Opinion | Policy decisions put entire groups of people at risk

Ultimately, however, to eliminate racial inequities and improve health outcomes for all pregnant people and infants, we also need to revisit the policy decisions outside of health care that have put entire groups of people “at risk” for a preventable illness. We should start by thinking about how to support families in their communities without judgment and surveillance. For example, instead of promoting policies that separate families and chill access to health care and other social services, as we see in immigration and child protective services, we should invest in housing assistance, the Child Tax Credit and other programs that help families meet their basic needs so that they can stay healthy and never experience crises in the first place.

This work outside of health care is important to protecting the health and well-being of children and families and is indispensable to advancing racial justice.

The writer is a senior policy analyst at the Center for the Study of Social Policy.

Alexandra Citrin, Washington

The writer is a senior associate at the Center for the Study of Social Policy.

Shadi Houshyar, Washington

The writer is a senior associate at the Center for the Study of Social Policy.