March 30, 2006
For Immediate Release

First 5 Alameda County Joins with Alameda Alliance for Health to Expand Health Care to Uninsured Children
Funding expands health coverage for low-income Alameda County children 0-5 years of age

Alameda, CA - This morning at DeColores Head Start Center, Alameda Alliance for Health (Alliance) announced it has been awarded more than $168,000 in funding from First 5 Alameda County and First 5 California. The funds will be used to support the Alliance's efforts to provide low-cost, comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage to Alameda County children between 0 to 5 years of age through the Alliance's Healthy Kids program. As part of this announcement, the Alliance also held an enrollment event at the Head Start location and will continue to hold enrollment events throughout the community until the Healthy Kids program reaches capacity.

"For the past 10 years, since the Alliance's inception, we have partnered with the community and providers to ensure that local residents have access to comprehensive health care coverage," said Ingrid Lamirault, chief executive officer of Alameda Alliance for Health. "The Alliance is pleased to offer the Healthy Kids program to expand health coverage to children. Partnering with organizations like First 5 Alameda County allows us to continue to broaden access to health care for all members of our community."

According to the 2003 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS 2003), there are 21,000 children between the ages of 0-18 years who are currently uninsured in Alameda County. Healthy Kids will help reduce that number by offering comprehensive health, vision and dental coverage to low-income Alameda County children. To qualify for the program, children must be under the age of 19, an Alameda County resident, ineligible for public programs and have a family income up to 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (approximately $60,000 for a family of 4). Healthy Kids is open to all children regardless of immigration status.

"Today is a positive step toward ensuring that our youngest and most vulnerable population has access to needed health care coverage. First 5 efforts support the healthy development of children 0-5 years and we understand the link between access to health care and educational success. We are proud to contribute to the Alliance's efforts to expand health coverage for children," said Mark Friedman, chief executive officer of First 5 of Alameda County.

Healthy Kids is a key component of the Children's Health Initiatives (CHIs) that have been formed in counties throughout California. The CHIs enroll children into Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs, and also make available a local Healthy Kids program intended for children ineligible for public programs. Healthy Kids is not a government program and is entirely funded through local efforts and grant funding. There are presently 18 Healthy Kids programs throughout the state.

Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker commented, "As a long-time health care advocate, I support the Healthy Kids program because it provides children access to essential preventive and routine care that is critical to their development and ability to learn. We all need to work together to find solutions to provide access to health care coverage for the uninsured in Alameda County and across the State. I applaud organizations like the Alliance and First 5 for their ongoing commitment to health care and our children."

Healthy Kids has the capacity to serve 1,150 children and enrollment is on a first come, first served basis.

For more information on enrolling in the Healthy Kids program or for other health programs available through the Alliance, please call 510-747-4567.

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Alameda Alliance for Health, established in 1996, is a local not-for-profit, state-licensed health plan providing low-cost and no-cost comprehensive health care services to nearly 90,000 Alameda County residents. Alliance members choose from a network of more than 1,100 community doctors, 10 hospitals, 26 community clinics and more than 140 pharmacies. For more information on the Alliance and its programs, visit www.alamedaalliance.org First 5 Alameda County's mission is to develop and implement a high-quality, community-based countywide system of continuous prevention and early intervention services to improve environments critical to the health and well-being of young children and their families. For more information on First 5 Alameda County, visit www.ackids.org

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