Connecting Kids to Coverage in Early Childhood Settings - Early Childhood Community Health Workers identify children and parents eligible for Medicaid or CHIP and complete enrollment and renewals. - The Children's Cabinet, Inc. is dedicated to improving access to health coverage for families with young children across Nevada through our Early Childhood Community Health Worker (EC-CHW) program. Our project focuses on increasing enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP, ensuring that eligible children and families receive the health coverage they need. By strategically embedding EC-CHWs within early childhood education settings, such as childcare centers and pre-kindergarten programs, we provide direct, culturally responsive support to families. Together, with our extensive state-wide partnerships, we help families navigate the complexities of enrollment and overcome barriers like language and economic instability. Project Goals: Enroll and retain eligible children in Medicaid and CHIP throughout the state of Nevada. Reduce barriers for families to enroll and maintain Medicaid and CHIP. Coordinate outreach efforts and enrollment assistance to families and child care providers. Facilitate the application for health coverage for 1,000 children annually. Achieve new Medicaid or CHIP enrollment for 500 children each year. Renew Medicaid or CHIP coverage for 1,500 children annually. Assist 650 parents each year in applying for health coverage, with 325 newly enrolled in Medicaid and 800 renewals annually. Total Budget Amount: $2,999,782.40 over five years. Use of Funds: The funding will be used to sustain and expand our EC-CHW team, enhance outreach strategies, and provide comprehensive enrollment assistance. This includes recruiting and training bilingual staff, developing culturally and linguistically appropriate materials, and strengthening partnerships with child care centers and community organizations across Nevada. Our efforts will focus on reaching underserved populations, including those in rural and frontier areas, to ensure equitable access to health services. The Children's Cabinet has demonstrated success in connecting families to vital services, with over 20,000 referrals facilitated. Our robust network of partnerships and our strategic placement of EC-CHWs position us to effectively increase Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, ensuring that Nevada's children have access to the healthcare they deserve. Through this project, we aim to bridge gaps in service delivery and address the social determinants of health, ultimately improving the well-being of families across the state. Outcomes: Over the five-year grant period, we will implement a Community Health Worker (CHW) model across Nevada to reduce barriers to Medicaid and CHIP enrollment. Our initiative will focus on targeted outreach, partnerships with community organizations, and culturally and linguistically appropriate assistance to help families apply for and renew coverage. By educating families about the availability of free or low-cost health coverage and providing direct enrollment support, we aim to increase the number of children receiving essential healthcare services. Through data collection and analysis, we will continuously refine our strategies to maximize impact. By expanding access to health coverage, our efforts will contribute to reducing childhood morbidity and mortality, ultimately improving health outcomes for children and families across Nevada.
