Children living in poverty in California and elsewhere in the U.S. are much more likely to suffer from asthma than their wealthier peers. A new study suggests that a symbiotic relationship between pollution and allergens common in low-income urban areas makes children more vulnerable to the chronic illness.
A report released last week sheds new light on what’s driving arrest rates in California – and what prison reform can do to better prevent crime.
The prison reform law that shifted responsibility for non-violent felons from the state to the county is also affecting the management of more serious, violent offenders.
African-American babies are more than twice as likely to die before their first birthday as white babies. Are current prevention efforts enough to close the health gap?
Contra Costa County has only two family shelters, which have struggled to meet the demand for help from homeless families. Now both shelters, with funding from First 5 Contra Costa County, have started to expand their assistance by including services aimed at setting very young homeless children on the path to a better life.
Critics of prison realignment say that the law has caused a spike in crime. But experts caution that it is far too early to understand the effects of the law.
The parents of critically ill children insured by Medi-Cal once had to choose between ongoing treatment and end-of-life care. A program to offer a third option, community-based palliative care, was launched in California in 2009. The program not only improves the quality of life for sick children and their families, it also saves the state money, a recent report found.
African American students with disabilities are far more likely than white students to be suspended from California schools, according to the most recent data. Overall in the state, African Americans with disabilities have a 28 percent risk of suspension, compared to an 11 percent risk for white students. Researchers, advocates and family members say schools often show less tolerance for minority children who misbehave than they do for white students.
Mold in substandard housing makes breathing hard for kids with asthma. Poorly planned streets and sidewalks make exercising outside, or swapping a drive for a walk, more difficult. Housing and transportation aren’t policy areas obviously related to health, but such decisions directly affect our well-being. A recent study suggests that starting to take a holistic approach to policy, one that considers health in all decisions, may not be as hard as it sounds.
A hot new trend in health care — rewarding hospitals for better performance — may not be working as intended, according to new research released today.