Thanks to decades of hard work, the rate of children in NC with no health coverage has been going down steadily. However, progress has stalled. In 2017 and 2018, North Carolina saw a sudden increase in uninsured children, for the first time in many years. Children from lower-income families, and children of color are most likely to have no health coverage.
North Carolina also has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the nation. While this tragic statistic has been slowly improving, we have a long way to go. Black mothers and infants are still at double the risk of death. We can save lives and close this unacceptable gap. One important step is to ensure that every parent and caregiver can get affordable health coverage and preventive care. Healthy women are much more likely to have healthy pregnancies, and babies who thrive.
Tooth decay is the number one childhood chronic disease in the US.
Children, parents, and caregivers need to have reliable health coverage, regular preventive health care, a medical home, and specialized services when necessary.
Children’s healthy development depends on growing up free from exposure to toxic pollution.
Children’s mental health is strongly tied to their ability to learn in school, maintain healthy relationships with their family and peers, and succeed later in life.
In partnership with the NC Division of Public Health, NC Child has developed a tool to help fight persistent racial disparities in health outcomes. The North Carolina Health Equity Impact Assessment helps decision-makers focus their efforts and align their strategies to get the best possible outcomes for families of all races and ethnic backgrounds.
