Children’s Health News

BestStart Washington/Project Nature’s Commitment to Breaking Down Barriers Caused by Racial Inequality

BestStart Washington is committed to ensuring that all children and youth in Washington state  have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. We recognize that entrenched structural racism is an unacceptable barrier to child health and potential.

In our pediatric practices, we see first-hand the negative health outcomes that arise from racism including increased infant mortality, low birth weight, increased incidence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), decreased school readiness, higher school drop-out rates, and mental health problems stemming from chronic stress. We agree with our partners in King County that racism is a public health crisis with many families of color lacking sufficient access to health care and other resources to support child health and resiliency. As pediatric leaders, we have a responsibility to do much more in our practices and in our communities to end structural racism and combat its effects on child health.

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Park Systems in the 100 Largest U.S. Cities Rated

The Trust for Public Land Releases 2016 ParkScore® Index, Rating Park Systems in the 100 Largest U.S. Cities
The Trust for Public Land
Posted: June 20, 2016
“ParkScores are based on three factors: Park Access, which measures the percentage of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park (approximately ½-mile); Park Size, which is based on a city’s median park size and the percentage of total city area dedicated to parks; and Facilities and Investment, which combines park spending per resident with the availability of four popular park amenities: basketball hoops, off-leash dog parks, playgrounds, and recreation & senior centers….”

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Let’s Not Talk About Sex
The New York Times
Posted: August 22, 2014

“Every year in the United States thousands of men and women die from cancers that can be prevented with a simple vaccine. Sadly, uptake of this cancer-preventing vaccine is abysmal. One reason: Doctors don’t want to talk about sex. The good news is, they don’t have to.”

 

 

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Fighting Chronic Disease
The Heckman Equation
Posted: May 1, 2014
New research from economist James Heckman and colleagues shows that quality early childhood programs that incorporate health and nutrition help prevent adult chronic disease.

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Physician Recommendation Key to HPV Vaccine Coverage
Family Practice News
Posted: January 27, 2014

“Better vaccine coverage of adolescents against HPV infection hinges on physicians and other health care professionals both recommending the vaccine and educating patients and parents about its importance, according to a report published online Nov. 25 in JAMA Pediatrics.”

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Help Your Children Manage Media Use, Experts Urge
HealthDay
Posted: January 24, 2014

“American children and teens have almost constant exposure to a wide range of media — such as smart phones, social media and television — and kids’ use of such media must be carefully managed, child experts say.”