Health Policy

This year’s Vanderbilt Child Health Poll shows that over 40% of Tennessee families report they are food insecure ― a similar proportion from last year. Most families (71%) say they have continued to change food spending habits due to high prices.

The Tennessee Emerging Infections Program has been awarded a new five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue infectious disease surveillance research that has been conducted since 1999, and has expanded to include COVID, Mpox and HPV surveillance into oropharyngeal cancers.

The latest analysis of the 2024 Tennessee Child Health Poll has found that the proportion of uninsured kids in Tennessee held steady from the 2023 poll, and the rates of mental health diagnoses and associated concerns from Tennessee parents remain high.

The latest results from an annual poll of Tennessee parents from the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy again show education and school quality is the leading concern parents have for their children for the third consecutive year.

A Vanderbilt study found that youth who suffer nonfatal firearm injuries have a significantly increased risk of hospitalizations, emergency department visits, outpatient visits and costs in the 12 months following injury compared to youth without a firearm injury.

Vanderbilt research shows that most individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder are not on recommended medications and even fewer remain in care.

The latest analysis of the 2023 Tennessee Child Health Poll, released during National Mental Health Awareness Month, has found that roughly 29% of Tennessee parents are concerned their child has undiagnosed anxiety or depression.