Congenital anomalies, affecting 3–5% of pregnancies annually in the United States, are a leading cause of fetal and infant mortality. Despite advancements in fetal care, disparities in care access, quality, and outcomes persist and remain poorly understood. This perspective introduces…

Importance  National continuous Medicaid eligibility under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) may have differentially affected children’s health care depending on whether states had preexisting 12-month continuous Medicaid eligibility for children.Objective…

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEAdultification is the process by which children, particularly Black girls, are perceived and treated as more mature or adult-like than their peers, often resulting in the denial of their childhood experiences and the imposition of adult expectations. This study…

Children’s early years are a vital period of development. Access to health care in early childhood is especially important given the critical need for vaccinations and developmental screenings during this period. Health care coverage is closely tied to health care access. Yet, children…

PolicyLab responded to a request for comment from the Pennsylvania Bureau of WIC on the 2026 WIC State Plan of Program Operation and Administration.In their response, PolicyLab experts offered recommendations to help increase uptake rates in Pennsylvania’s WIC program and to lower…

Adolescence, marked by rapid growth and development, is a critically important life stage for health and well-being. The health and well-being youth experience during this period have a lasting impact, shaping an individual’s overall health into adulthood. Members of our …

Background and objectives: New regulations require hospitals to screen patients for health-related social needs (HRSNs). Neighborhood indices, like the Child Opportunity Index (COI), may help identify families at risk of experiencing HRSNs and inform targeting of health system…

Background: Postpartum parents of hospitalized infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have higher rates of chronic disease and pregnancy complications than parents of well newborns. NICU parents may prioritize remaining at their infants' bedsides over their own…

Many families in the Commonwealth struggle to afford the food they need to stay healthy. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) play a vital role in promoting child health and development…

At PolicyLab, we recognize that individuals impacted by substance use who are also caregivers of children need unique supports that are responsive to family context and experience.PolicyLab researchers are looking into programs and policies aimed at supporting families with a caregiver…