Do healthy kids make good learners?

By Teri Burns and Melissa Vargas

Regular check-ups, dental care, eyeglasses, and other needed preventive care make a difference in how well children learn. Kids who are insured miss fewer school days and are better able to concentrate in class.

That’s the message The Children’s Partnership, California Coverage & Health Initiatives and California School Health Centers Association conveyed during their workshop, “Health Reform: Schools Connecting Families to Coverage,” presented at CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show in San Diego in December. The “All In” campaign, of which CSBA is a proud partner, is a statewide outreach and enrollment campaign to equip schools, early learning, and after-school programs with the tools they need to inform millions of children, parents, and employees about health coverage options available through the Affordable Care Act and connect them to coverage.

Did you know there are currently over 400,000 uninsured children in the state who can enroll in Medi-Cal? Think how many of these children attend your school district. Envision how much of a difference we could each make if we got All In and distributed informational materials (fact sheets, a game plan, wallet card, etc.) via email or in a student’s backpack letter.  The All In campaign will even help you organize an educational and enrollment event where certified staff can walk families through the state’s enrollment process for health care programs such as Covered California and Medi-Cal.

We can each create the environment that allows us to make a powerful difference in the health and well-being of our students, families and employees.  I ask each of you to please join All In.  See the handouts from “Health Reform: Schools Connecting Families to Coverage” on Engage AEC, or contact Melissa Vargas at www.allinforhealth.org.

Teri Burns is senior director for CSBA Policy & Programs, and Melissa Vargas manages the All In Campaign for The Children’s Partnership.

NOTE: December 23 is the last day to enroll in Covered California health coverage that begins on January 1. What you can do:

1. Download the All In Toolkit, and distribute materials to your students, teachers, and schools.
2. Contact All In at allinforhealth@childrenspartnership.org, or call (916) 844-2413 to find out what else you can do and to get involved. While open enrollment will continue through March 2014, now is the time to let your school district know about the important December 23 deadline.

Covered California is also available to help. Visit www.coveredca.com to learn more about the ACA and how to enroll in coverage.