Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/partners-in-health-helping-families-advocate-for-their-childrens-health-care/5013151/
"I'm really concerned about Robbie, a three year old in my child care program. He's often sick and misses a lot of child care. Robbie's parents give him medicine they have around the house or they take him to the emergency room. One doctor said Robbie had asthma, but he's never gotten a full evaluation or regular treatment. Robbie doesn't have a regular doctor and his parents say they can't afford health insurance. What can we do to help Robbie stay healthier?"- Lena, child care director
How common is the lack of adequate health care?
Currently, about 44 million Americans, including 12 million children like Robbie, lack health insurance. Most uninsured children come from families in which at least one parent is working but cannot afford health insurance. Ethnic minority children are more likely to lack health insurance including 30% of Latino children, 20% of African Americans, and 17% of Asians, compared with 11% of Caucasians (U.S. Census, 1998). Immigrant children are most at risk: 43% of non-citizen children lack health insurance (Brown, Wyn, & Ojeda, 1999).
How does inadequate health care affect children's health and child care?
Children without health insurance are less likely to get preventive care such as immunizations and ...