There are few things more important to young children and teenagers than being healthy. Having regular doctor’s visits, nutritious food, dental and vision care, mental health support, access to emergency care, and treatment for long-term illness are resources that kids need to grow up to be happy in life, successful in school, and ready for the workforce.

Unfortunately, too many children are denied these resources, primarily because they don’t have health insurance that covers blood lead testing, eye exams or glasses, trips to the dentist, and mental health therapy. In southeast Pennsylvania, tens of thousands of children don’t have access to care, even though many of them are eligible for public coverage.

It’s well-documented that children with health insurance are healthier because their parents are able to take them to the doctor before a minor cold, sore tooth, or injury becomes severe, which usually leads to an emergency room visit. Vision problems in kids are often uncorrected because parents can’t afford exams and glasses.

The need for mental and emotional health (aka “behavioral health”) services has skyrocketed since COVID-induced stress and isolation impacted children. In PA, the calls to a mental health hotline doubled in just a year, with dramatic increases in Philadelphia and some of the surrounding counties.

INITIATIVES