Inadequate health care for children is a significant issue. According to research from Columbia University, nearly one in five children experience insufficient health coverage, meaning their insurance either has unreasonable out-of-pocket costs or lacks benefits that meet their medical needs. In Washoe County, that amounts to 22,000-plus children. Like many of our community challenges, we tend to be shortsighted in our views on issues like this. Our failure to fully consider and address the impacts of inadequate health care for our kids results in significant long-term costs to our government, our community, and the children we are obligated to protect.
First, the Data
It should be an embarrassment that we are the most medically advanced country in the world, yet we fail to adequately address the mental and physical health care needs of our youth. Every day in Washoe County, thousands of kids are suffering physical and mental health issues that are impacting their ability to grow into healthy, successful adults.
- Suicide is a leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24 in Washoe County.
- 60.8% of Nevada youth with behavioral health conditions did not receive treatment.
- Approximately 20% of school days are missed due to health-related issues.
- Nevada has consistently ranked 51st for youth mental health access and services.
Impacts of Inadequate Health Care for Kids
What are the impacts of inadequate health care for kids? Here are some key impacts:
- Developmental delays: Limited access to health care can lead to undiagnosed developmental issues, which can impact a child’s ability to reach their full potential.
- Increased health complications: Children with chronic conditions may experience worsening symptoms due to a lack of consistent medical attention.
- Increased emergency room visits: Without proper coverage for preventive care, children may end up in emergency rooms for conditions that could have been managed.
- Educational challenges: Poor health can lead to missed school days and chronic absenteeism, ultimately impacting academic performance and future career opportunities.
- Economic burden: Untreated issues can lead to increased health care costs in adulthood, placing financial strain on public health systems and families.
- Reduced workforce productivity: Chronic health issues stemming from inadequate care can limit educational attainment, job opportunities and productivity.
- Higher social welfare costs: Expect increased reliance on social services due to health-related economic hardships, including higher unemployment and disability claims.
Innovative Ways to Help
Let’s explore innovative ways to help our kids. There are ways to provide more comprehensive health care for all our kids. Many government programs and organizations are working hard to address this need. WCSD has excelled at providing basic health interventions with limited resources. Unfortunately, 20% or more of our kids are falling through the cracks. Some health care providers have developed innovative approaches to this problem. Since all kids will eventually go to school, why not provide health care, including mental health services, in the schools, and do much of it through telehealth? The success of these programs is impressive: a reduction in chronic absenteeism by 11 days, a 75% reduction in depression and anxiety for kids who are treated, and a 94% reduction in behavioral incidents.
Act Now as a Community
Let’s act now as a community. We can continue to wait on the federal or state governments to save the day, or we can do something now that may change the lives of our youth. It is possible to support a program that provides school-age children with physical and mental health care services at no cost to them and their families. For a program targeting elementary and middle schoolers, it would cost less than one dollar a month per child (just $550,000 per year) to ensure we meet our students’ health care needs in Washoe County. In concert with the many other ongoing programs and initiatives, this effort will ensure our children are provided an opportunity for a healthy life. If you want to help, please contact
Strengthen our Community
at socnnv.org.Mike Kazmierski is the executive director of Strengthen our Community
Mike Kazmierski is the executive director of Strengthen our Community.
