Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Barbara Neely, RN BSN MPH and Deborah Kelley, RN BSN. Department of School Health Services, Multnomah Education Service DIstrict, 11611 NE Ainsworth Circle, Portland, OR 97220, 503-257-1732, bneely@mesd.k12.or.us

On any given day in the State of Oregon, more than 117,000 children do not have health insurance. Our public investment in the Oregon Health Plan and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, innovative insurance systems started in the early 1990s, helped to stem the tide of uninsured children. With the economic downturn in 2001 leaving Oregon with one of the highest rates of under and unemployed residents, families have increasingly lost the ability to insure their families. Nonetheless, in 2003 Oregon Health Plan enrollment among very poor families plunged.

The majority of uninsured children live in low-income households, often with working parents. Barriers to obtaining access are many: language, resident status, multiple domestic issues (including hunger), transportation and administrative complexities. Maximizing the use of available resources is a lifeline to our uninsured community.

Creating a response of outreach combining the strengths of schools, the county health department, school nurses and private business is an effective way to tear down the obstacles to health care. Using the Outreach Initiative and Child Health Program of Multnomah County as a project model we will address developing a school-based approach to meet the health insurance and access needs of children. Part I of this session will provide tools to determine a more effectual approach to expand enrollment in existing and newly created programs by going to families instead of waiting for them to come to the program. Families with multidimensional concerns may need additional support in accessing available resources. This workshop will provide an overview of successful outreach programs that advocate for healthy children and school success.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Identify the barriers and issues for families in obtaining currently available resources.
• 2.Recognize the value-added role of coalitions of public and regional school health organizations, local educational entities and private business.

Keywords: Health Insurance, Access to Health Care

Related Web page: w3.mesd.k12.or.us/shs/childhealth/index.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No