From infancy, children rely on their parents to learn about and cultivate the habits and skills that will ensure their health. Yet parents’ abilities to provide this care can be inhibited by many factors, from personal health to environmental circumstances such as their job, community, or economic status. And when a parent struggles due to any of these factors, children’s health may suffer. Rather than isolate child care from parent care, a two-generation approach acknowledges their interdependency by addressing the needs of the family holistically. 

Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH, FAAP, President and CEO of the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ), discusses why a two-generation approach is essential for children’s health, and how it can be used to drive systems-level change. Access the interview and video here.