Ryan White

Dateline NBC recently examined why families in poorer zip codes in places such as New York City are hit far harder by asthma than upper income children. A big part of the problem is public housing.

The common thread of the bonus program that just ended was to make it easier for low-income families to get their children on public health insurance.

The Los Angeles Times took an impressive deep dive into the problems plaguing California’s foster care system, detailing the extent to which perverse incentives and a lack of monitoring among private agencies overseeing foster homes has led to disturbing patterns of child abuse.

Has your child has his tonsils removed or head scanned lately? Whether or not you said yes may have something to do with where you call home. That variation in care is raising some red flags.

The Nurse Family Partnership, an early intervention program which features home-visits for at risk children, has a track record of better health outcomes and reducing problems among poorer moms and kids. But it isn't a cure-all for the problems darkening the prospects of these children.

For the 47 million Americans dependent on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the bad news keeps on coming. Cuts in November might be followed by billions more as Congress considers legislation.

Less education lowers the chances that you have health insurance, which translates into less medical care and worse health outcomes. Many of the health risks for the illiterate are much more immediate than that, like not being able to read pill bottles or the accompanying instructions.

According to 2012 figures, fast food restaurants spent $4.6 billion on advertising their goods, up 8% from 2009, and social media represents a growing slice of that marketing pie.

Head Start programs have a proven track record when it comes to boosting the health and outlook of low-income young children. But is it coming at an unacknowledged cost to those working for the program each day?

New technologies and alternative forms of care can help low-income patients feel more informed about their health. But all of those services can’t compete with the ultimate trump card: the doctor/patient relationship.