Building Healthier, Safer Futures for Kids
Children's hospitals are working upstream to prevent chronic illnesses and injuries before they happen.
Children's hospitals do much more than treat acute illnesses, injuries, and complex conditions.
They also play a major role in keeping kids healthy and safe. From addressing chronic disease risks to preventing firearm injuries, they work with families and communities to reach kids before a health challenge becomes a crisis.
Children's hospitals combine pediatric expertise, community partnerships, and evidence-based strategies to meet children where they live, learn, and grow.
Explore how pediatric health care teams are helping families build healthy habits, strengthen safety practices, and support children's long-term well-being.
About Children's Hospital Association
Children’s Hospital Association is the national voice of more than 200 children’s hospitals, advancing child health through innovation in the quality, cost, and delivery of care.
Healthy habits and chronic disease
Preventing Chronic Disease in Kids Through Lifestyle Change
A children’s hospital's free program teaches kids and families in the community how to create healthy habits.
Children's Hospital Helps Hundreds of Kids Avoid Diabetes
Deterring a diagnosis is the goal of a special clinic at Children’s Wisconsin.
Program Identifies Asthma in Kids Before an Emergency
Find out how a children’s hospital screens for asthma in schools to reduce emergency visits and keep students healthier.
Safety and injury
How a Children’s Hospital Reduced Pediatric Firearm Injuries by 47%
A pediatric injury prevention specialist shares how building trust in rural communities is changing firearm safety conversations.
3 Data-Backed Strategies to Reduce Gun Violence Against Youth
A public health researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions outlines a four-step approach to prevention.
Keeping Kids Safe
Report outlines firearm injury prevention efforts at children's hospitals.
Mental health and well-being
Supporting Infant Mental Health From Day One
A children’s hospital provides mental health services for babies and toddlers during one of the most formative periods of their lives.
How a Children's Hospital Is Identifying Mental Illness Early
Children's Nebraska is equipping primary care providers to identify mental illness to allow early intervention — and better outcomes.
Promoting Healthy Digital Media Habits Within Families
One pediatrician is leading research and program efforts to understand the challenges and benefits of digital media behaviors among families.
Prevention in the community
Playing for Prevention: A Goal for Health
Learn how one children’s hospital soccer league has welcomed more than 15,000 children and families to address childhood obesity and diabetes in their region.
Teaching Kids Healthy Habits With Consumable Information
Discover how elementary school students are learning the importance of eating healthy and staying physically active through the Healthy Kids Club.
How Culinary Medicine Is Training Future Doctors
Program teaches resident physicians to prioritize prevention by helping patients make healthier choices.
