Opinion: Chronic Absenteeism Is a Vital Sign for Kids' Health. New Framework Seeks a Cure
School attendance is critical for success in the classroom, and success in school is core to health across a lifespan. Children who attend school regularly are far more likely to achieve academically and graduate from high school than those who are chronically absent. In turn, high school graduation leads to better health outcomes, and students who graduate are more likely to have fewer chronic illnesses and fewer injuries, and live longer lives, than those who do not.
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Yet today, more than 1 in 4 American students is chronically absent, defined as missing more than 10% of school days. In some districts, that proportion is closer to 1 in 2. The COVID pandemic widened and deepened a longstanding problem, and now, the obstacles that prevent children from coming to school — chronic illness, disengagement in the classroom and unmet social needs — are wide-ranging. While many teachers and principals have worked tirelessly to get students back into the classroom, chronic absence has become a problem too big for educators or schools to solve alone.
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A new public health framework, developed by education and public health experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Kaiser Permanente and Attendance Works, offers a comprehensive, community-driven approach with three core elements: data, partnerships and prevention.
First, school attendance data should be tracked and analyzed on a regular basis by district-level teams of educators, epidemiologists and clinicians who can interpret patterns and target solutions. Key questions include: When during the academic year does attendance dip? At what age does it start to falter? Which neighborhoods are most affected? Public health departments can include chronic absence in their community health needs assessments.
Sharing school attendance data securely with health providers can help identify children with particular conditions, like asthma, who are missing school and require extra attention. In the District of Columbia, for example, pediatricians — with the consent of parents — receive regular reports about which children in their practices are on track to become chronically absent. They then can talk to families about what's happening. If children are missing school for health reasons, more intensive medical treatment may be needed. If the problem is disengagement in the classroom, clinicians can help assess whether there are additional educational needs. If there are social factors, such as inadequate child care or housing, clinicians can work with social workers in schools or community services to find resources to assist families.
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Data alone is not enough; partnerships are essential. Beyond health care providers, community organizations, afterschool programs and religious institutions all have a role to play in supporting families in areas with low attendance rates. Such broad coalitions have a track record of success.
For example, the Cincinnati All Children Thrive Learning Network is a citywide collaborative anchored by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the public school system. The collaboration reviews education and health data and uses it to inform targeted action in the clinic and classroom; for example promoting access to primary care. The results include increased improved third-grade reading scores and reduced pediatric hospitalizations.
The third pillar is prevention. It can be easy to see troubling attendance patterns as simply an issue with a truant student, a problem family or a bad school. But punitive approaches are less likely to work than efforts that listen to parents, address their needs and anticipate future challenges. Using data and evidence to guide action, coalitions can take such steps as providing safer transportation routes to school by improving sidewalk safety, creating protected bike lanes, installing flashing lights on crosswalks and offering better public transportation options; adding services to afterschool programs; and expanding school-based mental health support. Communities can also set a widespread expectation that all kids must go to school every day. Encouraging the development of such norms is difficult, but doing so was at the core of other successful public health strategies, like smoking cessation and traffic safety.
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Not every approach will succeed. To sustain progress, it is important to document, evaluate and share what works and why. Research-practice partnerships such as the Catamount Community Schools Collaborative build long-term collaborations among researchers, health practitioners and representatives from districts and state agencies to quickly assess the implementation and results of innovative programs. In San Francisco, youth are trained as researchers to help in such efforts.
Most fundamentally, this framework's approach to chronic absence means keeping focus on a measurable outcome and innovating with solutions until every child has the best chance of success, both in and out of the classroom.
Like heart rate and blood pressure, school attendance is a vital sign for health. Like weight and height, it is fundamental to child development. Now is the time to prioritize reducing chronic absence to support the long-term health of children.
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39 minutes ago
1 week after deadly shooting at CDC, some employees feel Trump and RFK Jr. have moved on
After a gunman opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) campus in Atlanta last week -- forcing hundreds into lockdown, hitting six buildings and killing a police officer -- authorities found he'd been harboring years-long grievances with the COVID-19 vaccine. Patrick White's neighbors told ABC News that the 30-year-old believed he suffered negative health effects after he got the vaccine, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) found written documents at his home indicating that he wanted to make his discontent known. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during last Friday's incident. For many CDC employees, the shooting was the culmination of long-held fears that years of simmering anger and division that grew from those who disagreed with COVID-19 pandemic policies might turn to violence against the CDC, putting public health workers in physical danger. "I think the environment has been set up for something like this to happen," Jessica Rogers-Brown, a CDC epidemiologist who has worked in multiple centers across the agency over the past seven years, told ABC News. "But this is far worse than I feared." Rogers-Brown, who works at one of the buildings that was struck by gunfire, emphasized that she was speaking in her personal capacity, not in her professional role or on behalf of CDC. For Rogers-Brown and some of her colleagues, that fear has turned to frustration with government leaders -- including President Donald Trump -- over the last week. They feel the shooting has slipped into the background without even a public statement from the president about the attack on federal property or a sufficient denouncement from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who oversees the CDC and has peddled vaccine skepticism throughout his career. Earlier in this week, when Rogers-Brown went to pick up equipment that would allow her to continue to work from home while shattered windows and broken doors are replaced on CDC's campus, she walked past bullet holes. She said she won't feel safe returning until she feels federal leadership has publicly stood up for the CDC and Kennedy has condemned any violence aimed at public health workers as loudly as he derided CDC for its COVID response. Before becoming health secretary, Kennedy falsely called the COVID-19 vaccine the "deadliest vaccine ever made" and, during his recent presidential run, he wrote in a post on X that he would "clean up the cesspool of corruption at CDC." "We really are at a turning point of what can happen," Rogers-Brown said. "We can start to right the ship, or we can keep going down this road and wonder if, next time, I'm going to be triaging the gunshot wound of a colleague. And what will make the difference will be the voices of our leaders that have the microphone." She called for Kennedy to make it clear that "public servants are not the enemy" and "CDC workers are humans." Over the weekend, Kennedy sent an email to staff, offering prayers and saying he realized that the shooting was "unsettling" for staffers. Kennedy visited the CDC on Monday, surveying the damage, meeting with senior leadership and visiting the widow of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who was killed Friday in the shooting. That day, he referred to the shooting as "heartbreaking" in an X post. In an TV interview with Scripps News later that day, Kennedy said CDC workers "should not be the targets of this kind of violence from anybody" and that political violence is "always wrong." Asked if he would take action to quell misinformation around vaccines, Kennedy said there wasn't enough information about the shooter's motive and went on to criticize public health agencies. "We have to ask, why are people not believing the public health agencies? And the answer, I think, is pretty elementary: That the public health agencies have not been honest," Kennedy said. Some staffers were frustrated by what they perceived to be a lack of strong response from Kennedy, who didn't directly address staff during his visit on Monday. "He never even sent an email to us until this past Saturday and never visited our campus until this week," a CDC scientist who has worked at the agency for 10 years in a variety of positions told ABC News. "I don't even know how to feel with the lack of words from the White House and RFK victim-shaming us." The scientist asked not to be publicly identified over fears of retaliation at work and safety concerns. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon told ABC News in a statement that Kennedy "has unequivocally condemned the horrific attack and remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of CDC employees." Nixon said Kennedy's response was swift and decisive, citing his trip to Atlanta, and said any suggestion of a delay "is simply not supported by the facts." "The Secretary's presence and outreach underscore his commitment to the CDC community and public health workforce. This is a time to stand in solidarity with our public health workforce, not a moment for the media to exploit a tragedy for political gain," Nixon said. While Trump hasn't publicly spoken about the shooting, White House spokesperson Kush Desai also emphasized that the safety and security of government employees, "whether in Washington, D.C. or Atlanta, Georgia -- is the topmost priority of the Administration." "Violence has no place in any civil society, and the White House extends our heartfelt condolences to the family of Officer David Rose and the entire CDC team," Desai said in a statement sent to ABC News. CDC director Dr. Susan Monarez spoke directly to CDC employees on Tuesday, giving brief remarks in a 10-minute all-staff call that was cut short by technical issues. "You are resourceful, resilient and strong, and we will make sure you have the resources, the protection, the support you need to keep doing the work you do," she said. She followed up later the same day with a more direct denouncement of misinformation to the agency's more than 10,000 employees with a note that read, in part, "the dangers of misinformation and its promulgation has now led to deadly consequences." "I will work to restore trust in public health to those who have lost it -- through science, evidence, and clarity of purpose," Monarez wrote. Another CDC staff member told ABC News that the last six months of the Trump administration had already been tumultuous for the agency. She cited Kennedy's reorganization efforts that led to the mass-firings of around 10,000 HHS employees and many entire CDC programs being cut, which Kennedy defended as "reducing bureaucratic sprawl." "It was an overwhelming grief to watch what was unfolding with public health and how it was going to affect people's lives," the CDC worker, who also asked not to be publicly identified over fears of retaliation at work and concerns over her own safety, said. "But it is very personal now." With nearly 20 years of experience working in communications at CDC on multiple different public health issues, including immunization and COVID-19, she said she'd never seen as much fear among her colleagues as she had this year. "The vilification of federal workers is astounding, and people are forgetting ... that we're human beings," she said. "We're parents and friends and mothers and daughters. You know, we're just like everyone else." She pointed to Kennedy's history of vaccine skepticism before joining the Trump administration and actions to dissuade vaccine uptake since taking office. "This didn't happen overnight," she said. In May 2021, Kennedy filed a citizen petition asking for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revoke its authorization of all COVID-19 vaccines, which he falsely criticized during a Louisiana House of Representatives meeting about school vaccine requirements as the "deadliest vaccine ever made." Since taking office, Kennedy has taken a series of actions to change U.S. vaccine policy. He announced that the COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women and, earlier this month, canceled $500 million in mRNA vaccine federal funding, terminating awards and contracts with pharmaceutical companies and universities. "After reviewing the science and consulting top experts at NIH and FDA, HHS has determined that mRNA technology poses more risk than benefits for these respiratory viruses," Kennedy said in a video posted on X when the cut to mRNA funding was announced. Scientists and doctors contend that mRNA vaccines have been studied for decades. Robust evidence from clinical trials and real-world data shows that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are safe and effective, despite Kennedy's claims, and that serious health events after COVID-19 vaccination are rare, as .
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
What Inflammation Really Does To Your Body, According To Doctors
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." You're feeling a little…off. Your body is achy, your brain feels foggy, you're getting rashes, and your digestive system is making more noise than your rowdy neighbors. Naturally, you start Googling. Before long, you've come up with a credible-sounding culprit—and it's a word more ominous than any of the symptoms you're experiencing. The word? Inflammation. 34.6 percent of American adults have systemic inflammation, according to 2024 research out of the University of Florida. It can be pretty serious. Inflammation is what's behind many chronic illnesses and most modern autoimmune diseases like arthritis, Crohn's disease, and lupus. And, unfortunately, the risks for autoimmune diseases are a lot higher for women. Four of every five people with an autoimmune disease are female, according to the National Institutes of Health, a complex puzzle researchers are still trying to solve. Put lightly, having unchecked inflammation throughout your body isn't necessarily a good thing. But there's more to it than its buzzy, bad-guy reputation would have you believe. Ahead, experts explain what inflammation is, when it's nothing to worry about, and when you should call your doctor. Meet the experts: Esther Sternberg, MD, is a physician, research director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, and author of Well at Work, Creating Wellbeing in Any Workspace. Shilpa Ravella, MD, is a gastroenterologist and author of A Silent Fire: The Story of Inflammation, Diet & Disease. When Inflammation Isn't So Bad Social media is full of advice on how to reduce inflammation, often accompanied by a pitch to buy a supplement or special tea. But sometimes, inflammation is actually on your side, a sign that your feisty white blood cells are working the way they're supposed to in order to fight off any threats. When your deltoid gets red and sore after a flu shot, for example, that's your immune system charging in to attack the virus—which is an inflammatory response. And while it's doing battle, it's also learning to recognize the virus, so that you can easily fend it off when flu season rolls around. Pretty smart. Without the inflammatory response, you wouldn't heal when you cut your finger while dicing onions, because it's your immune system that wards off infection and promotes scabbing. You wouldn't be getting strong and building muscle either. When you're working out correctly and not injuring yourself, you create small tears in your muscles that the inflammatory response helps repair and then strengthen. That's not to say it feels good. These forms of inflammation, known as acute inflammation, often bring side effects like redness, swelling, heat, pain, and even temporary loss of function of the body part affected. Luckily, for the discomforts acute inflammation brings, simple over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen are usually all you need. Just be careful about not overdoing it, and try to hold off using them post-workout so the inflammation can have its positive effects. When Inflammation Goes Wrong Inflammation is like the helpful friend who will always rush first to your defense when you're in need—and mutiny if you push her too far. When your alert system malfunctions and inflammation hangs around too long, it becomes chronic, attacking what should be healthy areas instead of repairing damaged ones. 'Inflammation is not always helpful, or even harmless,' says Shilpa Ravella, MD, a gastroenterologist and author of A Silent Fire: The Story of Inflammation, Diet & Disease. 'It can rage against the body's own tissues, disrupting essential functions and leading to injury.' We know that untempered inflammation plays an important role in many chronic conditions, including heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. It also factors into rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, among other health issues. And while factors like genetics and environment play a major role in who develops inflammatory diseases, even lower-level chronic inflammation can undermine your overall well-being and make you more vulnerable to disease. A healthy system is alert to threats and fends them off as needed. One that's fighting all the time will feel like, well, it's fighting all the time, leading to issues like fatigue, joint pain, skin problems, or a rebellious stomach. But there are actions we can take to reduce risks and mitigate symptoms. 'Chronic, low-level inflammation is fueled in large part by dietary, lifestyle, and other environmental factors,' Dr. Ravella explains. How To Tell If Inflammation Is Something Serious A good rule of thumb is that if you know why you're experiencing an inflammatory reaction—like swelling around a cut—and can tolerate it, you likely don't have to worry. However, 'To err on the side of caution,' says Dr. Ravella, 'I always tell folks to visit the doctor if they have any concerning or out-of-the-ordinary symptoms that persist.' Talk to your medical team about what's been going on and for how long, to see if there's a more serious issue to be addressed. You'll also then be able to rule out other issues like anemia or hormonal changes, which might be the result of similar symptoms. Worried about chronic inflammation? Start here. Even with the odds stacked against women, there are simple steps we can take that make a big difference. Get Smarter About Your Stress Your immune system is responsible for setting off inflammatory reactions, and one of its biggest enemies is also one of the toughest to manage—stress. Chronic stress impacts the immune cells in the brain, according to a 2025 study in Biology. But that's not all: Chronic stress 'can make your chromosomes look 10 to 17 years older than your biological age," says Esther Sternberg, MD, a physician, research director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, and author of Well at Work, Creating Wellbeing in Any Workspace. This accelerated chromosomal aging means that your body doesn't repair itself as well as it should, making you more vulnerable to diseases like cancer and making your body feel older than the number on your driver's license. Before you freak out that your doomscrolling and deadlines are messing with your immune system and adding a decade or more to your body, remember that you can't—and wouldn't want to—eliminate stress from your life entirely. A dose of stress is what keeps you on your toes when you need to perform a task, and keeps you aware of your surroundings when you're walking home late at night. You just shouldn't be living your life 24/7 like you're trying to land a plane. Fortunately, all the things that you already do—or try to do—to keep yourself healthy will also help lower stress and, in turn, maintain your immune system and keep inflammation at bay. Think: good nutrition, rest, regular physical activity, and stress management exercises like meditation, mindfulness, or therapy. Best of all, these things all work really well together, like an Avengers team for your body. Catch Enough Zzzz's It's boring but it's true: 'Sleeping is really important for good health,' says Dr. Sternberg. During sleep, your body is working hard to repair itself, and your brain is washing out waste, setting you up for success when you wake up. Sleep actually controls the production of cells that are the drivers of inflammation, according to a 2022 study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. Getting enough sleep means that less of these cells are floating around. So skip the caffeine later in the day, limit screen time before bed, or at least get some blue light filtering, and stick as closely to a regular bedtime as you can. Feed Your Anti-Inflammation Defenses There are countless reasons to ditch processed and fast foods, limit alcohol consumption, and eat a colorful, whole foods-based diet, and most of them will lead you straight back to reducing inflammation. The right foods can help maximize your heart health, lower your risk of type 2 diabetes, calm your stomach issues, and more. A great place to start is by introducing more fiber into your day. 'One statistic that is troubling is that 95 percent of Americans have a fiber deficiency,' says Dr. Ravella, 'Fiber is one of our most anti-inflammatory nutrients, and we want to go even beyond the recommended daily allowances (about 28 - 38 grams for adults) to prevent and to manage inflammation.' Fiber can affect every part of the immune system, whether directly or through the gut microbiome, she says. Want even more info on how to fight inflammation through your diet? Check out the Women's Health+ Anti-Inflammatory Diet Guide. Sweat It Out Among the many benefits of exercise, it can help lower the bad kind of inflammation while it promotes the good kind with muscle repair. 'We have many clinical trials across age groups that point to the ability of regular exercise to decrease chronic, low-level inflammation,' Dr. Ravella says. Its positive effect on inflammation isn't just because it can result in fat loss; exercise lowers the number of inflammatory proteins released in the body, she explains. It might even impact your gut microbiome, which plays a role in reducing inflammation. 'When it comes to exercise and inflammation, it's not primarily about the numbers on the scale, it's about realizing that exercise can affect hidden inflammation in the body regardless of body type or weight loss,' Dr. Ravella says. Consistency, as always, is key, so lean into the activities you enjoy. And if it's your thing, invite a buddy to the gym or on your morning run, to add an immunity shot of social connection to the package. Healthy relationships help build healthy immune systems, boosting your mental health and helping minimize your risk of inflammation-related conditions like Alzheimer's and heart disease. But Don't Sweat It Go easy on yourself when making lifestyle changes. "One of the problems with people trying to help themselves and reduce stress is if they can't, then they feel they're a bad person, they're guilty, or they failed," says Dr. Sternberg. "That's even more stressful." If you're feeling overwhelmed, start by targeting one thing, preferably the issue you struggle the most with, whether it's getting enough sleep or finding a workout that works. Allow yourself space for trial and error, and don't get discouraged. Building healthy habits takes time and some effort, but you've got this. After all, you've already got a whole army inside of you, and when you treat it right, it's fighting on your side. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
High Blood Pressure Advice Updated for Americans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New U.S. guidelines for managing high blood pressure have been released that recommend forgoing alcohol, one step further than previous advice to limit drinking, and also highlight research linking high blood pressure to cognitive decline. The 2025 joint report from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology replaces the 2017 version. Why It Matters High blood pressure affects nearly half of all American adults and is the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide, according to the American Heart Association. The new guidelines, issued to support health care professionals, demonstrate a more aggressive approach to tackling the issue. Stock image shows medical professional measuring blood pressure with a manometer. Stock image shows medical professional measuring blood pressure with a manometer. Getty Images What To Know Blood pressure, measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), is recorded as two numbers: systolic and diastolic. The systolic reading—the top number—reflects the force of blood as the heart pumps it into the arteries, while the diastolic reading measures the pressure when the heart rests between beats. Under the new blood pressure guidelines, a systolic reading of 130–139 should first be managed with healthy lifestyle changes. If, after 3–6 months, blood pressure remains above target, medication is advised. This updates the 2017 rule, which recommended medication and lifestyle changes for readings over 140. The new guidelines suggest lifestyle changes that could improve those readings. They include: Limiting sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg per day, moving toward an ideal limit of 1,500 mg per day by checking food labels to less than 2,300 mg per day, moving toward an ideal limit of 1,500 mg per day by checking food labels Ideally, consuming no alcohol or, for those who choose to drink, consuming no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women or, for those who choose to drink, consuming no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women Managing stress with exercise , as well as incorporating stress-reduction techniques like meditation, breathing control or yoga , as well as incorporating stress-reduction techniques like meditation, breathing control or yoga Maintaining or achieving a healthy weight , with a goal of at least a 5 percent reduction in body weight in adults who have obesity or are overweight , with a goal of at least a 5 percent reduction in body weight in adults who have obesity or are overweight Following a heart-healthy eating pattern , for example, the DASH eating plan, which emphasizes reduced sodium intake and a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and low-fat or nonfat dairy, and includes lean meats and poultry, fish and non-tropical oils , for example, the DASH eating plan, which emphasizes reduced sodium intake and a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and low-fat or nonfat dairy, and includes lean meats and poultry, fish and non-tropical oils Physical activity of at least 75-150 minutes each week , including aerobic exercise (such as cardio) and/or resistance training (such as weight training) , including aerobic exercise (such as cardio) and/or resistance training (such as weight training) Home blood pressure monitoring is recommended High blood pressure has long been known to increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The new guidelines also highlight recent research that suggests blood pressure affects brain health, including cognitive function and dementia. High blood pressure can damage small blood vessels in the brain, which have been linked to memory problems and cognitive decline, the release said. It recommends early treatment for people diagnosed with high blood pressure with a goal of systolic blood pressure (top number) of <130 mm Hg for adults with high blood pressure. Pregnant women with chronic hypertension are now recommended medications when systolic blood pressure reaches 140 mm Hg or higher and/or diastolic blood pressure reaches 90 mm Hg or higher, following growing evidence that tighter blood pressure control can help reduce the risk of serious complications. What People Are Saying Chair of the guideline writing committee Dr. Daniel W. Jones, dean and professor emeritus of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, said: "This updated guideline is designed to support health care professionals—from primary care teams to specialists, and to all clinicians across health systems—with the diagnosis and care of people with high blood pressure. It also empowers patients with practical tools that can support their individual health needs as they manage their blood pressure, whether through lifestyle changes, medications or both." What Happens Next New clinical guidelines on cutting cholesterol levels are scheduled for release in the first three months of next year.
