Advocating for Equitable Care

Every child has an individualized experience receiving necessary healthcare, but there are specifically unique challenges faced by migrant children. Whether they arrived the United States unaccompanied after fleeing violence and poverty or are navigating the language barrier alongside families without resources, working to get the right care is far from easy. At this year’s annual Children’s Hospital Colorado Podcast live event, Charting Pediatrics took a close look at this topic. In this episode you will learn about acute clinical challenges, resource constraints, social needs, moral distress, impact on staff, child health policy, combating misinformation and so much more.

Steven Federico, MD, the Chief Government and Community Affairs Officer at Denver Health joined us for this special episode. His passion for improved and equitable healthcare is fueled by his ongoing experiences as a pediatrician and primary care physician at Denver Health, where he has worked since 2002. In his past role as medical director, he oversaw three community health centers and 19 school-based clinics that provide comprehensive physical and mental health to 70,000 children across Denver. His advocacy work focuses on eliminating barriers to adequate health coverage and healthcare.

In this episode, our expert discusses:

• The strains hospital and primary care settings have experienced with the 2024 surge in international migration to the United States
• Effective strategies to deliver the best care for migrant children
• How the medical community can prepare for and adapt to the possibilities of deportation
• Understanding the opportunities that exist to provide optimal care in different healthcare settings