Why Are Family Services Critical to Improving Children’s Health?

Uma Ahluwalia, managing principal at HMA, discusses the importance of keeping families at the center of children’s health and welfare services and highlights how government should provide services in support of the family unit. The conversation emphasizes that addressing family issues like poverty, trauma, and lack of resources is key to improving child welfare. She also explores the need for integrated services—across health, behavioral health, education, and safety—to address the interconnected challenges families face. Uma shares why it’s so important to sustain the commitment to long-term transformation, proper funding, and enabling local governments to provide holistic, family-centered care.