY program will no longer be monitored. The website of the CHC can still be accessed at: http://www.childrenshealthcouncil.org. When the contents are transferred an automatic link will allow for access to the contents of the site on the CT Voices web site at: http://www.ctkidslink.org Online at: http://www.childrenshealthcouncil.org CT Commission on Children. The Commission on Children was created in 1985 by a joint act of the CT legislature. It provides policy analyses, issue coordination, public education, and cross-branch public policy deliberation. The Commission’s website is a good gateway for access to online resources on children’s health and other topics. Online at: http://www.cga.state.ct.us/coc CT Health Foundation. The CT Health Foundation, created in 1999, is directed at improving health outcomes for Connecticut residents. Its present funding focus in on (1) children’s mental health, (2) oral health, and (3) reduction in racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes. Reports and funding guidelines are online. Online at: http://www.cthealth.org CT Health Policy Project. This initiative is a "non-profit, non-partisan research and educational organization dedicated to improving access to affordable, quality health care for all Connecticut residents." The website includes health facts, policymaker information, publications, and link to other sites. Online at: http://www.cthealthpolicy.org CT Oral Health Initiative. COHI is an independent non-profit organization committed to oral health care for all. COHI has gained statewide recognition for its expertise in oral health advocacy and policy work. The website includes facts on children’s oral health, descriptions of model programs, publications and links to other sites. Online at: http://www.ctoralhealth.org CT State Department of Children and Families Community KidCare Statewide Resource Directory. While not age specific, this site provides access to people and programs charged with meeting the mental health needs of Connecticut’s children and youth. Online at: http://www.state.ct.us/dcf/KidCare_Directory/kidcare_index.htm End Hunger Connecticut. This statewide, nonprofit, membership organization brings issues of hunger and food security to key policy makers at the state and federal level, and to the general public. It serves as a "liaison between legislators, the general public and other advocacy groups to combat the causes of hunger and food insecurity" This website provides an extensive set of useful links to other sites and resources. Online at: http://www.EndHungerCT.org National Reports and Online Resources Brain Wonders. This website, created and hosted by Zero to Three, is designed to provide parents, caregivers and pediatric and family clinicians with meaningful information about early brain development and the relationships between babies and their parents and caregivers that support intellectual and social-emotional development. Online at: http://www.zerotothree.org/brainwonders/ Bright Futures. Bright Futures is a national health promotion initiative, hosted by Georgetown University, dedicated to the principle that every child deserves to be healthy and that optimal health involves a trusting relationship between the health professional, the child, the family, and the community as partners in health practice. This site provides extensive information on children’s health and physical development, mental health, nutrition. Online at: http://www.brightfutures.org/ "Promoting the Well-Being of Children and Families: Policy Series." A series of research reviews and action recommendations published by the National Center for Children in Poverty that address issues involving the social and emotional development of young children. Online at: http://www.nccp.org/pub_pew.html The Right Start for America’s Newborns. This site, supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, provides state and city data, including rankings, over the decade from 1990 to 2000 on a set of measures that track maternal and young child health. Online at: http://www.aecf.org/kidscount/rightstart2003/ Zero to Three. Zero to Three is a national nonprofit organization focused on promoting the healthy development of infants and toddlers through policy and research, translation of findings for parents and professionals, and leadership development. The website has customized information for parents and for professionals. Online at: http://www.zerotothree.org  |
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