tailieunhanh - GROWING UP in NORTH AMERICA: Child Health and Safety in Canada, the United States, and Mexico

The data illustrate a consistent and striking pattern of incremental improvements in health with increasing levels of family income and educational attainment: As family income and levels of education rise, health improves. In almost every state, shortfalls in health are greatest among children in the poorest or least- educated households, but even middle-class children are less healthy than children with greater advantages. The differences in health between children growing up in the most-advantaged social and economic conditions and all others contribute to unrealized health potential in every state. And there is room for improvement even in the most-advantaged groups, as indicated. | GROWING UP in NORTH AMERICA Child Health and Safety in Canada the United States and Mexico CANADIAN COUNCIL ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION RED POR LOS DERECHOS DE LA INFANCIA EN MEXICO SHARED UNDERSTANDINGS WHAT HAPPENS TO CHILDREN AFFECTS US ALL. If our children do not thrive our societies will not thrive. Decision-makers both public and private must take children s well-being into account as they undertake social and economic development. ALL CHILDREN MUST BE INCLUDED IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS. All children must be prepared for the future. Some groups of children and families are not doing as well as others in the new knowledge-based global economy. Disparities that thwart the healthy development of children in the present and limit the life chances of children in the future must be addressed. CHILDREN EXPERIENCE CHANGE IN AND THROUGH MULTIPLE CONTEXTS. Children are affected by all the environments in which they live. The family is the first circle around the child. Beyond the family the community has a role to play in child development. The circles widen to regional national and international contexts. CHILDREN ARE ENTITLED TO BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. Children s rights are economic social and cultural as well as civil and political. Children have a right to participate and to express their perceptions and aspirations. Children are entitled to the protection of society from exploitation and abuse. They also must be able to count on society to ensure their healthy development beyond mere survival. KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CHILD WELL-BEING MUST LEAD TO ACTION. Monitoring and reporting on measures of child well-being across North America can help us better understand the diverse experiences of childhood in different contexts. But monitoring is not an end in itself. Its purpose is to highlight our successes and challenges. Both can help to drive .