Accelerating child health care transformation: Key opportunities for improving pediatric care

Takeaways

• Children and families require a child health care system that serves their unique needs and supports opportunities for life-long health and well-being. The current system, however, fails too many children, especially Black, Indigenous, Latino, and other children of color.
• Expanding the focus of pediatric care beyond medical care — to encompass connections between children, families, communities, and the systems they interact with regularly — promises significant benefits for child health and well-being, particularly for children of color.
• Through insights from health care leaders across the nation, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) identified three key strategies that are integral to child health care transformation: (1) adopt anti-racist practices and policies to advance health equity; (2) co-create equitable partnerships between families and providers; and (3) identify family strengths and health-related social needs to promote resilience.
• The report provides practical recommendations for providers, payers, and policymakers to consider adopting approaches to transform child health care delivery. It also explores barriers to widespread implementation and identifies critical accountability and financing levers to support and sustain improvements in pediatric care.