From the nefarious achievement gaps, to the racial isolation in increasingly segregated schools; from the digital divide that results in kids not having access to computers, to the poverty gulf that results in kids not having homes; from boys' reading difficulties and girls' problems with math, to the disparities among rural, suburban, and urban…

Conveys the practical knowledge shown by public health nurses since the days of Lillian Wald in the 1890s. Public health nurses have had to work with high-risk families--work that often requires a common sense approach. (JOW)

Prenatal care, though providing invaluable health education, including parenting instruction and contraceptive advice as well as medical supervision, is seriously limited for poor women. Suggests ways of surpassing barriers of ignorance, fear, lack of child care and transportation, and lack of skilled medical translators, and calls for more…

Adolescent pregnancy results from a combination of factors, including feelings of hopelessness, poor education, and the effects of racism. Its personal, social, and public costs must be understood and addressed. Reiterates findings that pregnancy prevention programs should be sensitive to the target group culture, include other family members, and…

Discusses the impact of generally poor, unskilled immigrants upon the lowest sector of the American labor force and upon health and social services. Holds that rather than blaming immigrants, the United States should concentrate on helping the American poor to acquire better education and job skills. (Author/GC)

There are 16.4 million women over age 65 in this country, compared to 11 million men. The 41 percent of this population who live alone are the poorest of the poor in this country, with an annual median income of just over $3,000 for white women and little more than $2,000 for black women. This abject poverty affects the ability of these women to…

Examines how much progress has been made in England and Wales towards meeting the needs of disadvantaged preschool children and to what extent the policies adopted so far may be considered to amount to a comprehensive strategy. (Author/MP)

Discusses the barriers created when communication breaks down between physicians and poor patients, a failure generally resulting from inadequately shared information and a power asymmetry in the relationship. Suggests strategies for improving communication with poor patients, including improving listening and responding skills, avoiding jargon,…

Comments on "Psychotherapy, classism, and the poor: Conspicuous by their absence" by Laura Smith (see record 2005-11834-002). This article might have improved Smith's argument that prejudice and oppression (classism) are significant obstacles preventing the poor from receiving psychological services if she had presented evidence to…

Addresses the causes for and implications of infant mortality. Besides the more immediate causes such as disease, nutrition, and lifestyle, there are the additional hurdles of government bureaucracy, lack of funds, and institutional attitudes that block access to prenatal care. Suggests structural solutions, including a consistent, individual,…

Economic pressures along with health, nutrition, housing, sanitation, and child labor problems contribute in large measure to the plight of the migrant population. The incomplete and fragmented education migrant children receive is further compounded by low expectations from teachers and inappropriate curriculums. Legislative action has attempted…

In the past few years there has been an increase in the discussion of health care as a right. Although the statement that health care is a right sounds good and altruistic, it does not deal with the political or economic realities of health care, especially for blacks. The health care industry represents approximately 8% of the Gross National…

This article comments on a study that found children (ages 0-3) who were disadvantaged, from minority groups, or without health insurance were 2 to 30 times more likely to have unmet health care needs. The "medical home" philosophy is discussed, in which medical care is accessible, comprehensive, and family centered. (Contains 8 references.) (CR)

The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations held a public hearing to examine the effects of poverty on the hundreds of thousands of low income Blacks and Latinos under the age of 18 residing in Los Angeles County (California). The Commission's findings, recommendations, and concerns are presented. The following findings are presented: (1)…

Five global health-related dilemmas requiring action are discussed, including (1) worldwide population aging; (2) rising worldwide poverty; (3) ethical dilemmas of new technologies; (4) need for adequate and affordable health care systems; and (5) need to allocate scarce resources to meet infinite health care demands. Five actions are recommended,…