Children's Hospital Association Statement on Racism and Child Health

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As an organization of our nation's children's hospitals, we are deeply disturbed by racism and its damaging impact on every person—every child. We condemn all forms of intolerance and believe all children deserve an equal shot at reaching their full health potential. 

The recent and heartbreaking deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others in similar situations have drawn much needed attention to our nation's long legacy of racism and inequality and their dramatic effects on the health and well-being of individuals and communities, including our children. The anguish felt by so many continues to be expressed visibly across the country. We hear and see the profound anger and pain, and we share in the sense of urgency as our country seeks understanding and a path toward justice and reconciliation.

We will continue to work with children's hospitals—and with a renewed focus on understanding—to reduce disparities in health outcomes and health care among our nation's children. Equity in care is a fundamental challenge we acknowledge and must solve together, and we are committed to using our platform, resources and influence to help achieve this goal.

We will not mitigate the effects of racism or any form of discrimination without national leadership, partnerships between the public and private sectors and collaboration across all communities and industries. It is time we step up as a nation, as institutions and as individuals, to address disparities and injustice openly and without hesitation, leading the way to a better tomorrow. We owe this to ourselves and importantly to our children—our future.