Child Well-Being | Health Trend in Early Childhood – April 2025

Too many children in Pennsylvania are:

• The early years guide a child’s health and development trajectory. (Lifelong Health and Well-being – Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University – developingchild.harvard.edu)
• Parents, educators, and health professionals work together as partners to help children grow up to reach their full potential (“Learn the Signs. Act Early.” | CDC – cdc.gov)
• Good nutrition and access to quality health care are essential to healthy infant development (Zero To Three: Infant Physical Health & Nutrition: Promoting Healthy Growth – zerotothree.org)
• Healthy People 2030 highlights the impact of safe housing, access to nutritious foods and physical health opportunities, transportation, and neighborhoods; polluted air and water (Social Determinants of Health – Healthy People 2030 – odphp.health.gov)

• Pennsylvania has the 5th highest number of uninsured children in the nation.
  • Lack of healthcare coverage or even short gaps in coverage can result in missed appointments and delayed care for chronic conditions such as asthma, resulting in emergency department visits and missed school days (PPC 2024 Report p. 4: Report: State of Children’s Health in Pennsylvania – November 2024 – PA Partnerships for Children – papartnerships.org)
• Pennsylvania to lose $35.9 million in federal funding for food programs (2025)
  • Food banks are reporting a 10% increase in demand over the last year.
  • How federal cuts could impact school meal programs, local food banks – wjactv.com
• Improving healthy food access improves healthy eating habits (Why is Farm to Early Care and Education Important? – pafarmtoschool.org)

Providers and families can do these things to improve children’s lives:

• Ensure children are safe and protected at all times (Welcome to the iLookOut for Child Abuse Project – ilookoutpa.org)
• Surround children with loving, nurturing, and consistent caregivers (InBrief | Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body – developingchild.harvard.edu)
• Support children to thrive by giving them:
  • More high-quality early learning settings and experiences (Developmental Milestones List – papromiseforchildren.com)
  • Healthy and safe indoor learning environments (Early Childhood Education Linkage System – ecels-healthychildcarepa.org)
  • Appropriate outdoor learning environments (Nature-Based Play – keystonekidsgo.org)
  • Raise Your STAR – Find an Early Learning Resource Center near you. (raiseyourstar.org)
• Assist families in connecting with community resources
  • Food and nutrition resources
  • Pennsylvania Farm to School Network (pafarmtoschool.org)
  • Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month: In the Kitchen video series (paharvestofthemonth.org)
  • PA 211 (pa211.org)
  • Food pantries – Browse Social Services in Pennsylvania | find help (findhelp.org)
• Assist families in connecting to quality early learning, health, and social services
  • CCW Provider Search (COMPASS – compass.dhs.pa.gov)
  • To apply for healthcare and other benefits (COMPASS – compass.dhs.pa.gov)

• Better Kid Care
  • Supporting Food Security in Your Community: Supporting Food Security in Your Community — Courses — Better Kid Care (extension.psu.edu)