Our Principles – Health Coalition for Children and Youth

Statement of Principles

Launching Thriving Children and Youth

The Health Coalition for Children and Youth advocates for all of Washington’s children and youth. We are deeply invested in ensuring that our state successfully meets the needs of all young people through anti-racist policies promoting their health, well-being, and ability to launch and thrive. We aim to eliminate structural and institutional racism and bias through policy change informed by lived experience by BIPOC communities.

We believe the following PRINCIPLES should guide this work:

All Washington children and youth, regardless of color, ethnicity, country of origin, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, visible or invisible disabilities should both have access to and receive the health care that they need to live their most fulfilling lives possible. This care, provided via private or public sector coverage, must include coordinated medical, dental, mental and behavioral health, and special needs services, including prevention, treatment, and long-term care across the entire continuum.

All Washington children and youth should grow up in a society that promotes equity and is committed to eliminating racism, gender and sexual orientation bias, and economic bias. Health care providers and institutions should examine the practices, knowledge, and beliefs of all team members and identify strategies to combat racism and foster trust and safety for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ children, youth, and families they serve, as well as for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ providers and staff.

The payment system must reimburse providers and plans adequately to serve children and youth.

Programs that promote and ensure child health and wellness and their ability to thrive must be supported by sustainable sources of funding.

Washington State should advance emotional well-being and financial stability of parents and caregivers raising children. Supporting family well-being is critical to fostering child health and ultimately lifelong health for children and youth. Some of the greatest yields in child health can come from advancing family well-being prenatally and in the first years of life.

All Washington children and youth must have timely access to health care with a strong primary care component and adequate choice and availability among providers.

Education informed by communities with lived experience is necessary to raise public awareness about health and health resources as well as services that, with an emphasis on cultural humility, influence child and youth health and wellness outside of the medical setting.

All Washington children and youth should also have access to services and supports outside of the medical setting that promote their ability to thrive including early education, child development, housing, social and emotional support, and supportive and fair employment as they join the workforce.

Public health must be preserved over the long term to assure healthy environments for all through available preventive and interventional measures.

The health and rehabilitative needs of children and youth with disabilities, special needs, and chronic health conditions must be met through timely and coordinated access to specialized health care services in a variety of settings that strive toward a future of independent living.

The physical, mental and behavioral health and well-being of all Washington’s children and youth is a priority and a long-term investment yielding social, emotional, and financial returns. Investments in services promoting and ensuring the ability of young people to thrive must be sustained. These investments must include preserving an environment where children and youth are able to play safely.

Interested in connecting with us? We’d love to hear from you.

Interested in connecting with us? We’d love to hear from you.