Medicaid Coverage for Pregnant Women: A Pathway to Healthy Outcomes for Moms and Children.

Medicaid is an essential source of health coverage that finances more than half of all births in North Carolina. This paper examines current eligibility for pregnant women and its impacts on health outcomes for mothers and children. The authors provide suggestions to increase access to this vital health insurance program and better promote the health of North Carolina's families.

The intersectionality of adverse childhood experiences, race/ethnicity, and income: Implications for policy.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur in a child's life. These negative experiences have been related to poor adult health and wellbeing outcomes. While previous research has established that ACEs are common, poor adult health outcomes occur at higher rates for persons of color and those with low-incomes compared to their relative counterparts. Examining the intersectionality of ACE, race/ethnicity, and income is important for targeted prevention and intervention efforts, especially as policies at the state and national level are created to address these inequities. The current study examined the prevalence of ACE by race/ethnicity and income. Results of the analyses demonstrate the need for policy makers and others to use tools to examine the unintended consequences of policy change or action. Racial equity impact assessments can be used to examine the impact of a policy change or action to prevent or address ACE on communities of color.

Poverty as an Adverse Childhood Experience.

Research demonstrates the correlation between childhood adversities linked to poverty and negative outcomes in adulthood, indicating that poverty may itself be considered an adverse childhood experience. Because child poverty is a result of family economic circumstance, policy investments promoting family financial health are imperative to protect child well-being and North Carolina's future prosperity.