About Healthy Kids: The Need
A community crisis
Over 8,000 children in Sonoma County lack access to health and preventive care because they are uninsured. According to the Children's Defense Fund, children without health coverage have death rates 150 percent higher than insured children. About 90 percent of uninsured children are from homes where one or both parents work.
Children without regular health care suffer disproportionately from acute illness and developmental delay. Preventable ailments such as dental disease become chronic problems and result in thousands of missed school days-and work days for parents. Hospital emergency rooms stand in for pediatricians and family doctors who could more efficiently provide basic health care and preventive screening.
Today's children are tomorrow's parents and leaders. That's why providing each and every child with the basics necessary to thrive and achieve is essential.