Richard Aronson, MCH Section, DPH - DHFS
Vickie Baker, ABC for Health
Bill Bazan, WI Health and Hospital Association, Inc.
Pat Beining, Marshfield Clinic
Susan Corrado, Arbor Covenant Church
Carole Crisler, ABC for Health, Inc
Marty Davis, Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association
Gina Dennik-Champion, Wisconsin Nurses Association
Anastasia Dillen, Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin
Mary Dorsch, Marshfield Clinic
Mary Durkin, DHCF - Bureau of Managed Health Care Programs
Ken Germanson, Community Advocates
John Haine, DHCF - DHFS
Lisa Harrison, Ho-Chunk Health Department
Gretchen Haug, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.
Maureen Kartheiser, Milwaukee Public Schools
Donna Kay, DPH - Southeastern region
Barbara Knipfer, Dane County Parent Council - Head Start
Jamie Kubiak, Automated Health Systems, Inc.
LeAnn McMahon, Automated Health Systems, Inc.
Robert Peterson, ABC for Health
Scott Polenz, Security Health Care Systems
Alice Porter, ABC for Health
Orlando Quintanilla, Latino Health Organization
Theresa Reagan, Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin
Paul Reynolds, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council
Roberta Riportella-Muller, UW-Madison
Marilyn Rudd, Dept of Workforce Development
Mike Rust, ABC for Health, Inc
Aaron Schliem, ABC for Health
Celeste Schulz, Community Advocates
Jill Smith, West CAP
John Snyder, Ho-Chunk Health Department
Virginia Thomas, City of Milwaukee Public Health Dept
Denis Tucker, La Crosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc.
Kevin Wymore, DPH - DHFS

The meeting came to order today at 10:12 am. Bobby Peterson of ABC for Health welcomed the participants and gave some background on the Covering Kids grant. "Over the next three years," he said, " together we will dig deep into communities to locate kids who need health care coverage." Mr. Peterson then led a round of introductions. "We have real wealth of talent in this room and a special opportunity to focus on training and community education." These assets will be crucial, he emphasized, in order to successfully implement our three-pronged, three year project: connecting kids to health care coverage, simplification of the application and renewal process, and system coordination among the multiple entities that provide and facilitate health care financing. Any updates or informational feedback are welcome at anytime by ABC for Health or group leaders, especially via email. ABC is sponsoring an informational newsletter on its web site to keep Coalition members informed of new information. A video presentation, created by the Covering Kids nationwide organizers, followed the introductions.

Theresa Reagan next took the floor and guided the audience through Wisconsin's W2 program transition and its impact on state assistance caseloads, which affects health coverage rates in lockstep. Reproductions of accompanying overheads facilitated group comprehension. Next, representatives of the project's pilot programs offered a look at the differing needs and approaches, relative rates of success and respective challenges, of outreach programs across the state. Alice Porter made a particularly salient point by asking why all had gathered: not merely to fulfill the obligations of the grant but to build relationships with one another that in turn enrich the ability of health care programs to enroll children. Mr. Peterson wound the presentations up with a suggestion about Family Health Care Access Kits as an effective form of outreach.

A particularly animated and lively Q&A session followed, chaired by Vickie Baker. Topics raised included the relative slow rates of Badgercare enrollment in Milwaukee. Questions arose regarding the likelihood of BC's enrollment cap "trigger" being lowered and what the possible repercussions may be. The same repercussions would exist in reverse if, as is being discussed, a raise in the Federal Poverty Limit were enacted. Note was made that the three-month threshold of non-insurance coverage is rapidly approaching for many Wisconsin families, which could raise enrollment tallies. Gratitude for the continued support of the Latino Health Organization was expressed. Mr. Peterson concluded this exchange with optimism suggesting that federal matching funds may be available to enhance funding for the Wisconsin Covering Kids initiative.

Just before the group broke for lunch, Theresa Reagan pointed out that we are the Wisconsin chapter of the National Covering Kids Movement. As such, the work of the post-lunch Subcommittee breakouts would be crucial to CK's overall goals.

Convening after these breakouts, each of the four Subcommittees reported on its progress. Mike Rust ran down the prerogatives of the Simplification and Coordination Committee, while Anastasia Dillen summarized the findings of the Outreach Committee as did Vickie Baker for the Training and Education Committee. Finally, the Data & Evaluation Committee announced its intention to serve as the Coalition's archivist and anchor of technical support. Bobby Peterson then brought the day to a close with a final thought.

"Together, we have the opportunity to leverage changes on a policy level as well as in Wisconsin's disparate regions. We can adopt resolutions for policy proposals on our website, where a proposal for the Coalition's future will soon be posted. Please visit often at www.safetyweb.org, for the most updated. Thank you all for coming."

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