News — The latest report from Voices of Child Health in Chicago at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago reveals the top health concerns among Chicago adults. Based on survey responses from over 5,400 participants, gun-related violence in neighborhoods remains the top concern. Poverty and lack of adult supervision follow as leading concerns affecting children’s well-being.
The report, which gathered perspectives from a diverse group of adults across the city, shows that 79% ranked gun-related violence as a top concern, underscoring the deep impact of community safety on child development. Nationally, gun-related death rates have nearly doubled since 2011, and in 2023, about 20% of Chicago’s shooting victims were juveniles.
Additionally, 70% of adults identified poverty as a significant issue affecting children’s health. According to the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map, 42,067 children under 5 years old live below the poverty line in Chicago. Furthermore, communities in Illinois with the highest rates of poverty and social vulnerability also experience worse health.
Respondents also expressed significant concerns about lack of adult supervision and involvement with children and teens, ranking it third on the list. Sixty eight percent worry that children are spending too much time without guidance from a responsible adult, increasing risks related to injury, academic struggles and exposure to negative influences.
"Our findings show that Chicagoans are deeply concerned about the environment in which children are growing up,” said Marie Heffernan, PhD, Director of Voices of Child Health in Communities at Lurie Children's and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “This year’s report underscores the need for continued investments in violence prevention, economic stability, and supervision solutions to support children’s safety and well-being.”
The 2025 report also revealed a significantly heightened concern around children and adolescent social media use, climbing from #8 to #4 on the list; 67% of respondents consider this a big problem. According to a Gallup Poll and Pew Research, U.S. teens spend an average of 4.8 hours per day on social media platforms and half say they are online “almost constantly," increasing the possibility of negative impacts on their mental health.
The full list of top 10 child health concerns ranked by Chicago adults include:
The report provides valuable insight into the evolving needs of Chicago youth and can help guide policymakers, healthcare professionals, and community organizations in developing targeted interventions.
"Lurie Children's report aligns with Chicago Department of Public Health's (CDPH) priorities," said Commissioner Olusimbo Ige. "The Department is acutely aware of the outsized extent to which concentrated poverty – as well as other challenges like gun-related violence, depression, and drug use – can severely limit opportunities for children. CDPH remains committed to using public health resources to address these issues and we call on all Chicagoans to join us in this effort."
Findings were collected via the 2023 Healthy Chicago Survey Jr., administered by the Chicago Department of Public Health in collaboration with Lurie Children’s. The sample consisted of 5,490 adults in Chicago, 1,663 of whom were the parent, stepparent or guardian of at least one child under 18 years old living in the household. Respondents indicated which problems were “big problems” for children and adolescents in the city (not necessarily their own children).
Research at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½ & World Report. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
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