Whole child wellness is the philosophy behind a more holistic approach to children’s health. It involves bringing together parents, educators, pediatricians, and the community to address the physical, emotional, social, and academic aspects of a child’s wellbeing. A healthy child has every element of his or her wellbeing carefully tended, but – as the famous saying goes – it takes a village to raise a child, and as a village we must come together to make sure every child has equal access to the best care, so they have the same opportunities to thrive.
The physical wellbeing of a child is the most obvious, outward sign of a child’s overall health. Though it doesn’t tell the whole story, it does become apparent whether or not a child’s basic needs are being met by how physically healthy the child is. Does the child have a safe, warm, dry place to sleep every night? Does the child have enough food to eat every day? Does the child have enough opportunity to play and get exercise? Does the child have access to affordable medical care if he or she becomes ill? These are the basics, and there are over 41,000 children in Washington state who cannot answer yes to these simple questions.
It's very difficult for children whose basic needs aren’t met to develop in the other areas of childhood wellness.
A child who doesn’t have a safe place to sleep every night is not getting adequate sleep, leading to a host of physical, behavioral, and academic problems that can follow them into adulthood.
A child experiencing food insecurity is distracted and unable to concentrate in class, frequently tardy, suffering from disorders associated with malnutrition such as asthma and anemia, and frequently “hangry.” These kids are more frequently disciplined in class, more often absent from class altogether, and more likely to experience suspension or expulsion from school.
A child without affordable access to medical care is more frequently and more severely ill for longer periods, leading to missed school, missed opportunities for development, and chronic illness that can persist well into adulthood.
On February 28, 2025, Backpack Brigade is hosting an educational luncheon on the topic of Whole Child Wellness featuring keynote speaker Dr. Benjamin Danielson. For many years, as director of the Odessa Children’s Clinic in Seattle, Dr. Danielson witnessed the hardships and consequences of poverty on childhood health. His experiences made him a passionate advocate for equal access to care for every child. Now, as a professor and practicing clinical pediatrician at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Dr. Danielson is training the next generation of doctors to look at the bigger picture, to treat the whole child, not just the symptoms, and to bring the community together to ensure every child has the opportunity to grown into a happy, healthy adult.
Please join us for this exciting opportunity to learn more about how Seattle can support a healthy young community. Tickets are on sale now. Click the button below to purchase your tickets, and we can’t wait to share this experience with you.
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