About
Pediatricians--in partnership with parents, educators and advocates--play an important role in promoting the health and well-being of all children and in addressing the challenges that many children and families face. Regardless of practice setting--whether rural or urban, in universities, hospitals or clinics--providers see first-hand the potential in every child. Achieving this potential requires a new commitment to addressing the needs of children, families, and communities.
Because the health of our society depends upon the strength and well-being of children, PA AAP's Advocacy Committee works to execute its goal of assisting state government to give children a solid foundation. Policy priorities are based on the science of optimal child development, especially the increasing evidence of the critical role of early childhood influences on health, education, and economic lifespan outcomes. While the realities of the political process will necessitate choices and prioritization, the Advocacy Committee believes that children deserve no less than a bold agenda for improving their lives. A thoughtful approach to optimum child development is the single best investment in the future that our great state can make. To this end, concerted action by all levels of state government is required to promote healthy children, support secure families, build strong communities, and ensure Pennsylvania is a leading state for children.
Because the health of our society depends upon the strength and well-being of children, PA AAP's Advocacy Committee works to execute its goal of assisting state government to give children a solid foundation. Policy priorities are based on the science of optimal child development, especially the increasing evidence of the critical role of early childhood influences on health, education, and economic lifespan outcomes. While the realities of the political process will necessitate choices and prioritization, the Advocacy Committee believes that children deserve no less than a bold agenda for improving their lives. A thoughtful approach to optimum child development is the single best investment in the future that our great state can make. To this end, concerted action by all levels of state government is required to promote healthy children, support secure families, build strong communities, and ensure Pennsylvania is a leading state for children.
Goals
All children, adolescents, and young adults from birth to the age of 26-years must have access to the highest-quality health care, so they can thrive throughout their lifespan. Policy makers must ensure that all children, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, income, family composition or immigration status have:
Child health and well-being must be elevated and maintained as a priority in our state. Policymakers must develop and implement policies that:
Strong communities are the building blocks for secure families and healthy children. Policymakers must ensure that communities:
Together we can work to advance efforts to ensure that parents can give their children the best foundation for the future. Policymakers must ensure that all families have:
- Equitable, non-discriminatory access to affordable and high-quality health care coverage
- Insurance with comprehensive, pediatric appropriate benefits
- Access to needed primary and subspecialty pediatric care, oral health and mental health services
- Access to necessary COVID-19 services, supports, and treatments
- Comprehensive, family-centered care in a medical home
Child health and well-being must be elevated and maintained as a priority in our state. Policymakers must develop and implement policies that:
- Acknowledge racism as a public health crisis and work towards eradicating racism through interdisciplinary partnerships with community organizations that have developed campaigns against racism
- Fund and support public health and health services to help children grow into healthy adults
- Address environmental health and climate change issues that affect children
- Combat factors that make some children more vulnerable than others, such as race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability
Strong communities are the building blocks for secure families and healthy children. Policymakers must ensure that communities:
- Are safe from all forms of violence and environmental hazards
- Provide high-quality early education, especially in segregated urban, suburban, and rural communities
- Support public health systems that protect children from infectious diseases and support maternal and child health
- Respond effectively when natural disasters and public health emergencies occur
Together we can work to advance efforts to ensure that parents can give their children the best foundation for the future. Policymakers must ensure that all families have:
- Work that provides a stable and adequate income and family-friendly benefits, including paid family medical and sick leave
- Safe, secure, and non-discriminatory housing
- Affordable and safe high-quality child care
- Access to adequate, healthy, nutritious foods throughout the year
- Resources to support family placement and permanency within the child welfare system
Leadership
Meet the Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs:
Gabriel Cisneros, MD, FAAP
Co-Chair |
Toni Richards-Rowley, MD, MPH, FAAP
Co-Chair |
Amaka Nnamani, MD, FAAP
Co-Chair |
Membership |
Why Should I Join? |
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The Advocacy Committee welcomes any PA AAP member to contribute their expertise to the Chapter's advocacy, grassroots and legislative engagement and coalition-building efforts to secure policy that prioritizes the health and safety of Pennsylvania's children.
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PA-based providers have the opportunity to generate awareness around policies that impact children's health and safety. By engaging with policymakers in PA, lending their clinical perspective, PA AAP pediatricians have the chance to positively influence state laws, rules and regulations on health policy and practice-based issues.
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