Hunger, Nutrition and Health
The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health asked for help in ending hunger and reducing diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity and hypertension by 2030 ā all while closing disparities among the communities impacted most.
We are proud to join the coalition of philanthropies, universities, state agencies and startups creating and funding solutions to these urgent national problems.Ā
Helping Families Stay Healthy
In collaboration with the White House Conference,Ā weāve created an online health center, with articles and videos in English and Spanish, to help families make their best choices about nutrition and well-being.Ā Youā find ways to make healthy, low-cost meals, tips on helping your child manage anxiety, ways to help your teen get enough sleep and much more.
51³Ō¹Ļ KidsHealth is a pioneer and leader in pediatric health content that has been trusted by millions worldwide for more than 25 years.
How Can I Help a Picky Eater?
Most toddlers are picky eaters. Here's how to manage mealtimes so they're more pleasant and less stressful for everyone. To learn more about making the best health choices, visit our
Sharing Knowledge, Creating Health
We understand that medical care represents only a fraction of what impacts a childās health. The rest includes things like social determinants of health: education, literacy, housing, safety, freedom from adverse childhood experiences and other social factors. As we strive to improve the health of our patients and others, 51³Ō¹Ļ Childrenās is trying to learn more about these challenges in the lives of the families we care for.
Since 2018, we have worked to create a social needs screening tool and deploy it through our practices. More than 35,000 families have voluntarily told us about food insecurity, housing concerns, lack of transportation and other challenges, large and small. Where possible, weāve helped break down these barriers to health.
We know weāre not the only health system making this journey. Thatās why we made a commitment to the White House to develop and distribute a Social Determinants of Health resource guideĀ sharing our insights and lessons learned.
51³Ō¹Ļ believes that health systems have the expertise, trusted relationships and infrastructure to serve as the stewards of childrenās health. Sharing our knowledge and experiences is one way we can create a healthier future for all kids.
Health Is About More Than Medical Care
When patient families visit ourĀ 51³Ō¹Ļ Children's Health, Jessup Street office in Wilmington, Del., they may leave with more than a prescription and care instructions. Sometimes, they leave with toothpaste or formula or cans of beans or even a coat.
This is thanks to what we call āCare Closets.ā We have two Care Closets in Delaware and as part of our commitment to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, we are expanding that number to 12 by the end of this year.
Care Closets are just one way we help our patient families deal with food insecurity and other challenges. These primary care offices have canned goods, dry food items and other essentials stocked on shelves. If a family identifies a need on their Social Determinants of Health screening survey, a care coordinator from the practice will reach out to see if any of the goods weāve stocked can help.Ā
Where do we get the supplies? Some are donated by local organizations or 51³Ō¹Ļ associates, some we buy, and some come from state government sources.Ā
Food for Children
To reach our vision of creating the healthiest generations of children, we must work to improve the health of children who may never enter our doors. Thatās why weāve committed, as part of The White House-led effort, to expanding our involvement in our backpack programs. These programs are aimed at ensuring children have nutritious food during out-of-school time.Ā
Weāve signed agreements with and to step up our level of involvement.
Thatās great news because weāre already reaching hundreds of families. Last summer, for instance, the Philabundance Community Kitchen assembled and distributed 12,900 breakfast kits. Funding from 51³Ō¹Ļ provided roughly 70% of these, which went to about 2,400 children.