Wednesday, February 16, 2000
Schools to aid health outreach
Effort to provide insurance
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
MIDDLETOWN — A pilot outreach program will put caseworkers in six Butler County school districts to enroll children in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The project was announced Monday at the Middletown/
Monroe Board of Education during a presentation by Debra Porrett, project coordinator.
Caseworker Teresa Fadden will rotate among seven Middletown schools over the next two weeks to help families obtain health coverage for pregnant women and anyone 18 and younger. Ms. Fadden said she hopes the program will lead to better attendance and better proficiency test results.
Caseworkers also will visit schools in the Talawanda, Edgewood, Hamilton, New Miami and Madison districts, but their schedules have not been announced.
Getting the word out
Middletown/Monroe Superintendent Wayne Driscoll said the district is helping get the word out to families about the program. “We want to make sure as many children as possible enroll.”
Caseworkers will meet with parents at the schools to discuss eligibility and help fill out paperwork.
“We're starting with the Middletown/Monroe Schools because Rose Marie Stiehl (principal of community education) is very involved and asked to talk to us,” Ms. Porrett said. “The schools have been very generous in offering us space and support. We'll see how it works here and expand to other schools.”
Medicaid program
CHIP is a Medicaid support program for children and pregnant women who are either uninsured or underinsured.
The outreach program that is putting caseworkers in the schools was made available by a grant received by the Butler County Department of Human Services at the direction of county commissioners.
The program is not planned for the Lakota or Fairfield schools, but families with qualifying incomes in those districts can call 887-4000 to set up appointments.
Eligible family income is $12,360 for a single expectant mother, $25,056 for a family of four and $33,516 for a family of six, Ms. Porrett said.
Beginning in April, the ceiling is raised to double the federal poverty guidelines, or $16,480 for a single expectant woman, $33,408 for a family of four and $44,688 for a family of six.
Qualifying families can join the Butler Health Plan, an HMO that provides preventive health checks and full medical coverage that includes doctor visits, hospital care, immunizations, substance abuse treatments, prescriptions, vision, dental and mental health.
“The higher income guidelines should bring in a lot of people who didn't qualify in the past,” Ms. Porrett said.
Stadium bill up $14.3M
County bears main blame in stadium fiasco
Stadium a big political problem for Bedinghaus
Who's who on the stadium team
Child alerts take to airwaves
Officer in cruiser shootout retires
Schools get large part of tobacco settlement
City defends support for development group
Collegians find politics and fun can be good mix
Auto Expo opens today at convention center
Drug officers fan out at banks
Hotel-tax hike gains backer
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
'Oprah' slips in Tristate ratings
Oscar nominees hold surprises
Complete list of Oscar nominations
GET TO IT
Appeals court OKs peculiar use of jury
Attempted fraud lands 3rd perpetrator in prison
Audience appreciates Cowboy Junkies' pace
Butler chips in $3M to revamp mall
Cathedrals, universities called forces in cities
Clermont County goes all out to mark 200th
Computer technician indicted on porn charges
F. Lee Bailey says Sheppard fought 2
First-graders learn to sign
Insurer backs off cancer payments
Kentucky venture investments possible
Lincoln Heights considers new truck-ban ordinance
Man pleads guilty to child porn
Mason fire chief hurt at rescue scene
Offers made on old toys
Politicking gets cop suspended
School bus drivers defy union
Schools to aid health outreach
Slain man was naked and bound
Track condition stops the train
TRISTATE DIGEST
Victim's family helps killer avoid death
Warren officials question purchases
Woodlawn manager quits
