In the past 15 years, new policies enforced by the U.S. government regarding children’s health care have resulted in major progress in Medicaid coverage for children. This progress is evident in the steep 8% increase in the number of insured children between 1998 and 2013 (Child Trends Databank, 2014). It seems as though the U.S. government is making milestones where children’s health care is concerned. What worked? What didn’t? By examining past approaches that the government has taken to counter specific threats to children’s health, effective methods and improvements can be identified. With the betterment of children’s healthcare in mind, it is necessary to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of past policies and strategies. The obesity
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It is an early childhood education program, and serves to reduce obesity; a third of the children that Head Start service are overweight or obese. In a study evaluating the barriers to healthy eating, “half of [Head Start] directors reported that the program lacked money ‘to cover the cost of serving healthier meals and snacks’” but “would not experience any challenges if they tried to provide meals and snacks that were healthier than the ones they were currently providing” (Health Affairs, 2010). At the current rate of funding for health initiatives compared to the rate that obesity is claiming the American population, obesity is winning. Let’s Move! and Head Start have the potential to make greater positive impacts with more funding and support from the government. Obesity is only one instance where the lack of federal funding for children’s health initiatives is hindering their …show more content…
Upon closer inspection, while this growth is laudable, progress in children’s health care can be catalyzed with careful reflection and analysis of past mistakes as well as triumphs. Health initiatives such as Let’s Move! and Head Start work strenuously to discourage childhood obesity, one of many threats to children in the U.S.; these campaigns have produced results, but they are staggered and miniscule compared to the greater impact these health initiatives are capable of. Federal policies such as the WIC Act are promoting a healthier lifestyle for children, but the want for funding restricts their impact. These programs and policies deserve more attention, the lack of federal funding in these areas is stifling the progress of children’s health care. The government has attempted to mitigate the people’s economic struggle and alleviate the burden of illnesses like diabetes; however, it is troubling that the output of these expenditures is not proportional to the monetary input. Reflecting on what has worked and what has not in the past, the government should allocate funds more effectively and adequately to avoid fruitless spending; more specifically, they should get a firm grasp of which policies and initiatives deserve funding. A standard criteria, based on factors such as exigency and potential, should be created to apportion funds
It is an early childhood education program, and serves to reduce obesity; a third of the children that Head Start service are overweight or obese. In a study evaluating the barriers to healthy eating, “half of [Head Start] directors reported that the program lacked money ‘to cover the cost of serving healthier meals and snacks’” but “would not experience any challenges if they tried to provide meals and snacks that were healthier than the ones they were currently providing” (Health Affairs, 2010). At the current rate of funding for health initiatives compared to the rate that obesity is claiming the American population, obesity is winning. Let’s Move! and Head Start have the potential to make greater positive impacts with more funding and support from the government. Obesity is only one instance where the lack of federal funding for children’s health initiatives is hindering their …show more content…
Upon closer inspection, while this growth is laudable, progress in children’s health care can be catalyzed with careful reflection and analysis of past mistakes as well as triumphs. Health initiatives such as Let’s Move! and Head Start work strenuously to discourage childhood obesity, one of many threats to children in the U.S.; these campaigns have produced results, but they are staggered and miniscule compared to the greater impact these health initiatives are capable of. Federal policies such as the WIC Act are promoting a healthier lifestyle for children, but the want for funding restricts their impact. These programs and policies deserve more attention, the lack of federal funding in these areas is stifling the progress of children’s health care. The government has attempted to mitigate the people’s economic struggle and alleviate the burden of illnesses like diabetes; however, it is troubling that the output of these expenditures is not proportional to the monetary input. Reflecting on what has worked and what has not in the past, the government should allocate funds more effectively and adequately to avoid fruitless spending; more specifically, they should get a firm grasp of which policies and initiatives deserve funding. A standard criteria, based on factors such as exigency and potential, should be created to apportion funds