Screening for social determinants of health at well-child appointments: A quality improvement project

Children living in poverty are vulnerable to the adverse effects associated with unmet basic needs, such as food and housing. Poverty threatens the overall growth and development of children placing them at risk for poor cognitive, behavioral, and psychological outcomes. Addressing social determinants of health in the pediatric primary care setting is within the role of the pediatric primary care provider. The Model for Improvement guided this quality improvement project in the implementation of food and housing insecurity screening during well-child appointments in a rural health clinic.