Health

At Child Trends, we agree with the World Health Organization’s conceptualization of health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely as the absence of disease. We believe that health is a critical state of being for children and youth to learn, grow, and develop; for families to learn, work, and parent; and for communities to thrive.  Health can be influenced by a range of biological, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and societal circumstances. For children, youth, and families, the experience of health challenges and necessary access to affordable and effective treatments are not evenly distributed: Those who are Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, or LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning); those who have low incomes; or those who have child welfare and/or juvenile justice involvement often experience greater challenges due to the effects of interpersonal and institutional discrimination.  

Research from Activate: A Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Translation Center

Featured Experts

Sara Amadon

Senior Research Scientist II and Early Childhood Research Operations Manager

Deana Around Him

Research Scholar

Hannah Lantos

Senior Research Scientist I

Jennifer Manlove

Senior Research Scholar, Sexual and Reproductive Health