Cam, a father in Massachusetts, wants to lift the message that supporting the whole family is essential to child development. After becoming a father at 16, Cam connected to some community-based resources but says that more targeted efforts should be made available to fathers. Here, he shares a story that raises issues about fathers’ barriers to support and resources — and the impact of their engagement on child health outcomes.

At the beginning of the year, NICHQ’s staff came together to share the books that have most impacted their understanding of equity and what’s needed to achieve it. Below, we share their top picks with hope that this list will support our readers on their equity journeys.

People who have sickle cell disease and very vulnerable to COVID-19 impact. As we enter the fourth month of the pandemic in the U.S., we’re sharing how  providers and advocates have remained nimble to ensure that comprehensive and consistent care is maintained throughout the pandemic and beyond.

From cognitive and social emotional development to education and accomplishments, children with involved fathers achieve better health outcomes. Yet despite fathers’ positive impact on maternal and child health, many of the systems intended to serve women and children were not designed with fathers in mind. That’s why we’re sharing strategies to increasing father involvement in early childhood programs.

Our nation is hurting. Many are afraid, angry, anxious, and frustrated as we witness institutional racism and social injustice, once again, ravaging communities of color. NICHQ CEO Scott D. Berns calls for meaningful change to end to systemic racism and injustice in our country.

Committed to championing a too-often forgotten population, Indianapolis Healthy Start partnered with the state’s women’s prison system to ensure that moms and babies could receive all recommended services and supports, starting with prenatal care and continuing for two years after birth.