For Professionals
New Funding Opportunity: Connecting Kids to Coverage Outreach and Enrollment Grants
On January 7, 2013, CMS announced that we are soliciting proposals for Connecting Kids to Coverage Outreach and Enrollment Grants. Funded under the Affordable Care Act, these grants will continue efforts to find and enroll eligible children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). A total of $32 million is available for states, local governments, community-based and non-profit organizations. Indian health care providers and tribal entities also are eligible to apply. (In addition, a separate funding opportunity exclusively for Indian health care providers and tribal entities will be made available for outreach and enrollment grants at a later time.) Proposals are due on February 21, 2013, with grant award notification anticipated on June 1, 2013. Grants are expected to range in size from $250,000 to $1 million for a two-year period, beginning June 1, 2013 and ending May 31, 2015.
This round of grants will support outreach strategies in the following areas:
- Engaging schools in outreach, enrollment and retention activities;
- Bridging health coverage disparities by reaching out to subgroups of children that exhibit lower than average health coverage rates;
- Designing and executing targeted enrollment strategies to streamline health coverage enrollment for individuals participating in SNAP, WIC or other public benefit programs;
- Establishing and developing application assistance resources to provide high quality, reliable Medicaid/CHIP enrollment and renewal services in local communities; and
- Conducting training programs to equip communities to help families understand the new application and enrollment system and to deliver effective assistance to families with children eligible for Medicaid and CHIP.
For the full solicitation which includes instructions on how to apply, click here.
For More Information About this Funding Opportunity
Connecting Kids to Coverage Outreach and Enrollment Grants
Two Teleconferences for Prospective Applicants
January 16th: 2pm - 3pm ET
Dial In: 1-866-710-0179
Passcode: 568485
February 4th: 3:30pm – 5 pm ET
Dial In: 1-877-267-1577
Passcode: 4879
Please call in 10 minutes before start time to ensure we can begin promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions about the new funding opportunity:
Click here for FAQ Set I.
Click here for FAQ Set II.
Click here for FAQ Set III.
Click here for FAQ Set IV.
Click here for FAQ Set V.
For additional assistance on the program-related issues addressed in the solicitation call 888-203-6161 or email info@grantreview.org.
Continued Progress
A new report from the Urban Institute and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that the nation is making great progress enrolling eligible children in Medicaid and CHIP. Medicaid/CHIP participation increased nationally from 81.7 percent in 2008 to 85.8 percent in 2010, which was associated with a decline in uninsurance among eligible children, in part due to outreach and enrollment efforts. Read the new report to learn more. You can also find the Medicaid/CHIP participation rate in your State.
The findings of this new study tell us that the kinds of activities inspired by the Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge issued by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in 2010 are working! Step up to the Challenge and be part of the progress we are making to ensure that all children get the health coverage and care they need. Check out our Outreach Video Library to learn about outreach activities going on in communities across the country.
Support for Back to School Enrollment
Back-to-School time is a great time to make the connection between keeping children healthy and helping them succeed in school. A joint letter released August 12th from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan to the nation’s Governors urges them to encourage schools to "undertake children’s health coverage outreach and enrollment activities when classes begin this fall."
New Outreach Materials
In 2010, seven states participated in the Get Covered, Get in the Game initiative to work with school and youth sports programs to get eligible children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. Often, kids can’t play if they don’t have health insurance. Check out the new strategy guide to learn more about successful strategies to get students health coverage so they will be protected both on and off the field.
More Outreach Ideas
Connecting Kids to Coverage: Ten Things Schools Can Do
Connecting Kids to Coverage: Ten Things Community Health Centers Can Do
Connecting Kids to Coverage: Ten Things Local Businesses Can Do
New CMS Medicaid/CHIP Survey
Cycle I Grants Summary
HHS Awards Cycle II grants (press release)
Cycle II Grants Summary
Letter from Secretary Sebelius and Secretary Duncan
Outreach Video Library
Urban Institute study
Medicaid/CHIP Participation Rates in Your State
Get Covered, Get in the Game Strategy Guide