Doctors Urge Help for Homeless Children

About 1.6 million U.S. children were homeless at some point in 2010. The American Academy of Pediatrics is urging doctors and the public to help improve life for these children. The journal Pediatrics published the new policy statement May 27. It notes that many people lost their homes in the recent recession. Homeless children tend to have more physical and mental health problems. The statement urges doctors to help these families apply for Medicaid. Doctors also can take other steps to improve health care for the homeless. Doctors and the public can press for public policy changes, too. One example is improved access to short-term and permanent housing. Other changes could help schools and the foster care system to support homeless children.