A systematic approach recognizes that the health of our children and youth is everyone's responsibility. Families, providers, local, state and federal agencies, community stakeholders and children themselves all play an important advocacy role in assuring and achieving child health.

Families are the front line of health care providing children with nutritious meals and ensuring their access to health check-ups, and specialized care when needed. Most importantly, families teach and mentor healthy behaviors that a child will use for a lifetime. As children become older and more independent, they face choices about drugs, alcohol and sex. They will also need to know how handle their anger and the anger of others. Yet, families cannot do it alone. They need information about health practices, childhood development and behavior, the location of services and the ability to provide a safe, loving home. They need to be able to access health care including mental and dental health care.

Families expect primary care health care providers to diagnose their child's physical ailments, medical status, and developmental progress. A medical home, where caregivers and families share information over time and where both families and children are relaxed, promotes quality health care decisions. Not all families can access a medical home or the providers they may need. Non-English speakers, families without health insurance, mobile families, homeless families, rural families, and children with special health care needs are populations at risk for inability to access providers and services. For example, specialized providers and hospitals often located in urban areas are not readily accessible for rural families.