There’s a bold idea bubbling to the surface in health care: if we want to address the numerous problems regarding health and wellness in the U.S., as a nation, we must understand what health is, pay for health, and start with children. Woven into this philosophy is the concept of whole child health, which is about addressing 100% of the things that impact a child’s health 100% of the time. In 2021, Nemours Children’s Health founded the Whole Child Health Alliance to help advance the concept of “whole child health."

While there is no single solution for achieving whole child health, there are models already in place in communities across the nation that are integrative, collaborative, and effective. In this second of a two-part series on Whole Child Health, we examine a model in Washington state that aims to diagnose and treat behavioral health concerns in children before they reach crisis levels. This model involves a unique partnership between HopeSparks Family Services, a behavioral health and family services provider, and Pediatrics Northwest, a pediatric health care provider.

Featuring:
Mary Ann Woodruff, MD, FAAP, Physician Champion for Care Transformation, Pediatrics Northwest, Tacoma, WA
Joe Le Roy, LICSW, President & CEO, HopeSparks Family Services, Tacoma, WA

Learn more about the Whole Child Health Alliance.

Advancing the Key Elements of Whole Child Health: State Case Studies and Policy Recommendations (PDF)

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

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