Building on our Success: Moving from Health Care Coverage to Improved Access and Comprehensive Well-Being for Illinois Children and Youth

Abstract

Building on our Success, a new report released by the Mid-America Institute on Poverty of Heartland Alliance, focuses on children's health in Illinois and documents the barriers in Illinois to achieving a healthy life in the areas of physical, mental and oral health, as well as nutrition issues and insurance coverage, and makes recommendations for improving well-being for children and youth.While Illinois has been a leader in expanding health insurance coverage for children, for many low-income families there is a gap between having insurance and accessing the comprehensive care children need to become and stay healthy. There are significant gaps in Illinois' health care and nutritional systems that leave many children and youth vulnerable to adverse health outcomes