ABC encourages churches to promote Covering Kids and Families.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) encourages congregations to disseminate information about the "Covering Kids and Families" initiative, a national effort to help families receive low-cost or free health care coverage for children. The campaign is held during August and September as a back-to-school effort with the goals of enrolling eligible, uninsured children in Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) and informing parents about these available health care programs. Such programs cover doctor visits, hospitalizations, prescriptions, and more.

Covering Kids and Families is a national program funded by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. The organization reports that more than 8.4 million children are uninsured in the US. At the same time, seven out of every ten uninsured children are eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage through Medicaid or SCHIP, but are not enrolled, according to an Aug. 2 release from the program. "Many people still do not know about the availability of these programs, and parents in working families might assume their children would not qualify. That is why we are all committed to publicizing 1(877) KIDS-NOW to let parents know that help is available," said Sarah Shuptrine, national program director of Covering Kids and Families.

This is the second year that ABC has become a national partner of Covering Kids and Families, and has encouraged congregations to talk about the program in their church and communities. Materials are available at www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org.

Source: 8/3/2005 Newsline
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