CHAI Government Affairs

Using advocacy as a path to change, the Child Health Advocacy Institute's government affairs team is a voice for children at the local, state and federal levels.

We bring attention to and rally support for public policies that:

• Aim to eliminate health disparities
• Protect the interest of children’s health
• Increase funding for children’s healthcare
• Support medical research and innovation 

 We help policymakers make decisions that are good for kids with:

• Education on key children’s health issues
• Testimony from our expert physicians and researchers
• Community health data 

Public Policy Issues  

We advocate for children at the local, state and federal level. We continue to keep children at the forefront by helping policymakers understand the issues that impact our patients, families and communities. There are several key issues that our team works to promote including:

• Asthma
• Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME)
• Infant mortality reduction
• Medicaid and CHIP
• Mental health
• Rare disease research and coverage
• Violence prevention

Our team has regularly prepared and coordinated testimony before the DC Council on a variety of programs throughout Children's National, including:

• DC Mental Health Access Program (DC MAP)
• Women, Infant and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC)
• HIV Screening Program
• Teen Pregnancy Program
• Child and Adolescent Protection Center
• Parent Navigator Program
• IMPACT DC
• Healthy Steps