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VIDEO: AAP president discusses priorities for children's health

ORLANDO, Fla. — In 2016, the AAP outlined its priorities for children’s health in a document called the Blueprint for Children. The document has since been updated to reflect recent accomplishments and future challenges of caring for children. AAP President Colleen A. Kraft, MD, FAAP, said one of the biggest issues is access to care.

“We had CHIP — the Children’s Health Insurance Program — funded for 10 years,” Kraft said. “However, there are always threats for taking this funding away.”

Kraft also noted that the AAP has been involved in the gun safety debate. Several presentations at this year’s conference have highlighted the dangers of both unintentional and intentional injuries from firearms among children and adolescents. The academy is bringing together experts to evaluate the science behind firearm injury prevention and engaging with stakeholders to develop “the right messaging about gun safety,” she added.

Reference:

AAP. Blueprint for Children: How the next president can build a foundation for a healthy future. https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/BluePrintForChildren.pdf. Accessed November 4, 2018.

Disclosure: Kraft reports no relevant financial disclosures.