2026 CHNA Implementation Strategy

Children’s will address healthcare access by focusing on barriers it can meaningfully influence through its statewide pediatric role.

Community Need

The 2025 CHNA identified persistent healthcare access barriers for Alabama children, including transportation, a‡ordability, provider shortages, limited pediatric specialty availability, rural “pediatric deserts,” and lack of family awareness about available services and referral pathways. Although most Alabama children have health insurance coverage, families may still experience a‡ordability challenges related to out-of-pocket costs, uncovered services, transportation, time away from work, and di®culty understanding available assistance or coverage options.

Children’s Role

Children’s will address healthcare access by focusing on barriers it can meaningfully influence through its statewide pediatric role: strengthening care closer to home, supporting transportation and navigation resources, expanding telehealth and provider education, and helping build the future pediatric workforce. Children’s will partner with public agencies, community organizations, rural hospitals, clinics, transportation providers, pediatricians, and educational institutions to reduce practical barriers to pediatric

care. Children’s will address a‡ordability as part of its broader access strategy by helping families understand available resources, connecting eligible families to financial assistance or coverage-related information where appropriate, supporting transportation partnerships, and working with community and public partners to reduce practical barriers to care. Children’s will not be able to eliminate all cost-related barriers, but it can improve awareness, navigation, and connection to available supports.

Strategic Response Children’s will focus its healthcare access strategy on four primary barriers: • Geographic access: strengthening pediatric readiness and specialty support in rural and community settings, especially in areas with limited pediatric resources. • Transportation access: supporting transportation partnerships that help children and caregivers get to necessary medical appointments. • System navigation and family awareness: helping families understand available pediatric services, referral pathways, telehealth options, transportation supports, and community resources. • Local provider capacity: supporting rural hospitals, primary care providers, allied health professionals, and future healthcare workers through education, simulation, training, and partnership. • A“ordability and resource connection: helping families understand available financial assistance, coverage-related resources, transportation supports, community services, and other practical supports that may reduce cost-related barriers to care.

CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA

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IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY