Politics & Government

$700k Grant to Aid Alameda County Families with Health Insurance, Benefits

Funds will assist in outreach for an estimated 2,000 children and families who are eligible for health insurance and public benefits.

The Center for Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC), recently received a $700,000 grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies to fund the expansion of outreach efforts in identifying and enrolling eligible children and families into health insurance and other public benefits.

CHSC is a division within the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency (HCSA). Partners include Alameda County HCSA, Alameda County Social Services Agency, Community Based Organizations, and the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).

There are an estimated 13,000 children in Alameda County who are eligible for public insurance, and possibly other benefits, who remain uninsured, according to the HCSA.  

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“What makes this pilot unique is the co-location of agencies providing complimentary services," said Tracey Schear, Director of CHSC. "Partnerships are key to the Center’s goal of healthy children graduating, college or career ready."

“Alameda County is a national leader in the creation and expansion of school health centers, and this is an exciting opportunity to build on their success to ensure that all children and their families have health coverage and access to care," said Chris Oechsli, President and CEO of The Atlantic Philanthropies. "As other municipalities and states endeavor to implement the Affordable Care Act, the OUSD pilot will be a model of how to manage enrollment well."

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The majority of funding from this grant will be used to create a multi-media and hard-copy “tool kit” in order to support other communities locally and nationally seeking to seed and support a continuum of school health services that promote health and education equity.  

“The challenge of identifying and enrolling these children and families is more complex than it seems, and Alameda County is fortunate to have such a visionary and progressive partner in The Atlantic Philanthropies who will invest in the collective impact approach we are taking through our school health centers.” said Alex Briscoe, Director of Alameda County HCSA.

The program will begin immediately and run through June 2015.


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