How the US Cares for Children
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A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare
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Children and Society
This is more of a research article. We have all been bombarded about how many people in this country want abortion made illegal since children and families come first. This hearkens back to the 1800’s when there was a decline in the birth of White, Protestant babies
I was scrolling through my email and came across some US government data on birth rate in the US and was amazed to find that it has declined pretty dramatically for the last 25 years - there were a few up ticks but in large measure the trend is down.
Here is a thumbnail I retrieved from USA facts.org. They slice and dice US government data so it is understandable to us lay people. It is the number of births/1000 people.from 1980 to 2021.
I looked and wondered how it relates to prosperity. A good measure of that is the median household income over time. Half of households above the median, half below.
Well here is that plot. Overall, it tends to increase over time. Same source.
I decided to graph them together and look for a relationship. Births/1000 people in orange, median income in blue. Births trend down as income rises. What gives/
The answer is that people don’t have children when it is hard to have them. In the US it is hard to have them. Let me compare.
There are a number of issues that making having children a little easier. Having
A safe place to live,
Access to healthcare,
Meaningful paid time off from work after the child arrives,
Affordable child care,
Sufficient food, and
Access to education.
Sounds like a lot doesn’t it?
Let’s see what our industrialized partners in Europe do. Here is a European Commission source.
On 24 March 2021, after consultations with key stakeholders including children themselves, the European Commission adopted a proposal for Council Recommendation establishing a European Child Guarantee, along with the supporting Staff Working Document. The Council adopted the proposed Recommendation on 14 June 2021. IT TOOK 3 MONTHS TO AGREE.
The objective of the European Child Guarantee is to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing effective access of children in need to a set of key services:
free early childhood education and care
free education (including school-based activities and at least one healthy meal each school day)
free healthcare
healthy nutrition, and
adequate housing
While most children in the EU already have access to these services, inclusive and truly universal access is vital for ensuring equal opportunities for all children, and in particular those who experience social exclusion due to poverty or other forms of a disadvantage.
How does the US stand on this.
Can’t extend the child tax credit thanks to Republican Senators
No guaranteed healthcare for children - only the most impoverished through CHIPS (Childhood health insurance - Medicaid)
SNAP (food stamps)/Women Infants Children (WIC) only for the most impoverished
Adequate housing - Note that minimum wage is the same $7.25 it has been for the last 13 years and that the average rent in the United States increased by 36% from 2010 to 2020, or $390 per month, which is an average increase of 3.18% per year. In 2022, the average rent increased by ANOTHER 16%. It’s no wonder the number of homeless families is on the rise.
No mandatory paid leave from work when the child is born. In most places if it exists in is weeks to a month. UNICEF recommends - 6 months.
No paid sick leave for all employees. This is critical since young children tend to be exposed to a variety of illnesses and this is how their immune systems are developed.
Okay. The long and short of this is that while many in this country say they cherish family values - I call BS.
If they did they would walk the walk and we would have all of the same type of policies our peers in Europe have.
Let’s let our elected representatives know this is in their wheelhouse.
Action
Let’a let our Member of Congress and Senators know we want meaningful action to actually make this country child friendly. That includes healthcare, housing, regular meals, preschool and school, and income supports that help families. Their contact info is here, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials.
Or use RESISTBOT via [Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER] or by texting SIGN PZNYUB to 50409 on your cell phone to send this message.
“I am your constituent and I want you to know that birth rate in the US is in a general decline largely because this country is not amenable to having children. We offer no significant paid time off when children are born or sick. We do not have universal pre-school or assistance with day-care which is extremely expensive. There are no significant guarantees of income supports for families with children - in fact the Republicans in the Senate just refused to discuss restoring the improved child tax credit. Minimum wage lags rental increases by about 45% since 2010. Support for Better child nutrition and housing is also significantly lacking. And no guarantee of healthcare for children!!!
It is a big list, housing, food, healthcare, pre-school, family leave, sufficient income. But if you want children born here then you have to make sure that this country makes it safe for families to have children. I fully expect you to address each and every one of these issues publicly and when you vote. I’m watching.”
Find My Elected Officials
Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email
Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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