Covering Kids Wisconsin is part of a nationwide initiative funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focused on getting more kids enrolled in free or low-cost health insurance such as Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (BadgerCare in Wisconsin).

To this end, the initiative is pursuing three principle objectives:

• increasing outreach to enroll children in coverage programs,
• simplifying and streamlining the enrollment process, and
• coordinating coverage programs to provide a seamless coverage system.

A statewide coalition brings together a variety of individuals to guide the project and support the creation of a broader network of citizens that will both benefits from the project activities and products, and provide feedback to more effectively focus efforts. The Covering Kids initiative offers direct counseling and advocacy services to families and will distribute health care access kits to help families organize themselves in preparation for applying for coverage.

In addition, community education and networking will be promoted through regional training programs and the distribution of information resources, such as email and print newsletters. At a systemic level, the statewide coalition will advocate for improvements in outreach, enrollment procedures and eligibility guidelines.

ABC for Health, the lead organization for Wisconsin’s contribution to the Covering Kids initiative, is working closely with three partners: the Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin, a sponsor of regional outreach workshops, Community Advocates, the leader of a Covering Kids community pilot in Milwaukee, and the Family Health Center of Marshfield, the organizer of a second pilot program in North-Central Wisconsin.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was established as a national philanthropy in 1972 and today it is the largest US foundation devoted to improving the health and health care of all Americans. We concentrate our grantmaking in four areas.

• to assure that all Americans have access to basic health care at reasonable cost;
  
• to improve care and support for people with chronic health conditions;
  
• to promote healthy communities and lifestyles; and
  
• to reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse — tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

To visit the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website, click here. For more information about the Covering Kids Initiative or other programs ABC for Health is involved in, contact us here.

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