Child Health

Health Interventions
essay
Reducing Disparities in Infant Mortality: Using Big Data to Help Babies at Risk
Jul 1, 2021
Black babies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—and across America—face much higher mortality rates than white babies. Researchers pulled together thousands of data points on more than 150,000 births to better predict who is at risk and how to help.
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Child Health
commentary
COVID-19: Why Spending More Time at Home for Some Children Is Bad for Their Health
Andreas Culora
Jul 20, 2020
Open Access Government
Children in Europe are at a higher risk of poor-quality and overcrowded housing. Efforts to improve the quality of children's living environments could be key to mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on children and their households.
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Substance Abuse
commentary
Policies That Punish Pregnant Women for Substance Use Don't Help Mother or Baby
Laura J. Faherty @LauraFahertyMD
Jan 28, 2020
Tennessee Justice Center
About half of all U.S. states now have policies that criminalize substance use during pregnancy, consider it grounds for civil commitment, or consider it child abuse or neglect. But research suggests that punitive policies aren't beneficial for infants or their mothers.
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Media Literacy
blog
How Americans Get the News, Iran, Caregiving: RAND Weekly Recap
Dec 13, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on how Americans consume the news, U.S.–Iranian relations, how federal disability payments help caregivers, and more.
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Childhood Asthma
commentary
At the Interface of the Health Care System and the Community: Insights from an Academic-Community Partnership in Camden, New Jersey
Mahshid Abir, Jane Forman, Dawn Wiest, Natasha Dravid, Aaron Truchil, Stuart Hammond, Paul Koegel
Dec 3, 2019
The RAND Blog
Asthma is a common and expensive childhood condition that erodes quality of life for kids and families. Researchers sought to identify patient-centered interventions to reduce avoidable asthma-related acute care use and improve outcomes. They found that the solutions lie at the nexus of the health care system and the community.
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Child Health
commentary
How a Poor Indoor Environment at Home Affects Children's Health in the EU
Daniel Gehrt
Nov 4, 2019
Encompass
One third of children in the EU are exposed to damp or mold, cold, darkness, and noise in their own homes. The good condition of homes should not only be seen as an issue of comfort, but as an essential basic requirement for good health of the residents, especially when they are families with children.
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Adolescents
blog
Boris Johnson, Teacher Training, Youth Arrests: RAND Weekly Recap
Jul 26, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on Boris Johnson's Brexit challenge, how educators feel about their training programs, a spike in youth arrests, and more.
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Child Health
commentary
Sleep Deprivation Could Do Long-Term Damage to Migrant Children
Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel, Douglas C. Ligor @DougLigor
Jul 22, 2019
Dallas Morning News
The challenges faced by detained children at the U.S. southern border are immense. Sleep disruption may significantly hinder their ability to function physically and mentally. Policymakers shouldn't overlook the importance of providing appropriate sleeping conditions.
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Childhood Trauma
commentary
After School Shootings, Children and Communities Struggle to Heal
Ariella Iancu, Lisa H. Jaycox, Joie D. Acosta, Frank G. Straub, Samantha Iovan, Christopher Nelson, Mahshid Abir
Jul 19, 2019
Health Affairs Blog
School shootings leave wounds that affect students, school staff, families, and communities for years. Building community resilience, implementing evidence-based mental health support early, and providing access for survivors and the community immediately and in the long term could help promote healing and prevent more tragedy.
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Summer Learning
blog
Truth Decay, Principals, Augmented Reality: RAND Weekly Recap
Jul 12, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on media literacy education as a way to fight Truth Decay, turning screen time into outdoor time, the importance of school principals, and more.
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Child Well-Being
commentary
Augmented Reality on the Playground
Deborah A. Cohen
Jul 10, 2019
Parks & Recreation
As children's screen time increases, their time spent outdoors decreases. How might new technologies merge with nature to help kids get outside and be more active?
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Parenting
commentary
Empowering Parents Through Positive Parenting Interventions
Barbara Janta, Lynn M. Davies
May 30, 2019
E!Sharp
For parents, knowing whether they are raising their children the “right” way can feel like an impossible task. Parenting programs can make a unique and indispensable contribution to child well-being, and ultimately give children the resilience to thrive, even in challenging circumstances.
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Russia
blog
Childhood Trauma, Space Traffic, China–Russia Relations: RAND Weekly Recap
Apr 26, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on a program that helps children exposed to trauma, making outer space safer, tighter China–Russia relations, and more.
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Childhood Trauma
essay
Childhood Trauma Is More Common Than You Think. This School-Based Intervention Can Help
Apr 23, 2019
A program developed at RAND helps children exposed to trauma confront and subdue their stress and anxiety. The program grew out of the 1990s street violence of South Los Angeles and has since helped kids from Newtown to Fukushima. Researchers are tailoring this intervention for children in Puerto Rico whose lives were upended by hurricanes.
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Afghanistan
blog
AI Bias, Opioids, Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap
Mar 15, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on the danger of artificial intelligence bias, infants with opioid withdrawal symptoms, peace talks in Afghanistan, and more.
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Opioids
commentary
Opioid-Dependent Newborns in My West Virginia Hometown Point to a Path Out of Drug Crisis
Stephen W. Patrick
Mar 6, 2019
USA Today
In small, rural towns like Bluefield, West Virginia, economies are hurting, the opioid epidemic is growing, and together they are taking a toll on a surprising population: pregnant women and their babies.
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Childhood Obesity
commentary
Why 'Guilt-Free' Lanes at the Supermarket Could Help Fight Obesity
Deborah A. Cohen
Jul 5, 2018
United Press International
The United Kingdom is banishing so-called “guilt lanes,” supermarket cash register aisles permeated by junk food. This is a necessary step in the nation's fight against obesity. But what's really needed is a comprehensive approach.
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Sleep
commentary
How Young Kids Causing Sleepless Nights Drove Me to Sleep Research
Marco Hafner
Oct 3, 2017
Thrive Global
RAND's Marco Hafner discusses how sleep troubles related to raising two young children spurred him to study how insufficient sleep impacts productivity at work, mortality, academic performance, and even national economies.
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Nutrition Policy
commentary
Why Nutrition Standards and Policies Should Continue
Deborah A. Cohen
May 25, 2017
RealClearHealth
Rolling back nutrition standards means increasing risks for Americans and does not bode well for population health. Every effort should be made to maintain strong nutrition standards to protect the health of all Americans.
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Vaccination
commentary
On Vaccines, Trump Should Rely on Science
Courtney A. Gidengil @c_gidengil, Laura J. Faherty @LauraFahertyMD
Jan 25, 2017
The Health Care Blog
Research has proven that vaccines are extremely safe and effective. The public health implications of questioning this are serious. America should take every opportunity to protect kids by vaccinating them against every vaccine-preventable disease.
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Obesity
commentary
A Sweet Fix to Tackling Obesity in the UK?
Marco Hafner
Jul 11, 2016
The RAND Blog
It is hard to tell whether or not the new sugar tax proposed in the UK budget will actually make a difference. There is no conclusive proof that a tax on sugar-based beverages leads to reductions in obesity levels.
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Depression
commentary
New Depression-Screening Guidelines Could Help Both Mother and Child
Dana Schultz
Mar 18, 2016
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Behavioral health professionals and community agencies often do not consider the impact of parental depression on young children or focus on the adult's role as a parent. New guidelines recommending depression screening during primary care visits for pregnant women and new mothers are a critical first step.
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Public Health
commentary
Fighting the Zika Virus: What Public Health Officials Need to Do
Melinda Moore
Jan 28, 2016
Fox News Channel
For now, public health officials and their partners must do all they can to control Zika virus, using the tools at hand. That may include instituting a public health campaign to reduce mosquito-breeding sites and promoting prudent protection against mosquito bites.
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Hurricanes
blog
Hurricane Katrina: 10 Years After the Storm
Aug 27, 2015
This weekend marks 10 years since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast. As the region struggled to cope and rebuild after the storm, RAND experts worked on solutions to the region's long-term challenges.
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Underage Substance Use Prevention
commentary
What Works in Early Life to Prevent Tobacco and Alcohol Addiction?
Daniel Schweppenstedde
Apr 23, 2015
The RAND Blog
Tobacco and alcohol addiction are widespread public health risks across the European Union. Both merit tackling at a young age. Evidence-based, early interventions are available that can be applied in small-scale settings to prevent underage alcohol and tobacco abuse.
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Infectious Diseases
commentary
The Disneyland Measles Outbreak: 'Anti-Vaxxers' Aren't the Only Issue
Jodi L. Liu @jodilliu, Jeanne S. Ringel @JeanneRingel
Mar 17, 2015
The Press-Enterprise
The recent measles outbreak that began in Disneyland is the latest reminder that Americans have ceded ground in the fight against the potentially deadly disease. So-called 'anti-vaxxer' parents have received a lot of attention following the outbreak, but they may comprise less of the population than you think.
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Parenting
commentary
Adults Are Concerned About Sons Playing Football, Especially the More Highly Educated and Obama 2012 Voters
Katherine Grace Carman @KGCarman, Michael S. Pollard @MichaelSPollard
Nov 4, 2014
The RAND Blog
According to new data, 44 percent of American adults wouldn't be comfortable letting their sons play football. Roughly the same percentage was uncomfortable with their sons playing ice hockey.
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Childhood Trauma
blog
How Schools Can Help Students with Traumatic Stress
Oct 2, 2014
Schools are in a unique position to recognize traumatic stress in children. But first, adults throughout the school system -- including teachers, staff, administrators, school resource officers, and parents -- must be aware of the issue, know how to detect signs of trauma exposure, and create a supportive environment.
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Parenting
commentary
Germs Go Back to School, Too: Five Ways to Protect Your Kids
Jeanne S. Ringel @JeanneRingel
Aug 25, 2014
The RAND Blog
With kids working and playing in close contact and sharing supplies and equipment, schools can be hotbeds for infection. Each year, K-12 students miss about 60 million school days due to colds and the flu combined. But these five approaches can help reduce their chance of spreading infections and getting sick.
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Media Influences on Health
commentary
Dutch and UK Adolescents See More Alcohol Advertising on TV Than Adults
Eleanor Winpenny
May 23, 2014
The RAND Blog
Adolescents in the UK and the Netherlands (but not in Germany) see more alcohol adverts on television, per hour of television watched, than adults. These differences result from the different viewing times, channels watched, and the placement of adverts.
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Nutrition Policy
commentary
Let's Regulate Food Like We Do Alcohol
Deborah A. Cohen
May 19, 2014
New York Daily News
To help people avoid overeating, the kinds of policies effective in controlling alcohol consumption should be applied to food — standardizing portion sizes, limiting impulse marketing and reducing the convenience and salience of foods most closely associated with obesity and chronic diseases.
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blog
State of the Union 2014: President Obama Calls for a Year of Action
Jan 29, 2014
Obama called for “a year of action” to achieve his 2014 agenda — from helping people sign up for health insurance, to immigration reform, to completing the mission in Afghanistan. RAND is committed to raising the level of public policy debates and offering evidence-based, actionable solutions.
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Parenting
commentary
Support for Implementing Home Visiting Under the Affordable Care Act
Teryn Mattox, Sarah B. Hunter, M. Rebecca Kilburn
Jan 8, 2014
The RAND Blog
One groundbreaking provision of the Affordable Care Act is its funding for home visiting programs that match the parents of young children with trained specialists who provide information, social support, parental skill instruction, and more.
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Health Care Costs
blog
Small Ideas for Saving Big Health Care Dollars (No. 1-3)
Jan 8, 2014
Focusing on smaller, more focused approaches can identify less controversial opportunities for modest health care savings.
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Asthma
commentary
Can the Affordable Care Act Help Asthma Sufferers Breathe Easier?
Marielena Lara
Nov 20, 2013
The RAND Blog
ACA reforms can potentially address barriers that get in the way of individuals with asthma getting the care they need. At the population level, the law has the potential to improve outcomes and efficiency and equity of services for chronic conditions such as asthma for which cost-effective preventive treatments exist.
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Pediatric Medicine
blog
Mark Schuster Elected to the Institute of Medicine
Oct 25, 2013
Dr. Mark Schuster has been elected to the Institute of Medicine. He is an adjunct researcher at RAND and the William Berenberg Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Chief of General Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Health Policy in the Department of Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital.
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Media Influences on Health
blog
What Effect Does Media Have on Youth?
Sep 3, 2013
American youth live in an environment saturated with media. What effects does this have on their health and well-being?
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Community Resilience
commentary
Moore Must Be Ready for Psychological Aftermath
Mahshid Abir
May 31, 2013
CNN
Ensuring the availability of needed mental health resources was critical in the immediate aftermath and recovery phase of the 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado. Authorities in Oklahoma must ensure that such services are in place early so that Moore's residents can begin the long journey to recovery.
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Community Resilience
blog
Resources for Schools and Parents Following the Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
May 29, 2013
The toll of the tornado on school students in Moore, Oklahoma, cannot be overstated. To assist with recovery, RAND's CBITS program offers resources on psychological first aid for schools, as well as additional materials for educators and parents.
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Kenya
commentary
Using Mobile Money to Make Water Safe
Jill E. Luoto
May 21, 2013
The RAND Blog
Contaminated drinking water contributes to the deaths of some 750,000 children under the age of five every year due to diarrheal disease. A RAND project is using mobile phones to increase the sales and use of safe-water filters in Kenya.
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Military Budgets and Defense Spending
blog
At 65, RAND Continues to Make a Difference
May 14, 2013
To celebrate our first 60 years, we created '60 Ways RAND Has Made a Difference,' an online book to illustrate our most notable contributions. On our 65th birthday, we provide five of the most recent ways in which we at RAND are proud to have made a difference.
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Mental Health Treatment
commentary
In Connecticut, Recovery and Healing Will Take Time
Lisa H. Jaycox
Dec 20, 2012
The RAND Blog
With an event like this, With an event like this, 'recovery' doesn't mean a return to normal, because lives have been permanently altered. Recovery can only mean finding a new normal, a new path forward. And schools, those places of safety and healthy development, can help with that process, by providing a structure and community to support healing, writes Lisa Jaycox.
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Childhood Trauma
commentary
Helping Kids Cope with the Effects of Violence and Trauma
Lisa H. Jaycox
May 29, 2012
The impact of violence and trauma on children has led RAND and its partners to focus not only on studying the problem, but working collaboratively to find interventions that help address a significant public health need.
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Mental Health Treatment
blog
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Significant Public Health Problem
David M. Adamson
May 14, 2012
In recognition of National Mental Health Month, May 2012, we spotlight posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and RAND's work to advance understanding and treatment of this condition, which affects many more people than is commonly thought.
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Diet and Eating Habits
blog
American Adults Consume Twice the Recommended Amount of Junk Food
Apr 26, 2012
Is eating more fruits and vegetables the key to reducing obesity? Evidence suggests this may not be the most effective strategy. A recent RAND study of more than 2,700 adults found that calorie intake from cookies, candy, salty snacks, and soda was about twice as high as the recommended daily amount.
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Public Health
commentary
Worth Its Weight in Gold?
Roland Sturm
Apr 21, 2011
Public Service Review: European Union
In terms of healthcare use and chronic health conditions, obesity is comparable to aging 20 years, with the health of a 30 year old resembling that of a 50 year old, writes Roland Sturm.
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commentary
Talking to Your Child About Kobe
Mark A. Schuster
Sep 8, 2003
Los Angeles Times
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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