Accessible, high-quality health care is important for children, youth, and families to maintain their health and well-being. Health-care access and quality, a social determinant of health, includes having health insurance, regularly visiting a primary care doctor, seeing doctors for illness and injuries, receiving mental and behavioral health services, and responding to medical emergencies.
A number of socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, inhibit many families from having accessible and affordable health care. Some issues, such as limited access to providers that accept Medicaid or offer behavioral health services, may be due to health-care workforce challenges. This lack of services can take a toll on families’ long-term health and contribute to poor well-being outcomes.
Promoting health-care access within communities is a prevention strategy since being able to afford and access necessary services and address physical, mental, and behavioral conditions can help prevent maltreatment and child welfare system involvement. Supporting families involves making sure they know how to find health care and collaborating across systems to remove barriers.
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