Using Data to Eliminate Disparities: New Online Data from the National Survey of Children’s Health

April is National Minority Health Month. In honor of this year's theme--"Health Equity Can't Wait. Act Now in Your Community"--the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DRC) announced new data available from the 2009-2010 National Survey of Children's Health and National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. In order to better understand and advocate for minority children with special health care needs (CSHCN), the DRC website lets you compare important key indicators and outcomes for CSHCN by race/ethnicity, highest educational level in the household, and two new measures of complexity. The data allows users to view over 100 indicators of child health and well-being, including emotional and mental health. Here are a few examples of findings you can access on the DRC website:

• Among the 46% of CSHCN who experience 4 or more functional difficulties, only half have access to community based services
• The 14% of CSHCN who meet 4 or more qualifying CSHCN Screener criteria are half as likely to experience quality care within a medical home as those whose conditions are less complex
• Hispanic CSHCN are most likely to lack insurance coverage

Using Data to Reduce and Eliminate Health Disparities

Disparities continue to exist in the health status of minority CSHCN in the United States. Data showing the differences in health status and access to care among minority children in the United States are an important tool in eliminating disparities and improving the health and well-being of all children. Recently released data from the 2009-10 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs reveal that: 

• Only one-quarter of Hispanic and African American youth with special needs received sufficient transition planning whereas nearly 45% of white youth received such planning
• 71% of white CSHCN received family centered care, while only 56% of Hispanic CSHCN and 52% of African American CSHCN received that level of care.
• Access to care issues are extremely important given that Hispanic CSHCN are more likely to be affected by their conditions in their daily lives and their families are more likely to experience financial problems

Visit the DRC website. Learn more about the National Survey of Children’s Health. Learn more about the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs.

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