Archive for community health
The impact of COVID-19 on communities of color
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, it has become increasingly clear that some racial and ethnic groups have high rates of infection and death from the virus. Recent national data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that Black Americans are five times more likely than white Americans to get COVID-19, and Latino Americans ... Read More
Exploring the link between homelessness and COVID-19
With COVID-19 cases continuing to surge across the nation, it’s increasingly clear that people who don’t have a stable living situation find it much more challenging to shelter in place. Homelessness affects as many as 58,000 families — and more than 100,000 children — in the U.S. on any given night. More than three-quarters of ... Read More
Addressing racial and ethnic health disparities within primary care
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased awareness of existing racial and ethnic health disparities and inequities. The team at the Boston Children’s Hospital Primary Care Center serves a large population of Black and Latino children and recognizes that adults in these groups are at much higher risk of contracting — and dying from — ... Read More
Should you send your child to camp this summer?
Camp — or no camp — this summer? That’s the question facing many parents and caregivers right now as more businesses begin to reopen. The answer will be a very personal one for each family, depending on their specific circumstances and comfort level with risk. While some camps have already been cancelled due to coronavirus ... Read More
Taking care of our community during COVID-19 and beyond
Although COVID-19 has affected the health of most children less acutely than adults, many young people who live in the communities surrounding Boston Children’s Hospital are experiencing the virus’s impact in other troubling ways as their families struggle with food insecurity and are having trouble meeting many other basic needs. “Right now, there’s been a ... Read More
Census 2020: Every child counts to ensure health equity
With much of the world focused on the new coronavirus, it’s hard for many of us to think about anything else. But one important task that needs everyone’s attention is the 2020 census form. With many offices and schools currently closed, now is the perfect time to complete your census and make sure all your children ... Read More
Child access prevention laws spare gun deaths in children
Child access prevention (CAP) laws are on the books in half of U.S. states. They are meant to protect children from accessing firearms by holding a parent or guardian responsible for the actions or potential actions a child takes with a firearm. New research from Boston Children’s Hospital finds that U.S. states with CAP laws ... Read More
Rethinking a hospital’s role in community health
Boston Children’s Hospital is giving community organizations more tools and resources to build a healthier future for children and families. In 2018, the hospital launched the 10-year Boston Children’s Collaboration for Community Health. The collaboration is now providing funding to 51 projects supporting Boston families affected by health inequities and social determinants of health (factors ... Read More
Poverty associated with suicide risk in children and adolescents
Suicide in children under age 20 has been increasing in the U.S., with rates almost doubling over the last decade. Between 2007 to 2016, nearly 21,000 children ages 5-19 years old died by suicide. While the reasons for the increase are not well understood, new research from Boston Children’s Hospital shows a link between poverty ... Read More
A nimbler way to track alcohol use: mining Twitter and Google searches
Large, survey-based studies are a slow, expensive way to collect rigorous public health data. New research, focusing on alcohol use, shows that mining Twitter and online searches could enable public health professionals to get immediate, localized insights, spot emerging trends, and even measure the effects of interventions. “Online user-generated data are fluid and nimble — ... Read More