California ‘Compares Poorly’ with Other States in Childhood Health Care, Report Finds
California "compares poorly" with other states in the provision of adequate services, such as health care, for young children and their families, according to a study released today by the not-for-profit advocacy group Children Now, the Los Angeles Times reports (Rivera, Los Angeles Times, 10/23). The annual California Report Card, based on census and other government data, found that the state "lags behind the rest of the nation" in a number of areas, the Contra Costa Times reports (Chang, Contra Costa Times, 10/23). For example, the state ranks 34th nationwide in the percentage of children who receive early childhood immunizations, the report found. The state has made "headway" in some areas, according to the report. The report found that California has the sixth-lowest rate of infant mortality and ninth-lowest rate of infants born with low birth weight nationwide. In addition, the report found that the teenage birth rate in the state has decreased "slightly faster" than the national average. However, the report concluded that California "has not made young children a top priority" (Los Angeles Times, 10/23). The report is available online. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the report.
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.