An Essential Role for Pediatricians: Becoming Child Poverty Change Agents for a Lifetime

Abstract

Poverty has profound and enduring effects on the health and well-being of children, as well as their subsequent adult health and success. It is essential for pediatricians to work to reduce child poverty and to ameliorate its effects on children. Pediatricians have important and needed tools to do this work: authority/power as physicians, understanding of science and evidence-based approaches, and first-hand, real-life knowledge and love of children and families. These tools need to be applied in partnership with community-based organizations/leaders, educators, human service providers, business leaders, philanthropists, and policymakers. Examples of the effects of pediatricians on the issue of child poverty are seen in Ferguson, Missouri; Denver, Colorado; and Rochester, New York. In addition, national models exist such as the American Academy of Pediatrics Community Pediatrics Training Initiative, which engages numerous pediatric faculty to learn and work together to make changes for children and families who live in poverty and to teach these skills to pediatric trainees. Some key themes/lessons for a pediatrician working to make changes in a community are to bear witness to and recognize injustice for children and families; identify an area of passion; review the evidence and gain expertise on the issue; build relationships and partnerships with community leaders and organizations; and advocate for effective solutions.

Defang ACEs: End Toxic Stress by Developing Resilience Through Physician-Community Partnerships

“…Creating coalitions to address toxic stress, as has been done to address other pediatric public health problems, could improve communication between providers. 9 In addition, it would address redundancy by allowing physicians and community members to work together to support at-risk children and their families. The resulting foundation of a strong safety network would improve the care of children and would help conserve energy and time, the most important human resources in the fight against toxic stress.…”

Child Poverty in the United States Today: Introduction and Executive Summary

“…How can we educate pediatricians in training to create the next generation of pediatrician-advocates? Plax et al 24 address this important issue by focusing on the powerful tools that pediatricians can already bring to bear. The authors present 3 examples of pediatrician-community partnerships to make a difference for children in Ferguson (Missouri), Denver (Colorado), and Rochester (New York).…”

Collaborating to Advocate in Primary Care for Children During COVID-19

“…[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] We realized our unique opportunity as a Collaborative to collectively use our local data to advocate widely and often for children and their families. 17 Although disadvantaged children were underrepresented in our local data collection, our advocacy efforts intentionally included school districts serving diverse populations. The goals of these advocacy activities were to increase access to testing, provide optimal care for children, and to support safe daycare and in-person school attendance for all children in our community.…”