A child’s physical health is critically important in helping them be prepared to succeed in school.  This not only means that a child is treated for disease, but that pediatricians and other community services work together to promote good health through nutritional eating habits and physical activity, oral hygiene, evaluation of fine and gross motor skills, and early diagnosis and treatment of illness and chronic disease.  Pediatricians and systems must work closely together to ensure that children not only have health insurance, but that their physical health is monitored on a regular basis and that health issues are treated in a holistic manner through a medical home.  A medical home is a family-centered, culturally competent team approach to health care, in which children have a primary health care setting that can connect them to both medical and non-medical support services, including educational services, developmental or rehabilitative services, out-of-home care, mental health services and family support. Through this system, a comprehensive, centralized record of all health-related services is maintained in order to provide the continuity of care that children need. 

Doctors' Advocacy:

• Docs can advocate for comprehensive well-child visits in association with local early education programs like Head Start, such that children receive a complete physical and developmental exam in addition to required immunizations
• Docs can advocate for expanded family and medical leave policies and access to paid sick leave, which allows parents to take better care of themselves, their children and to comply with doctors’ instructions
• Docs can help ensure that families know about SCHIP and Medicaid, provide contact information for families to apply for benefits, and advocate for health insurance coverage for all children. The Department of Health and Human Services web site, Insure Kids Now (www.insurekidsnow.gov), helps children and families find health insurance