What about children's health?

Connecticut Nursing News, Jun-Aug 1998 by Knowles, Jan

Less than ninety years ago, Lillian Wald's work with the poor in New York led to the first White House Conference on Children, in 1909. Before that time, children were not seen as separate entities, with needs of their own. Children lived and labored under conditions that would horrify us today, and many died as a result. Over the years, and very slowly, our society came to recognize that children need care and protection. Since the 1960's, much has been done to protect the rights of children in our country, through legislation to increase penalties for abuse, provision of equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of physical health or handicap and advances in children's health care. Unfortunately, barriers to health care for all children still exist.

Estimates put the number of uninsured children in Connecticut at 67,000. Recently, in response to federal initiatives, Governor Rowland signed a bill to allow universal insurance for children who were otherwise uninsured. This is a major step in removing barriers to access to health care. However, ability to pay for health care and access to health care are not necessarily synonymous. Many children who have insurance, Title XIX or otherwise, still do not receive the health care they deserve. In this, the richest state, 30% of children under two are not fully immunized. Nationally, of the children most at risk, those entering the foster care system after being removed from families who are unable to care for them, 28% have never seen a health provider. Barriers to care include lack of education, lack of transportation, and lack of health care resources for the poorest people in the state.

At the 1997 CNA convention, the Delegate Assembly passed a resolution to support access to health care for all children in the state. As a result, CNA has established a task force to look at ways that we can support and lead efforts to ensure health care for all children in Connecticut. The task force has begun to identify some of the barriers that exist, such as limitations on care, lack of a statewide data base for EPSDT information, and limited access to mental health services. As we continue our work, we will update you on our recommendations.

We certainly welcome your input. If you would like to be part of this important work, please call CNA. You can make suggestions, discuss issues you have found in your own practice, or become a member of the task force. As has been said many times, our children are our future. Nursing can take a lead in assuring that the future is a healthy one.