As California struggles to meet children’s mental health needs, lawmakers are pressing for two bills that would take steps to address the problem.
The bills seek to strengthen mental health services for children and youth, either through targeted funding or by instituting new training requirements for people who regularly work with young people.
New data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show’s children’s oral health has improved across the nation, but race-based gaps in the prevalence of dental cavities and their treatment persist.
The expansion of the federal low-income health program to cover more people hasn’t benefited Latinos as much as other racial and ethnic groups, according to a recent report by UCLA researchers.
A joint committee of lawmakers unanimously ordered an audit Wednesday on children’s access to primary-care doctors in the Medi-Cal program, the state’s low-income heath program that is overseen by the California Department of Health Care Services.
“We are particularly concerned about children of color facing health disparities that could be perpetuated and/or exacerbated by poor monitoring and oversight,” Assemblyman Jim Wood and Sen. Anthony Cannella wrote in a letter to the audit committee.
Children with special needs often languish for months waiting to get needed medical equipment and supplies through a state health care program designed to help them, according to a new report.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are among those who need affordable housing—and they’re much less likely to find it. We believe that people with I/DD should have the same human and civil rights to choose from the broadest range of home, workplace and communities supports and settings.
The Anaheim event resulted in mixed feelings for the volunteer dentists, who came from all over the state to participate. Many were elated to be able to provide care that alleviated pain and enhanced the quality of life for people who often have a tough time getting breaks.
But they were also troubled that obtaining oral care—which many experts believe has a direct correlation to a person’s overall health—is so nettlesome for low-income Californians.
A California Assembly committee has advanced a bill that aims to reign in soaring healthcare costs by giving the state authority to regulate prices charged by hospitals, doctors and other providers.
During a hearing Tuesday, the Assembly Committee on Health voted 11 to 4 to pass the bill on to the appropriations committee, the final step before legislation can go before the full Assembly for a vote.
Partially because of the systemic injustice and discrimination we have faced over the past century, American Indians and Alaskan Natives are at greater risk of being victims of violence then any other race. Colonization plays a major role in why these disparities exist.
California’s mental health providers need to work more closely with schools, communities and faith groups to make sure all residents get the care they need, according to a new report.