The Kids are Not Okay

Melissa Arca
I will preface this with saying we are incredibly fortunate to live in a school district who has done, and continues to do, the right thing by our students. But...we are the lucky few....

Prolonged school closures in our communities are taking their toll. As a pediatrician on the frontlines, this is what we are seeing: unprecedented number of teen eating disorders, anxiety, depression, ER visits related to suicide ideation or attempts.

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THE KIDS ARE NOT OKAY
The younger ones are plagued with new onset obesity, emotional/behavioral issues, and failing to meet grade level standards.

And these are our well supported kids with intact family support units.

I cannot even fathom the ones we aren’t seeing. The ones we aren’t hearing from. The ones where school was a place of refuge.

THE KIDS ARE NOT OKAY
I stand with science, data, and public health recommendations that support a safe return to in person instruction.

We can no longer stand idly by as our children are left behind.

The chasm is growing between the haves and have nots...

THIS IS NOT OKAY

I vow to keep advocating for our children.

The time is now...
https://www.aappublications.org/.../covid-north-carolina...
https://jamanetwork.com/.../jamanetwo.../fullarticle/2772834
https://www.aappublications.org/.../covid-school-safety...
#PutKidsFirst
#SafeReturnToSchool
#Equity

California Chapter 1, American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Pediatrics

Melissa Arca is a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente and creator of the blog Confessions of a Dr. Mom