At NC Child, we take a holistic approach to improving child health. We advocate for strengthening healthcare delivery, improving access, and ensuring that every child can grow up happy, healthy, and ready for tomorrow.
Medicaid plays a vital role in North Carolina: covering 50% of all births and nearly half of all children with complex health care needs. When parents and caregivers have health coverage, their children are more likely to be covered and more likely to access the routine and preventive care that keeps them healthy and strong. We can support the health and well-being of children and families by strengthening and protecting NC Medicaid.
Oral health is key to overall health. And that is especially true for children. Children with poor oral health are more likely to develop infections and have difficulties concentrating in school. In addition to health and education, poor oral health also leads to low self-esteem. Oral health care is a basic need for children in our state, but access is not guaranteed—and rates of tooth decay and dental needs are rising. The exacerbated existing challenges and made it more difficult for children to see a dentist. By working to understand and address the barriers to oral health, we can make a difference for our children and for their sense of self-worth.
There is a youth mental health crisis in North Carolina. The percentage of young people diagnosed with anxiety and depression more than doubled since 2016. In 2023, about 4 in 10 North Carolina high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness to the point that it disrupted their normal day-to-day life for two weeks or more at a time. But this crisis isn’t isolated to high schoolers. The number of suicides among children ages 10-14 was four times higher than it was in 2010. Mental health issues can show up early in a child’s life, as early as infancy or in preschool. They can often present symptoms like anxiety, feeding problems, and behavioral challenges. It’s up to us to address the crisis – from more support to suicide prevention training for school personnel. That’s why NC Child is working to understand what’s causing the crisis and is committed to advancing solutions.
Oral health is vital to an individual’s overall health, both physically and emotionally, but this connection is even more profound in the lives of children.
Children, parents, and caregivers need to have reliable health coverage, regular preventive health care, a medical home, and specialized services when necessary.
The EarlyWell Initiative works to advance public policies to improve the landscape around infant and child mental health in North Carolina.
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.
