Oral

This session will present the results of the School Based Outreach Initiative in five parts. Part I will maintain that most Americans believe access to health care and health insurance is a right every citizen should have. Consequently, combining the strengths of state, schools, health departments, community and private businesses can be an effective way to tear down the obstacles to health care for everyone. Part II will address the role of the family and the significance of health-related values instilled within the family unit as determining factors for healthful living and illness prevention. Part III will present outreach as an approach to meeting the health care of uninsured school children where school nurses and other personnel along with social workers are invaluable resources for indentifying children in need of attention and are able to facilitate eligibility and enrollment into health insurance programs for appropriate treatment. Part IV comprises supporting data that shows that in 2006 the national uninsured rate was well over 15%, and Part V will focus on recommendations made to federal and state governments in support of schools as venues for enrolling school-children into medical and social service programs to assist families in the health care of their children.

Session Objectives: Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: (1) Identify the obstacles that keep all Americans from having access to health insurance; (2) Describe the difficulties families without health insurance face when an illness affects a family member; (3) Describe school outreach programs as an approach to insure eligible school children for health care coverage; (4) Discuss 2006 supporting data that show that over 15.% of Americans have no health insurance coverage; and (5) Discuss recommendations made to federal and state governments to support schools as venues for providing children in need with appropriate health care coverage.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing