Report | The Oral Health Challenge in Rural Communities

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Hidden Crisis: Pediatric Oral Health in Rural America, highlights how children in rural America are more likely to have poor overall health than their urban peers.  Children in rural communities experience greater disparities in oral health care access and oral health status than their peers, which is also true of their overall health status and health outcomes. The report indicates that according to the 2011-2018 National Survey of Children’s Health, rural children were less likely to receive evidence-based preventive services such as fluoride treatment and dental sealants resulting in a lag of preventive dental visits and overall dental health status when compared to children of urban populations. Some of the disparities in oral health care for rural populations have been well documented. Rural communities are more likely to have:

• An inadequate supply of dental providers, especially those participating in Medicaid
• Limited covered services in dental benefits packages
• Socioeconomic status indicators that align with poor oral  health outcomes
• Transportation limitations (e.g., options for travel, road  conditions, etc.)
• A lack of integrated and coordinated health care.

Infographics and webinar | The State of Children’s Health in the United States

The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation has released a series of infographics with information regarding the state of children’s health in the United States. Among some of the more salient numbers included in the infographic:

~20 million Americans ages 3 to 17 are estimated to currently have a mental health disorder.

~The leading causes of death for children 1 to 17 are: 

1. Accidents (unintentional injuries such as car accidents, drowning, falls), 
2. Assault (gun violence and other unlawful use of force), 
3. Intentional self-harm (suicide).

~Among high-school aged youth, 30% of female students reported seriously considering suicide.

Link to the infographics can be found here.

The NIHCM is also offering a webinar on the State of Our Children’s Health on May 10, 1:00 to 2:00 ET. Link to registration: here.

Report | Climate Change and Children's Health

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has issued the Climate Change and Children’s Health Report. The report published this April, raises the importance of making people aware of the impact of climate change on children because of how they are uniquely vulnerable to it in part because of the natural physiology of developing and growing bodies, so exposures to climate-related stressors can have lifelong consequences stemming from effects on learning, physical development, chronic disease, or other complications.

The report looks into current risks to children, projects future environmental conditions, and estimates future impact on children, with analysis related to Heat and Learning, Air Quality and Children’s Health, Pollen and Children’s Health, Flooding and children’s homes.

The EPA will also be hosting a webinar to introduce the EPA Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in the U.S. Report on May 22, 2023, from 2:30-3:30pm ET. 

Spread the word | May is Mental Health Month, access the Mental Health America of Kentucky toolkit and help spread the word. The theme for 2023 is look around, look within.

Wear green on May 12^th for Mental Health Day!

Spectrum News | How the Face It Movement is working to prevent child abuse

NPR | Grief and tangled politics were at the heart of Kentucky's fight over new trans law

EPA | Biden-Harris Administration Announces $400 Million Grant Program to Fund Clean School Buses that Reduce Emissions and Protect Children’s Health

PEW | Millions of Kids Could Lose Health Coverage as States Purge Medicaid Rolls

US Census Bureau | Impact of the End of Extra SNAP Benefits

Follow along as we make healthy, kid-friendly recipes with a focus on seasonal ingredients.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a stovetop tamale pie.