For Immediate Release

STATEWIDE CHILDREN’S HEALTH INITIATIVES RECEIVE MAJOR BOOST IN HEALTH CARE FUNDING

$7.5 Million in Grants Awarded in Eighteen California Counties; Bay Area, Santa Clara Counties to Receive More Than $2 Million in Funding

Los Angeles, CA – Children’s health care providers received welcome news today with the announcement by The California Endowment that it was awarding $7.5 million in grants to local Children’s Health Initiatives (CHI) in eighteen counties across California, including more than $2 million for San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa and Sonoma Counties. In all, the grants will provide sufficient funding to cover nearly 8,000 children across the state with health care coverage. However, local leaders stressed that a permanent, long-term policy solution is needed to sustain gains made in enrolling children into health insurance programs, and to provide health coverage to the more than 800,000 remaining uninsured children in California.

“Today, California takes another step toward covering all of its kids,” said Robert K. Ross, M.D. a pediatrician and President and CEO of The California Endowment. “The Endowment is proud to support counties across California who are doing their part to make sure all of their kids are receiving the health care coverage they desperately need and deserve”

The Children’s Health Initiatives in Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco Counties are responsible for providing direct coverage to over 23,000 through the local Healthy Kids program, which is intended for low income children not eligible for public health insurance programs. The Endowment’s grant will enable Children’s Health Initiatives to provide coverage to 3,365 children in the six-county region.

“The California Endowment was among the first of the funders in California to step forward to cover uninsured children,” said Leona M. Butler, CEO of Santa Clara Family Health Plan, which administers the Santa Clara County Healthy Kids program. “Santa Clara County was the first in our state to establish a program aimed at health care for all children, and the Endowment has been a major partner from the beginning.”

Today’s announcement ensures health coverage to 8,000 children statewide through their local CHI’s in Santa Clara, San Francisco, Riverside, San Mateo, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Kern, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties. Since they began in 2001, Children’s Health Initiatives have provided direct coverage to more than 80,000 children in California, and have helped enroll an estimated 80,000 children eligible for either the state-run Medi-Cal or Healthy Families programs. Today, nearly 90% of children in California are insured through either a CHI, public or private health insurance programs.

“Children’s Health Initiatives across the state have narrowed the gap between those children with and those families without health care coverage,” said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez. “But more than 800,000 children remain without any form of coverage and that is simply wrong. Today, we have an historic opportunity to achieve what was once unthinkable – health coverage for every child in California. Those of us in Sacramento must be committed to realizing this goal, which not only makes fiscal sense, but is simply the right thing to do.”

The CHI’s enroll children into Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs, and also make available a local Healthy Kids program intended for children ineligible for public programs. The Healthy Kids program provides comprehensive health care, including medical, dental, vision, prescriptions and mental health benefits for children from birth to age 18 in families with incomes below 300% of the federal poverty level (400% in San Mateo County) who are ineligible for Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. The programs require a modest premium or enrollment fee and co-pays.

“The early and generous support of The California Endowment has prepared us to launch a program that will improve the lives of a whole generation of children and one that will also benefit our entire community; schools, businesses, employers, as well as health care providers,” said Connie Battisti, President of the Board of Directors, Children’s Health Initiative Napa County, Inc.

“The first years of a child's life are crucial for future success in school and life. Optimizing children's health by providing health coverage is an essential part of the equation,” said Mark Friedman, Chief Executive Officer of First 5 Alameda County. “While locally, we are all working hard to provide coverage for our children, these efforts are limited. To truly support our children we must find broader, long-term solutions to providing access to health care.”

Each Children’s Health Initiative is a public/private partnership of health care providers, business leaders, advocacy groups, foundations, city and county officials, public health leaders, and educators. A complete list of grant awards and a breakdown of recipient counties, in addition to recent studies on Children’s Health Initiatives can be downloaded in PDF format at www.covercaliforniaskids.org.

About The California Endowment
The California Endowment was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. The Endowment makes grants to organizations and institutions that directly benefit the health and well-being of the people of California. For more information, visit The Endowment’s Web site at www.calendow.org.