The first three years of a child’s life are the perfect time to build lifelong health habits and develop a strong relationship with a trusted pediatrician. However, too many American families live in food deserts–communities without access to a variety of healthy food options. Many more families cannot afford to feed their children in the way they wish.
Parents also struggle to navigate medical systems to better support their children’s health and well-being.
Good nutrition and access to quality health care are essential to healthy infant development.
We help families navigate the healthcare system, connect with needed resources, and access fresh and nutritious food that meets their children’s needs. We also advocate to policymakers for equitable access to health care and healthy, affordable food through proven solutions such as the (Women, Infants, and Children) WIC and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Families need support to ensure the health and well-being of their young children
Sources: ZERO TO THREE. State of Babies Yearbook: 2022. HealthySteps (2022) The evidence base.
Our goal is to reach at least 1 million children and families at their pediatrician's offices by 2032.
The children who have been involved in our pediatric primary care program, HealthySteps, along with our other efforts, are more likely to be up-to-date on vaccinations by age 2, more likely to receive developmental screenings to identify concerns, and less likely to be recipients of harsh parental discipline.
I love being a support, a guide, a contortionist—whatever it is that families need me to be.
Rachel Herbst, HealthySteps Specialist
The global health crisis caused by COVID-19 has made disparities in children's health more urgent than ever.
