I have long agreed with others that it takes a village to raise a child.1 To deny that reality is to deny our common humanity. We are all related. Everything that we do or hope to do is interconnected with our fellow citizens.
Systems theory reminds us that we all rely on each other and depend on seemingly independent systems to function together. A quick health care example would be that successful knee replacement surgery relies on multiple systems (surgeon, scientific research, medical education, OR staff, anesthesia, nursing, pharmacy, housekeeping, hospital engineering, physical therapy, etc.) that have to be functioning together to optimize the result. Just as a surgeon alone cannot fix a knee, a family alone cannot optimally raise a child.
This past week I had the good fortune to attend the board meeting of an organization devoted to the notion that it takes a village to raise a child. The Institute for Child Success, with the vision of “the success of all young children,” advances human-focused and equity-centered policies, partners, and practices to transform systems that impact young children and their families.2 This is achieved by:
- Generating research insights on the best policies and practices to support young children and families.
- Offering program development and evaluation support to help early childhood programs maximize their impact.
- Providing smart financial solutions to organizations, governments, and communities.
- Creating systems-level change through resources and outreach to increase equitable and effective measurement practices among the early childhood workforce.
One could ask how on earth can we facilitate this. Any vision of guaranteeing success for all young children has to be somewhat bombastic in its approach yet realistic in its scope to accomplish something so global. I am proud of ICS’s stated vision for child success –
- Increasing access: All children across the United States have equal access to resources and opportunities, including health care and technology, regardless of zip code.
- Protecting childhood: All children grow up in safe environments that are developmentally appropriate and foster community and play, including green areas, trusting neighbors, and neighborhoods and schools which are free from gun violence.
- Increasing public investment: Public investment to support young children and families increases, allowing communities to survive and thrive.
- Expanding representation: Young children are able to see and connect with adults in their lives who have similar backgrounds, races, and experiences—at school, at the doctor’s office, and more. To achieve this, equitable hiring is enacted to increase representation across the early childhood field.
One will quickly notice that the work of ICS involves a systems approach, supporting policymakers, service providers, government agencies, funders, and business leaders focused on early childhood development, healthcare, and education, in its role as an independent research and applied policy organization. As an avid child advocate, I am proud to be on the board of this organization.
I would be remiss if I did not give a shoutout at the same time to my “parent” organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics. Representing over 67,000 pediatricians, they work for every child’s future, “committed to the optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.”3 The AAP’s global mission is to attain optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all children around the world. I am honored to have been a member of the AAP since 1982. Both ICS and AAP are devoted to children, not accepting any compromise in their advocacy and their promotion of their agendas on behalf of children and families.
The above leads me a recent visit to Capitol Hill. In conjunction with our board meeting, we went to the Hill to advocate for select issues that are crucial to the support of young children and families. We know that the social drivers of health (also referred to as the social determinants of health) are so important to the health and development of children.4 These are non-medical factors that influence the health of our children and families. In many ways, they are as vital as medical factors and deserve our attention with the same degree of intensity and resolve.
We elected to push a limited agenda at our meetings with our respective Senators and Representatives. We presented talking points for Head Start, Medicaid and Child Tax Credits. Our reasoning and supporting information follow –
- Head Start – maintain and strengthen funding for Head Start and Early Head Start as these programs are lifelines for working families and crucial in the quest for strong early brain development. Support – 800,000 children/year are served by Head Start; Head Start was established to disrupt generational poverty; nearly 90% of families served by Head Start were either working, in school, or in job training so these services are vital to their ability to work or continue their education.
- Medicaid – continue to support Medicaid coverage for children and postpartum parents including associated policies, the latter ensuring access to preventive care and mental health services. Support – Medicaid is the insurance coverage for at least 50% of children in the US (60% in SC) and covers over 70 million citizens; it supports 1 in 2 births in the US; its value as a tool to keep families healthy and financially stable cannot be understated.
- Child tax credits – the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Tax Credit have proven value in reducing poverty. Support – the Child Tax Credit helped reduce child poverty to a record low of 5.2% in 2021 as families used it for essentials (like food, rent, diapers, and clothes); the Child and Dependent Tax Credit provide support for continued employment for parents as their children receive care.
When arguing for support measures for children, the list is very long, much longer than our three issues above. And unfortunately, in our current political climate, support measures and policies are on the chopping block. A child advocate should ask why and then be frustrated with the answer. In my opinion, there is no serious regard for the support needs of children and a wanton disregard for health measures that are crucial for their well-being. I know that is harsh but after 50 years in this field I cannot sit back and accept the current course.
Nonetheless, I will persist. I will persist as a contributor with ICS and the AAP and with the assistance of the expertise of ICS and the AAP. Please join me in speaking out and speaking up for children. Our voices and our expertise can make a difference. Our village values children and families and will always seek to improve their lives.
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/it-takes-a-village-it-really-does/
- https://www.instituteforchildsuccess.org
- https://www.aap.org/en/advocacy/
- https://www.cdc.gov/about/priorities/why-is-addressing-sdoh-important.html