Health

National PTA Position Statement-Elements of Comprehensive Health Programs
-Early diagnosis and treatment of children’s vision problems is a necessary component to school readiness and academic learning;
-Integrated school and community health promotion efforts that acknowledge the shared responsibility for student health with the home, public and private health care systems, law enforcement and justice systems, government, environmental agencies, business, religious organizations, civic groups and the media.

National PTA Position Statement - National Health Reform and Access to Care for Children, Youth, Families, and Pregnant Women 

-Universal Coverage. It is essential that health reform eliminate barriers to health care providing universal, affordable health coverage on a mandatory basis to all, regardless of income, age, geographic residence, health status, legal status or education. Pre-existing condition exclusions and waiting periods should be prohibited, and continuous portable coverage should be provided.

-Health Care Costs. The National PTA believes that agencies with responsibilities for educational, health or welfare services must have provisions for adequate funding and structure to meet effective legislative intent and to provide adequate funding for school and community services to children in areas under federal government control. Any health plan should provide adequate reimbursement levels to encourage the development of primary care practices and to ensure appropriate distribution of health resources to underserved areas, and not shift costs to families, particularly those of low income. Costs should be contained in all sectors of the health care system, and administrative procedures be simplified. The National PTA supports taxing tobacco and alcohol products as a means of raising revenues for health care, but would oppose taxing employees or organizations for health benefit premiums.

Reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act One in six adolescents are obese, while one in five face hunger daily. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) is a critical piece of legislation that improves nutrition standards in our nation’s schools. Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act must:
✓ Boost child health by including robust school meal requirements on milk, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, calorie limits, and limits on sugar and sodium
✓ Require schools to make nutrition information more readily available and enhance opportunities for parents to participate in the development of local school wellness policies
 ✓ Ensure low-income and at-risk youth have access to school meals programs
 ✓ Deliver technical assistance and resources to schools that are not meeting the nutrition standards
 ✓ Provide federal grants and loan assistance for schools to improve kitchen infrastructure and equipment