Winter 2026
Dear Friend,
Since 2020, children have been studied, measured, categorized, and analyzed in ways we have never seen before. We’ve labeled them “pandemic babies.” We’ve tracked developmental delays, rising anxiety, increasing chronic conditions, and record screen time.
But children are not a headline. They are not a cohort. They are not a statistic.
They are growing up in systems that were stressed long before COVID, and the pandemic simply revealed the cracks.
Yes, the data matters. Research shows there were significant increases in pediatric anxiety and depression diagnoses between 2016 and 2020. Reports confirm that many students spend significant portions of their school day on their phones. Mental health needs are rising. Families are stretched thin.
The more important question is not what happened to children. It’s what we are building around them now.
In this issue of Purpose, you’ll see how CCI is responding—not reactively, but intentionally. You’ll hear directly from one of our pediatricians about what today’s children are navigating and how we partner with families in the exam room and beyond. You’ll learn about our work addressing food insecurity, because you cannot talk about child health without talking about access, stability, and dignity.
Children do not exist in isolation. Their health reflects the strength of the communities surrounding them.
You’ll also get a preview of our 2026 calendar of events. We are bringing back the Maybe Baby Brunch in May and celebrating National Health Center Week with two gatherings: the Sunset Soirée and the Block Party, moments for connection, community, and collective commitment.
At CCI, “putting children first” is not a slogan. It is a long-term investment in families, systems, and the conditions that allow young people to thrive.
Thank you for being part of that work.
Sincerely,
4–5 Caring for Today’s Children 6 Kid-Friendly Spaces at CCI 7 Checking In with CCI’s SchoolBased Wellness Program 8–9 Doing Our Part to Address Food Insecurity
CCI in the Community
Sonya Bruton, PsyD, MPA CEO and President
Caring for Today’s Children
A Q&A with CCI’s Pediatric Expert
A recent study in JAMA suggests that child health may be worsening in the United States. The study found that children and teens in the U.S. were nearly twice as likely to die as opposed to their peers in 18 other high-income countries. Additionally, from 2011 to 2023, the prevalence of chronic conditions increased from 39.9% to 45.7%. From declines in physical, mental, and developmental health to obesity and troubled sleeping, pediatricians, educators, and parents could be facing a growing health crisis.
In this Q&A with Pediatric Physician, Dr. Yetunde Bucknor, learn more about these rising health issues and how parents, caregivers, and CCI’s care team can continue to support today’s children.
What health issues are you seeing affecting children today?
While we still manage acute illnesses, chronic lifestyle-related conditions are becoming increasingly common at younger ages. Things like childhood obesity, high cholesterol, high liver enzymes from fatty liver, early signs of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and learning and behavioral concerns.
Many of these conditions are deeply connected to lifestyle factors and are influenced by daily habits and environments, such as what children eat, how active they are, how well they sleep, how much time they spend on screens, how much stress they carry, and whether families have access to safe places to play or healthy foods. Mental and emotional health challenges have also increased significantly, especially post-pandemic.
What can parents learn at well-child visits?
Well-child visits are one of the most powerful tools we have to address these issues early. These visits are not just about shots or measuring height and weight. We look at the whole child. Parents can learn how their child is growing and developing physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. We talk about nutrition and how they eat, movement, sleep, mental health, school, social connections, screens, avoiding harmful substances, and family stressors—all of which influence their long-term health.
These visits help catch concerns early and give parents practical guidance that fits their real-life circumstances. Well-child visits also give families an opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, and receive guidance that is tailored to their child’s age, environment, and culture.
The eight health conditions that saw the greatest increase
How can parents encourage children to take an active role in their health?
Parents can begin by including children in ageappropriate conversations about food, movement, sleep, and feelings. For younger children, this might look like letting them choose fruits and vegetables at the store, assisting with simple meal prep, or talking about how movement helps our bodies feel strong and energized. As children get older, parents can involve them in setting goals like choosing a physical activity they enjoy or establishing a consistent bedtime routine.
It’s also important to shift the focus away from weight or appearance and toward how healthy habits help children feel, think, and perform. Encouraging questions at doctor visits, teaching teens how to track their own medications or appointments, and helping them understand their health history all build confidence and responsibility.
The goal is not perfection. Families should approach health as a shared journey rather than a set of rules. When children see parents prioritizing self-care, managing stress, eating well, and staying active, those behaviors become normalized—and sustainable—well into adulthood.
Small, consistent healthy habits—supported by preventive care—can change the course of a child’s life. Parents don’t have to do everything perfectly; they just have to stay engaged, ask questions, and partner with their child’s healthcare team.
Dr. Yetunde Bucknor Pediatric Physician, CCI Health Services, Gaithersburg
How important are vaccines in protecting children from preventable diseases?
Vaccines remain one of the most effective and lifesaving tools in pediatric health. They have dramatically reduced—and in some cases nearly eliminated—diseases that once caused serious illness, disability, and death in children.
They are part of a broader commitment to prevention. Just as we encourage nutritious food, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and stress management to strengthen the immune system, vaccines provide targeted protection against specific, potentially dangerous infections.
In community health settings, we also see how vaccines protect not just individual children, but entire families and communities—especially infants, elders, and those with weakened immune systems. Vaccination helps keep children healthy enough to attend school, play, grow, and thrive without interruption from preventable disease.
Kid -Friendly Spaces at CCI
DENTAL WAITING ROOM
We have designed multiple spaces throughout our health centers to be child friendly. From the artwork we hang on our walls to the toddler-sized tables and chairs we have in our waiting rooms, take a look at how we’re reimagining the health center experience for children and families. DENTAL
Checking In with CCI’s School-Based Wellness Program
Since CCI launched its School-Based Wellness Center (SBWC) programs in six Montgomery County Public High Schools, we have served more than 2,700 students. We asked students how the SBWC has impacted their life, and this is what they shared:
“It has made my life easier, as well as my parents’. It saved us time to get my physical form in, so I could play sports. It’s helped me with the way I eat and helped me be able to play sports of my choice. I came to get a physical, and I got it.”
“The SBWC has impacted me a lot in a positive way. They really care about the students that come to them, and they try their best to help. They always listen to all
Doing Our Part to Address Food Insecurity
November, the beginning of the traditional holiday season, marked a tumultuous time for families who relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Due to the government shutdown, food stamp recipients were at risk of losing their benefits. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, SNAP provides food benefits for approximately 41 million people nationwide. While many states found ways to cover the lapse in federal funding for families, it was a stark reminder of how food insecurity continues to impact our communities.
In the United States, food insecurity looks different than the stereotypical depictions shown in movies and commercials. In fact, food insecurity, as defined by the USDA, is a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. It can look like a family with limited transportation living 20 miles away from their nearest food bank, or seniors living on a limited income struggling to put food on their plates. When people don’t know when their next meal is going to be, it can have drastic effects on their overall health and well-being.
As a community partner in all things related to health and wellness, CCI Health Services is ensuring access to nutritious foods for our patients and neighbors through our WIC program, community events, and a new cupboard in partnership with Priority Partners.
2nd Annual Test for Turkey
On November 21st, just a couple days before Thanksgiving, CCI’s Infectious Disease team held its 2nd annual Test for Turkey event at our Ora Glen health center in Greenbelt. In partnership with Gilead and SLK, community members walked away with a free turkey and additional food and produce items, provided by United Healthcare and Hungry Harvest, just by testing for HIV.
Priority Partners Cupboards Project
Started in 2021, the Priority Partners Cupboards Project is a multiyear program of community partners aimed at providing food and resources to remote or underserved neighborhoods. CCI is the first Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to take part in this community cupboard project. The cupboard can be found outside of our Ora Glen health center in Greenbelt.
1 in 9 Maryland residents depend on SNAP to put food on the table.
Source: CBPP analysis of data from USDA Food and Nutrition Service
The Impact of Food Insecurity
1. Physical Health
Food insecurity can lead to malnutrition and chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
2. Mental Health
Food insecurity can negatively impact a person’s mental health, resulting in depression, anxiety, and stress.
3. Well-Being
Not meeting basic needs can lead to social isolation, stigma, and shame.
CCI
Community
In 2025, CCI’s outreach team participated in more than 50 events across the Capital Region. Where will we be in 2026? Take a look at our current calendar of events.
MAY
May 9: Maybe Baby Brunch (Hyattsville)
MARCH
March 7th: Maryland Physicians Care Resource Event (Takoma Park)
March 14th: Community Health & Wellness Fair (Greenbelt)
March 15th: Respect Fest (Silver Spring)
JUNE
June 13th: PG Healthy Start Community Baby Shower (Landover)
June 25th: Pride in the Plaza (Silver Spring)
June 27th: National HIV Testing Day
AUGUST
August 5th: CCI Sunset Soirée (Silver Spring)
August 8th: CCI Block Party (Greenbelt)
APRIL
April 11th: Luminis Community Baby Shower (Glen Dale)
Do you have an idea for an event that you want CCI to be a part of? Is your company interested in sponsoring an upcoming CCI event? Reach out to us at marketing@cciweb.org.
Employee Profile
Vianka Gonzalez
Senior Patient Representative, CCI Health Services, Silver Spring
My journey in the medical field started when I worked at TAYA as a medical assistant and a receptionist. In 2014, CCI merged with TAYA and became the CCI Silver Spring health center. At that time, there was a need for a dental receptionist. I was able to fulfill the position for dental and family planning.
I fell in love with the mission of CCI when I saw the quality health care we provide, no matter the status of the patients. We never refuse patients regardless of their status. Our standards of behavior, for example, working and respecting each other in the team, make the workplace enjoyable. Anyone who meets me knows that I am always available to help others. I am always willing to find and share resources to better assist others.
I have been with CCI for twelve years, and through the years, I’ve gained valuable knowledge and experience. This has led me to create a position where Patient Representatives (PR) have a leader to guide them. I have been the Senior Patient Representative for over six years at CCI. While being in this position, I have grown to be a better person. CCI brought out a version of me that represents the mission of CCI.
I have implemented workflows such as a trainee checklist for different areas, and I have mentored and trained new Patient Representatives. I have also collaborated on the organization’s front desk optimization project, which creates a standardized workflow across all CCI sites. I have received multiple recognitions for outstanding customer service.
My mission and goal as a Senior Patient Representative are to see all PR’s be passionate in their role as I am. And to be bold enough to voice their ideas that can help fulfill our required daily tasks. Also letting my PR’s know that I’m always there for them when in need or in doubt. They can count on me for guidance.
