Community Health and Advocacy

A Bold Vision for Whole-Child Health in Colorado and Beyond

Our Community Health and Advocacy (CH&A) experts are at the forefront of shaping a new vision and leading a national model for whole-child health. By co-creating and advancing care initiatives with community partners, we integrate expert clinical care with non-clinical support services to address the social drivers of health that contribute to more positive health outcomes.

To create lasting change and address the root causes that can help prevent health disparities, we also advocate for legislation that prioritizes children’s health and safety. Through advocacy efforts, we drive policy changes that expand access to essential resources and high-quality care for all children.

Social Drivers of Health

Today, only about 20% of a child’s health outcomes stem from medical care; the remaining 80% are influenced by social drivers of health like income, education and access to resources. Our Community Health and Advocacy experts work to address the social factors that can contribute to poor child health. Together, with donors like you, we can build on our targeted, community-informed approach to improve kids’ health. We have introduced innovative programs like Community Health Navigators, Food as Medicine and school-based health initiatives to address social drivers of health and support children and families in their own communities.

Building on our learnings and successes, we are addressing the complex needs of children and families inside and outside our hospital settings with community partners.

Our Moment to Build Momentum

Addressing community health promotes a foundation for lifelong health, academic success and social stability. Early health intervention has been proven to prevent future health complications, reduce long-term healthcare costs and promote better outcomes by ensuring all kids have the resources they need to thrive. But many Colorado children face serious health disparities due to their social drivers of health.

Food insecurity: In 2022, more than 13 million children in the U.S (one in every five children) dealt with limited or uncertain access to nutritious food, known as food insecurity, and Colorado had a Child Food Insecurity Rate of more than 14%. Poor nutrition is linked to negative health outcomes, lower academic performance and long-term challenges. Studies show that improving access to food improves child health and educational success while also reducing healthcare costs for families.

Housing instability: Across Colorado, more than 43% of households spend 35% or more of their household income on housing. Research shows that difficulty paying rent, being evicted and living in overcrowded conditions can lead to postponing medical care for kids, delaying medications and increasing emergency department visits.

Chronic diseases, such as asthma and tooth decay: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and is one of the top reasons for pediatric hospitalizations at Children’s Colorado. Studies indicate that social drivers of health, such as housing, neighborhood safety and access to care, significantly impact the health of children with asthma.

Tooth decay is also one of the most common chronic childhood diseases. In Colorado, more than 18% of children aged 0 to 18 did not visit the dentist or a dental hygienist in the past year. Access to preventative health care, dental care and healthy foods improves outcomes for children with limited resources.

These social drivers are more than just a health concern; they are a call to action for initiatives that can drive systemic change through expanded programs, advocacy and community engagement.

National Leader in Building Healthier Communities

Our strategic plan calls for bold action to establish a more coordinated and collaborative approach to advance whole-child health.