Public Policy Priorities & Positions

Kids cannot vote. Kids cannot call Congress or meet with legislators on issues affecting their health and well-being. They need strong organizations, institutions and people to do this for them. Children's hospitals, by virtue of their role in providing complex care and care exclusively for children, are significant partners in government in caring for children.

In 1994, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago established the Public Policy Committee of the Board to recommend institutional positions on legislation and regulation that enable the hospital to enhance the health and well-being of all children.

Review the topics below to learn more about our public policy priorities and positions.

• Abandoned Newborn Babies
• Access to Health Insurance for Children
• Adolescent HIV Infection
• Adolescent Substance Use
• Adverse Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke on Children
• Antibiotic Resistance
• Childhood Immunizations
• Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
• Early Intervention
• Federal Graduate Medical Education (GME) Funding
• Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis
• Global Advocacy for Children
• Grassroots Advocacy
• Health Care Reform
• Health Information Technology
• HIV Testing of Pregnant Women and Newborns
• Immigration and Children's Access to Health Care
• Neonatal Levels of Care
• Obesity and Overweight Prevention
• Opioid Crisis
• Opposition to Legalization of Marijuana for Non-Medical Purposes in Illinois 
  • Evidence-based Position Statement
• Pediatric Telehealth
• Prevention and Treatment of Pediatric Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
• Professional Liability Reform
• Protection of Children and Families Attempting to Immigrate to the United States
• Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth
• Unintentional Injuries
• Use of Alcohol by Youth
• Use of Tobacco Products by Youth
• Violence Prevention