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Connecting and Collaborating

In 2021, IHP led several virtual events that responded to the country’s worsening mental health crisis and focused on addressing the unique challenges and needs of young people during the pandemic.

In August 2021, IHP collaborated with Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools team to host a forum on The Future of Healthy Schools: Providing Supportive Funding, Systems Change, and Community Collaboration. At this forum, our research and education partner, Child Trends, unveiled a new report that maps out how the U.S. federal government currently defines, funds, supports, inhibits, and holds accountable school health programs.

To discuss the report and identify ways to embed health in schools, IHP brought together a panel of high-profile education leaders from across the country, including Holly Hunt, branch chief at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Charlene Russell-Tucker, commissioner of education at Connecticut State Department of Education, and Erin Simon, assistant superintendent of School Support Services at Long Beach Unified School District. Their insightful conversation touched on timely and critical topics like equity, the intersection of education and health in schools, and the renewed focus on mental and social-emotional health.

The live event drew nearly 350 people and over 2,000 have viewed the video recording. To amplify the forum, IHP developed an array of supporting materials.

The Future of Healthy Schools Forum – Highlights

The forum’s experts share insights on timely and critical health and education topics in this short event highlight video.

Watch video

The Future of Healthy Schools Forum – Full Event

This thoughtful conversation touches on equity, the intersection of education and health in schools, and the renewed focus on mental and social-emotional health.

Watch video
Teacher in classroom helping student at desk

Using COVID-19 relief aid to support student and staff health

In this blog, Future Ed’s Phylis Jordan and the Healthy Schools Campaign’s Alex Mays, discuss how to use COVID-19 relief aid to support vulnerable students and educators.

To spur further conversations and feature prominent voices from within and beyond our organization, IHP published a blog series on a variety of mental health topics relevant to the pandemic.

Maintaining social connection in a time of physical distance

The arrival of the novel coronavirus has raised unprecedented challenges across the globe. In our collective effort to help flatten the curve of this pandemic, we are making substantial changes to our daily lives.

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Improving mental health care for youth

A discussion about prevention, models of care, technology, and school-based interventions.

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Three Medicaid trends we’re watching in 2022

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) have served as critical supports to children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

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The COVID-19 crisis demands a transformation of our children’s mental health system

Due to school closures and shelter-in-place orders, nonprofit providers of mental health services cannot easily connect with children and families in person.

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The important role of policy in addressing childhood trauma during COVID-19 and beyond

Over the past few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused everyone to grapple with uncertainty and manage new stressors at home, at work, and in our communities.

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Launching 988 nationally to support a continuum of care in mental health

As a volunteer counselor for crisis support services in my county, I answer calls from people in crisis who come from all different walks of life.

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Connecting Health Policy Thought Leaders

Over the past decade, policy changes have fundamentally altered the health care coverage landscape in this country. Millions of people have gained access to health coverage, yet despite significant progress, millions remain uninsured.

To meet this challenge, the Institute for Health Policy has been convening a distinguished group of health policy leaders over the past two years to exchange ideas on ways to expand health coverage and improve affordability.

Colleagues walking down the hall in conservation

IHP connects renowned health policy leaders under Chatham House Rule, creating space for participants to talk freely about approaches that could make health coverage more accessible and affordable for individuals and families across the country. By sharing promising research and policy ideas, these convenings are creating and strengthening connections between health policy experts from across the country and elevating good policy ideas to advance our shared goal of expanding coverage and improving affordability.

In addition to external convenings, we also bring experts into Kaiser Permanente to share knowledge and collaborate with KP leaders on steps that can be taken to lower health care costs and improve affordability.

As policymakers discuss health reform opportunities, IHP launched a new series of stories to explain how the elements of Kaiser Permanente’s model combine to support better health and health care.

Integrated Care Stories Overview

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