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Covering Kids and Families Initiative
The Covering Kids and Families (CKF) Initiative was a four-year, $1.2 million DMF ($577,000)/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) ($700,000) partnership which began in the late fall of 2002. The project was part of a $55 million RWJ national initiative that sought to increase the number of eligible children connected to free and low-cost health coverage programs. The overall goals of the project include: design and conduct outreach programs that identify and enroll eligible children into Medicaid, Healthy Steps (SCHIP), the Caring for Children program and other low-income health coverage programs; simplify the enrollment processes; and coordinate existing coverage programs for low-income children.
Results:
- This initiative was instrumental in connecting 1,525 additional North Dakota children to health coverage programs from 1/03 - 3/07 (6% statewide increase).
- The Healthy Steps Program enrolled 1,704 North Dakota children in the program for an 81% statewide increase from 1/03 – 3/07.
- Healthy Steps enrollment for American Indian children increased by 140% during 7/05-3/07.
- In 2005, a $92,000 DMF grant to the North Dakota Department of Human Services leveraged federal funding to design and implement a new joint health coverage application form (Medicaid, Healthy Steps and Caring for Children) and merged computerized eligibility system (VISION).
- The help line is listed on all school lunch application forms through collaboration with the North Dakota Department of Nutrition Services.
Several components of the initiative are continuing, including:
- The 1-877-KIDS NOW (1-877-543-7669) help line, formerly managed by DMF, will continue to be operated by the North Dakota Department of Human Services in conjunction with a central intake center.
- The central intake center will continue to operate with full staffing to provide application assistance to families for all low-cost/free ND health coverage programs.
- The ND Department of Human Services will continue the effort to simplify the enrollment process and coordinate the coverage programs.
- The North Dakota Caring Foundation’s Caring for Children program will continue to support the enrollment effort by printing the statewide program brochures and joint applications, as well coordinate outreach to ND families in collaboration with Dakota Medical Foundation and other private and public partners.
- Media coverage and other forms of outreach will continue to be supported by Dakota Medical Foundation in collaboration with ND Caring for Children and ND Department of Human Services.
- An update to the VISION system provides Medicaid twelve-month continuous eligibility for children age 0-19 years.
- State coalition involvement will be ongoing.
Contact information:
| For application information and assistance: |
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1-877 KIDS NOW
jedison@nd.gov |
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| To obtain outreach materials: |
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1-877 KIDS NOW or
Lisa Faul
Director, Caring for Children
(701) 282.1102
www.ndcaring.org |
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