Community health workers can help families overcome barriers to accessing health care in their communities and in their language. For many low-income families with children, community health workers are the front-line of health care. This new policy brief from the National Assembly's Family Strengthening Policy Center includes case studies, resources, and policy recommendations to apply the lessons learned so far.
As of March 2006, an average of 18 million U.S. families a year face out-of-pocket medical care costs that strain their budgets (and qualified as "high" relative to their income). These families are more likely than others to have trouble getting needed care and paying for it. The share of families struggling under the burden of these costs is up from 1996—and according to this Commonwealth Fund report, more families are likely to spend a larger share of their budgets on health care in the coming years.
People of color comprise one-third of the U.S. population. These Americans are less likely to have health insurance, a medial "home," and access to preventive care and routine services. Families USA created this action kit to give community leaders information, tools, and resources for health advocacy in their communities. The kit includes a look at Medicaid and SCHIP and their impact on racial and ethnic health disparities.
The 2006 federal budget, passed in February 2006, includes net cuts to Medicaid of $4.8 billion over the next five years and $26.1 billion over the next ten years. This six-page Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured brief looks at what areas of Medicaid will be cut and how families and states may be affected—including the introduction of co-payments and cost-sharing for low-wage families.
The more researchers learn about diagnosing and treating developmental delays and disabilities, the clearer the message becomes: the earlier the better. In Los Angeles, dozens of agencies are working together to encourage parents and caregivers to use simple observational tools to screen young children—and get them services when needed. Amy Coutee reports on the L.A. County Early Identification and Intervention Group.
More than 45 million people under age 65 lack health care coverage—but these individuals still need to take care of basic health needs for themselves and their families, and access medical care. How do they do it? This primer from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured looks at these issues, and the reasons behind recent changes in the number of uninsured Americans, and options for expanding coverage.
Increasingly, K-12 students can access mental health help in the place where they spend a lot of their time: school. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one-fifth of U.S. students received some type of school-supported mental health services during the 2002-2003 school year. One-third of districts said that since 2000, they had experienced federal, state, and local funding declines for these services, even as the need for these services increased.
As Congress considers legislation to reauthorize the federal Head Start program, this policy brief examines the latest data from the Program Information Reports that all Head Start grantees must submit to the U.S. Department of Health. In 2004, Head Start continued to provide early education services and medical, dental, and mental health screenings for poor children, as well as comprehensive supports for families. The number of teachers with degrees grew substantially in 2004—65 percent of teachers had an Associate's Degree or higher. Less than half of eligible children, however, receive Head Start services.
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