Background: According to the National Survey of America's Families, in 1997, seventeen percent of Florida's children were uninsured, five percent higher than the national average. Public insurance plays an important role in insuring low-income families and in 1997, the Florida Kidcare program was created to expand health insurance coverage for children. Department of Children and Families' employees communicating with clients have a unique opportunity to advocate for and enroll children in the Florida KidCare program. Purpose: To identify a process to improve (DCF) employee training that will simplify the KidCare application process and recognize each employee's role in promoting the program. The step-by-step aide would provide targeted training for DCF professionals, eliminating the confusion as to whose responsibility it is to promote and enroll children in the KidCare program. Method: A qualitative synthesis of focus group discussions among DCF employees communicating with clients in various regions of Florida will identify key themes to classify definable codes of KidCare training efforts and quality, as well as suggestions for improving employee morale and increasing enrollment. Analysis will include grounded theory and will invole a needs assesment, to recognize possible solutions. Results: Findings of the qualitative synthesis will identify: 1)the perceived role of direct-contact DCF employees in promoting Florida KidCare; 2)available resources and problems in the current DCF training procedures; 3) and suggestions to clarify employee responsibilities related to KidCare enrollment. In conclusion, a training model will be developed and recommendations will be noted to improve and streamline the Florida KidCare application process.
Learning Objectives: During this session, the learner will be able to 1)identify the barriers faced by employees in the Department of Children and Families that serve as subsequent barriers to enrolling families in the Florida KidCare Health Insurance Program; 2) and become familiar with a newly created training model that simplifies the application process and ultimately serves to increase the number of insured children in the state of Florida
Keywords: Children's Health, Training
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.