Report of the Surgeon General's Conference

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Ifyou would like more information on the “Healthy Children Ready to Learn” Initiative, the Conference on “Healthy Children Ready to Learn: The
Critical Role of Parents,” or the six National Education Goals, please contact one of the following agencies:

  

Department of Health Department of Education National Governors’ Association
. and Human Services 400 Marvland Ave., S.W. 444 N, Capitol St, N.W.
: 200 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC 20202 Suite 250

Washington, DC 20201 (202) 401-3000 Washington, DC 20001

(202) 245-6445 (202) 624-5300

Office of the Surgeon General
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave., SW,

Washington, DC 20201

(202) 245-7163

Department of Agriculture

4th St. & Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250

(202) 720-2791

 

 
Parents

Speak Out
for America’s
Children

Healthy Children

 

 

The Critical Role
of Parents

February 9-12, 1992
FEDERAL COSPONSORS
AteAlthy CHilavEN * Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department

of Health and Human Services

    

7 * Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

im * Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S.
a Department of Education

* Health Care Financing Administration, Department of
Health and Human Services

Pa * Intergovernmental Affairs Office

7 x _ * U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and
Human Services

x Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health
Administration

Office for Substance Abuse Prevention

 

x Centers for Disease Control

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion

National Center for Environmental Health and Injury Control
National Center for Prevention Services

* Health Resources and Services Administration
Bureau of Health Care Delivery and Assistance
Maternal and Child Health Bureau

* Indian Health Service

* National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institute of Dental Research

* Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

* Office of Population Affairs
PRIVATE COSPONSORS

* Alliance to End Childhood Lead
Poisoning

* American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
* American Academy of Pediatrics

% American Association of Public Health
Dentistry

* American Association of School Health
* American Dental Association

* American Dietetic Association

* American Medical Association

* American Nurses’ Association

* American Public Health Association

% American Public Welfare Association

* American Red Cross

* American School Food Service
Association

* Association for the Care of Children’s
Health

* Association of Maternal and Child Health
Programs

* Association of State and Territorial
Dental Directors

* Association of State and Territorial
Health Officials

%* Child Welfare League of America, Inc.
* Children’s Action Network

* Federation for Children with Special
Needs

* General Federation of Women’s Clubs
* Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

* Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies
Coalition

* Home and School Institute
* Institute for Educational Leadership
* La Leche League International

* March of Dimes Birth Defects
Foundation

* National Association of Community
Health Centers, Inc.

* National Association of Elementary
School Principals

* National Association of Pediatric Nurse
Associates and Practitioners

* National Association of Social Workers
* National Association of WIC Directors

* National Center for Clinical Infant
Programs

* National Center for Educational Statistics

%* National Commission to Prevent Infant
Mortality

* National Congress of American Indians
* National Dental Association

* National Head Start Association

* National Health/Education Consortium
* National Mental Health Association

* National Parent Network on Disabilities
%* National Parent-Teachers Association
* National SAFE KIDS Campaign

* National Urban League

* Parent Action

* Parents as Teachers National Center

* Society for Nutrition Education

* United Way of America
Dedication

wealthy CHidarth

    

Oo

 

The Critical Role
of Parents

 

here are 64 million children in this country. When I was appointed to be
Surgeon General, I vowed to speak for all of them—whether rich or poor,
healthy or sick, whatever their race or ethnic background. To this end,
nearly 2 years ago, I established the Healthy Children Ready to Learn Initiative.
This Initiative, which focuses on the health aspects of school readiness, was born
out of the President’s first National Education Goal, that “By the year 2000, all
children in America will start school ready to learn.”

As part of this Initiative, the Conference on Healthy Children Ready to
Learn: The Critical Role of Parents was held here in Washington, DC, in February
1992. More than 700 people attended—health professionals and administrators,
teachers, Government officials, and others involved in the health and well-being
of our Nation’s young people—but our guests of honor for this Conference were
the approximately 225 parents who attended from each of the 50 States, the
District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories.

Over the course of those 3 days, our time was spent listening to and learning
from one another. We learned what worked; we were told what didn’t. The
Conference was unique in that the parents spoke from their hearts. They raised
a collective voice that said, in effect, “As parents, we must stand up for our children
and our families and see that our needs are met. We must do so with dignity, and
we must demand respect when others try to rob us of our dignity.” Parents who
never knew that they could speak for others eloquently articulated the needs of
children and families. Although these parents came to our Conference from all
parts of the country and from all walks of life, they came with the same mission:
to improve the lives of the children and the families of this country.

This proceedings documentis dedicated to those parents who attended our
Conference. We are proud of them and inspired by them. Itis our sincere hope
that what we learned in those 3 days is reflected honestly in these pages. This
document will serve as a “guide” for the rest of us and as an inspiration to do what
was asked. As I stated at the close of our Conference, “This Conference may be
ending, but what we have accomplished is the beginning of a way of acting and

thinking with families in mind.”

iv Parents Speak Out for America's Children
We must care for our children. That responsibility does not belong to only
one individual or entity or Government agency. What we learned at this
Conference is that we are all responsible for all of the children. We must become
advocates for one another and share our strengths. When President Bush
outlined his six National Education Goals, he envisioned an America where our
children can compete on an international level. He knew that the children of
today are the explorers, the writers, the teachers, and the inventors of tomorrow.
If we invest in their future today, we can ensure their growth and advancement

for tomorrow.

 

As Surgeon General, I will speak for you, the
families of America. My voice and my office are at
your service. I thank you from the bottom of my
heart for your thoughts, your energies, and your
heartfelt spirit.

prea C Ayy

Antonia C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H.

Surgeon General

 

 

 

 

Report of the Surgeon General's Conference Vv
Contents

 

 

 

 

Dedication iv
Executive Summary 1
Chapter 1 * Introduction 13
Chapter 2 * Charge to the Conference, Antonia C. Novello, M.D.,
M.P.H., Surgeon General 19

Chapter 3 * Parents Speak Out: Summary of Parent Work Groups 27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Consensus 30
Findings at a Glance 30
Awareness of and Entry into Health, Education, and Social Service Systems 32
Participation in Health, Education, and Social Service Systems 36
Transitions Through Health, Education, and Social Service Systems 39
Programs That Parents Grade A+ 43

Regional Issues 44
Region 1 44
Region 2 46
Region 3 48
Region 4 50
Region 5 52
Region 6 54
Region 7 56
Region 8 58
Regions 9 and 10 60
Native American Families 62
Migrant Families 64

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Chapter 4 * Presentation of Findings 67

Parent Representatives 68
Awareness of and Entry into Health, Education, and Social Service Systems

Sherlita Reeves, Parent Delegate from Arkansas 68
Participation in Health, Education, and Social Service Systems

Ellie Valdez-Honeyman, Parent Delegate from Colorado 70
Transitions Through Health, Education, and Social Service Systems

Larry Bell, Parent Delegate from Delaware 73

Responder Panel 78
James O. Mason, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services 78

vi Parents Speak Out for America’s Children
 

John T. MacDonald, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Education, U.S. Department of Education 80
Catherine Bertini, Assistant Secretary for Food and Consumer Services,
U.S. Department of Agriculture 82
Wade Horn, Ph.D., Commissioner, Administration for Children, Youth and Families,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 86
Christine Nye, Director, Medicaid Bureau, Health Care Financing Administration 88
Lou Enoff, Principal Deputy Administrator, Social Security Administration 90
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Chapter 5 * Commitment of Our Leaders 93
George H. Bush, President of the United States 94
Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., Secretary of Health and Human Services 97
Edward Madigan, Secretary of Agriculture 100
Lamar Alexander, Secretary of Education 103
Roger B. Porter, Ph.D., Assistant to the President for Economic and Domestic Policy 108
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Chapter 6 * Panel Presentations 111
Panel 1A: Early Childhood Issues That Affect School Readiness and Health 112
Panel 1B: Helping Families Get Services: Some New Approaches 115
Panel 2A: Healthy Children Ready to Learn: What Are the Roles of Parents,
Educators, Health Professionals, and the Community? 116
Panel 2B: Special Issues That Impact Children and Families: Substance
Abuse, HIV, and Violence 120
Panel 3A: Disabilities 122
Panel 3B: Exploring Comprehensive Health and Education Models for
Young Children 125
Panel 4A: Children with Special Health Care Needs: Lessons Learned 127
Panel 4B: Parenting: The Critical Role 130
Panel 5A: Childcare: Two Perspectives 134
Panel 5B: Healthy Start, Head Start, Even Start, and WIC: Integrating Health,
Education, and Social Service Programs 136

Chapter 7 * Closing Remarks, Antonia C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H.,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surgeon General 139
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Appendix A: Conference Participants A-]
Appendix B: Advisory Group B-1
Appendix C: Planning Committee C-l
Appendix D: Agenda at a Glance D-1
Appendix E: Facilitators and Recorders E-]
Appendix F: Workshops F-]
Appendix G: Exhibits G1
Appendix H: Entertainment H-1

Report of the Surgeon General's Conference vii