Access to quality, affordable health care is one of the most important factors in determining whether individuals, families and communities can achieve long-term stability and prosperity.
The Florida Prosperity Initiative’s State of Childhood Poverty in Florida report highlights how closely health is tied to economic mobility. It finds that 16.5% of Florida children live in poverty, with half concentrated in a small share of ZIP codes; just over 15% (152) of Florida’s 983 ZIP codes. Since the Initiative launched, more than 200,000 children have moved out of poverty, but other health care issues persist.
In Northwest Florida, the data highlights both progress and persistent gaps. In Escambia County, the childhood poverty rate is 22.4%, compared with 10.6% in Santa Rosa County and 12.9% in Okaloosa County.
Across the region, fewer than half of our children are entering kindergarten ready to learn: 36% in Escambia, 46% in Santa Rosa, and 41% in Okaloosa. Reading outcomes reflect similar challenges. Just 51% of Escambia third-graders, 64% in Santa Rosa, and 59% in Okaloosa are reading at grade level, leaving more than 3,200 students across the three counties not reading proficiently.
These challenges extend beyond the classroom.
Nearly 48,000 adults across the region lack a high school diploma or GED, and roughly one in four households is classified as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE), underscoring how gaps in education, income and access to care are closely connected. The Florida Prosperity Initiative identifies access to quality health care as one of the 10 Root Causes of Poverty.
Gaps in access to health care, including mental health services, continue to impact families and children. When individuals experience health care barriers, the effects extend beyond health outcomes. Delayed treatment can lead to missed work, financial strain, and long-term instability. For children, unmet health needs can affect school performance and development.
Together with business, health, and other local partners, we are working to address these gaps through community-based programs that expand access to preventive care, mental health services and coordinated support systems.
These efforts are focused on meeting people where they are and ensuring care is more accessible, coordinated, and effective. Connecting individuals, families, and businesses to whole-person care strengthens both health outcomes and economic mobility.
Another example of community collaboration is Achieve Escambia, which is focusing on the root causes of quality education by aligning education and workforce systems to support individuals from early learning through employment. Working with Gulf Power, United Way of Escambia County, Baptist Health Care, and Navy Federal Credit Union, the non-profit program is expanding these services and assist more families across the area.
Additionally, the Faith Health Network in Pensacola, established by Baptist Health Care, has also stepped up to the plate. They are addressing barriers to health care access and health literacy, leveraging churches and faith-based networks to reach individuals where trust already exists.
Efforts happening in communities across Florida will take center stage at the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2026 Florida Prosperity & Economic Opportunity Solution Summit on June 9 in Tampa. The annual gathering will connect business and community leaders with data-driven insights on the 10 Root Causes of Poverty and solutions that can be applied both locally and statewide.
Achieving the Florida 2030 Blueprint goal of cutting childhood poverty in half will require continued focus on expanding access to care.
When families are healthy, they are better able to work, support their children and build stable futures.
Michelle Hamilton is the Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Florida Blue and a Florida Prosperity Initiative Advisory Board Member.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Closing health care gap is essential to our economic future | Opinion
Reporting by Michelle Hamilton, Guest columnist / Pensacola News Journal
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