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t is often said that children are society's <br />most valuable resource. Thus, it is very dis- <br />turbing that the national KIDS COUNT <br />1995 ranking of states placed North Carolina <br />42nd. That means, based on a composite score <br />for 10 key indicators of the well-being of young <br />children and adolescents, ours was the 9th worst <br />state in the nation.'s <br />Childhood provides a critical window during <br />which to establish good health practices, detect <br />impairments, and intervene early. The American <br />Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a <br />schedule of six well-child visits during infancy to <br />CHILD HEALTH <br />provide adequate immunization against childhood <br />diseases, conduct routine assessments, and pro- <br />vide counseling to parents. The AAP also recom- <br />mends three well-child visits during the second <br />year, then annual visits through age 6, and one visit <br />every other year thereafter. Additional visits may <br />be needed for acute episodes or chronic condi- <br />tions.' <br />Eight access indicators for child health fol- <br />low. A desired but unavailable indicator is the <br />percentage of pediatricians and general/family <br />practitioners participating in Medicaid. <br />Access to Health Care in North Carolina <br />Fzs <br />104 <br />• <br />• <br />• <br />