Pictured from left to right: Susabel Becerra, MCH patient’s mother; Nancy Humbert, Senior Vice President of Strategic Business Planning and Public Affairs at Miami Children’s Hospital; Yohandra Alvarez, MCH patient; Lani Valido, Director of Public Policy and External Affairs at Miami Children’s Hospital; Dr. M. Narendra Kini, MD, MHA, President and CEO of Miami Children’s Hospital.

Miami Children's Hospital (MCH) hosted the first-ever Children’s Health Advocacy Day on July 18 to discuss and identify solutions to issues affecting critical funding for children’s health care programs. Patients and their families, MCH physicians, community leaders and Miami-Dade County elected officials came together to focus on the future of children’s health.

The issues addressed included access and affordability to health care, the ability for patients to lead a healthy life, prevention and equity in the quality of care for children in Florida. According to the Commonwealth Fund, 17.8 percent of children in Florida do not have health insurance coverage. In addition, 43.2 percent do not have a medical home and 33.1 percent ages 10-17 are overweight or obese.

During the event, MCH patients and their families participated in a letter writing campaign where they will voice their concerns to Congress. Patients from the MCH teen advisory council joined community leaders in break-out sessions to discuss the specific health care needs of adolescents. Following the sessions, community leaders took part in a panel discussion where commitments to policy changes were made.

“Our children are our future. I thank the participants for taking the time to put the children of our community first as we grapple with today’s harsh economic challenges,” said Nancy Humbert, Senior Vice President of Strategic Business Planning and Public Affairs at Miami Children’s Hospital.

For more information on MCH Children’s Health Advocacy Day, please visit www.mch.com/advocacy.