Child Health, Anti-Racism and the Washington State Chapter

Posted about 5 years ago

Dear WA State NAPNAP members,

These past few months have been both incredibly challenging and full of sadness for our community. The surfacing of horrific systemic disparities and racism leading to disproportionate deaths of Black men, women, and children highlighted by the COVID pandemic and murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and George Floyd among others has been heartbreaking. As pediatric advanced practice providers, advocates, and leaders we must do better for our patients, families, and communities.

The WA State chapter of NAPNAP and your legislative team remain committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity for the children and families of Washington State. We will also continue to reject prejudice against race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexual orientation and reiterate its harmful effects on children's health. Our chapter, along with NAPNAP national, are dedicated to advocating for all children to grow up in a world that celebrates their diversity and advocates for their safety. Children deserve a community absent of discrimination, cognizant of individuality, and supportive of resilience development.

Racism is a public health crisis and detrimental to child and family health. Please take the time to connect with your local elected officials to speak out against racism and how it affects our patients and families.

Find your district and elected officials here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

As we continue to educate ourselves we welcome your feedback or suggestions and look forward to having you fight alongside us for child health in Olympia this January.

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