Children’s Health

Health Reform

The Affordable Care Act benefits children and families in a number of ways!  This brief report highlights the multiple provisions contained in the law aimed toward benefitting our nation’s children and their families.

Voices for America’s Children supports the health reform law as an important step toward improving children’s health.  Our network led the fight for health reform to be enacted and has been weighing in with federal regulators on how best to implement the law and maximize its impact for children.  Voices members have been advocating to ensure health reform is appropriately implemented in the states.

Among child advocates, Voices was a leader in advocating for the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the law. We opposed legal challenges to both the minimum coverage provision and Medicaid expansion provision.

Further, Voices was recognized by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for championing health reform for kids! Read our release from the day of the health law’s passage.

Oral Health

Over the past half century, better dental care and fluoridation has transformed American oral health.  Run-away tooth decay and rows of missing teeth, once commonplace, are now rarer than ever.  But this evolution has not proceeded evenly.  Millions of children, especially poor and minority kids, are needlessly suffering from oral health problems.

As a result, Voices organized the Campaign for Dental Health to support our nation’s progress in regards to better dental care and fluoridation.  We work to ensure that more children get the basic dental care they need to grow, learn, and lead healthy lives.

Children with healthy mouths do better in school and are more likely to become happy and successful adults.  We want our communities to make rational decisions about their health based on science, not fear.  So the mission of the campaign’s work is to share facts about oral health and preventive strategies, such as fluoride.

You can learn more about the Campaign for Dental Health, information about oral health and preventive strategies, and our network’s efforts in the campaign at www.ilikemyteeth.org, through the campaign’s Facebook page, and follow the campaign on Twitter.

Nutrition & Obesity

Every child needs healthy options to eat, in order to live, learn, and mature appropriately.  Unfortunately many children do not get the nutrition they need, which can either lead to malnutrition for those who do not eat enough or obesity for those who fail to nourish themselves with healthy foods.

For example, fast food chains and other food companies are spending more than $5 million a day on marketing, and our kids are among the targets. Voices board member Lori Dorfman took to the The Hill editorial page with David Britt to argue for sensible guidelines that limit the influence large junk food companies can have on American children.

Consulting scientists, doctors and nutritionists, Congress has come up with some suggestions on how children should be marketed.  With one in three children in America overweight or obese, it goes without saying that they should be encouraged to eat more fruits and vegetables and consume fewer salts and fats.  But despite being completely voluntary, these guidelines are meeting tough opposition from food companies that say they can regulate themselves.

Additionally, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps) has been under congressional attack in recent years.  With kids representing about half of all food stamp recipients, it is critical that these low-income children receive the nutrition they need.  Voices is leading advocacy efforts that support SNAP and other nutrition programs benefitting kids.

Connecting Kids to Coverage

Voices for America’s Children is proud to be a partner in this federal challenge to make sure the approximately 5 million children who are eligible for Medicaid and CHIP are enrolled in coverage by 2015 and keep them covered for as long as they qualify.

Are you interested in learning more about your state’s program or wondering if your child is eligible to receive coverage under Medicaid and CHIP?  You can easily find out by clicking on your state on this interactive map that will direct you to the information you need.

You also can step up and accept the Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge today!