Community Pediatrics: Navigating the Intersection of Medicine, Public Health, and Social Determinants of Children’s Health

Abstract

This Policy Statement was reaffirmed October 2016 and December 2023. This policy statement provides a framework for the pediatrician’s role in promoting the health and well-being of all children in the context of their families and communities. It offers pediatricians a definition of community pediatrics, emphasizes the importance of recognizing social determinants of health, and delineates the need to partner with public health to address population-based child health issues. It also recognizes the importance of pediatric involvement in child advocacy at local, state, and federal levels to ensure all children have access to a high-quality medical home and to eliminate child health disparities. This statement provides a set of specific recommendations that underscore the critical nature of this dimension of pediatric practice, teaching, and research.