Teachers for Healthy Kids

Teachers for Healthy Kids

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What is Teachers for Healthy Kids?

A joint project of the:

• California Association of Health Plans

• California Teachers Association

Partnering together since 2000, both groups have been working towards improving the health of students and their chances for academic success.

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Teachers for Healthy KidsWas Developed To:

Improve student performance by:

Promoting access to affordable health care coverage.

Putting emphasis on schools of greatest need.

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Teachers for Healthy KidsWas Developed To:

Educate teachers about health coverage programs.

Help them be conduits of information to parents.

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Teachers for Healthy KidsWas Developed To:

Include teachers in school health outreach efforts:

Facilitate enrollment of children in health coverage programs.

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Teachers for Healthy KidsWas Developed To:

Consolidate efforts of

Teachers Professional support staff Health insurance plans

To insure eligible children.

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Did You Know?

About 1.5 million children in California are uninsured.

Yet affordable, comprehensive

health insurance is available.

Source:Children Now – California Report Card 2011

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Did You Know?

Of California’s uninsured children,

nearly eight in ten (79%) are eligible for a public health coverage program such as:

Healthy Families Medi-Cal.

Source:

Children Now – California Report Card 2011

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Did You Know?

Rates of uninsured children vary widely across the state:

2/3 live in Southern California 6% of children in Los Angeles

1/10 of children in Bay Area and Sacramento 1/12 of children in Central Coast communities 13% of children in San Luis Obispo County

Source: UCLA School of Public Health California Health Interview Survey 2011

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Did You Know?

Latino children are 4 times more likely to be uninsured than non-Latino whites.

82% of uninsured children in the School Lunch Program are Latino.

Source: UCLA School of Public Health California Health Interview Survey

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Did You Know?

Percentage of uninsured children (0-18):Latinos 68% Asian-Americans 21%Caucasians 4%African-Americans 8%

and other race

Source: UCLA School of Public Health California Health Interview Survey

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Why is Health Coverage Important?

Even when a child Is healthy,PREVENTIVE CARE isimportant.

Only 87% of California children receive a preventive medical visit each year.

Uninsured children (76%) and children, ages 12-17, (78%) are least likely to receive preventive care.

Source: Children Now – California Report Card 2011

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Does Health Insurance

Make a Difference?

Absenteeism and sickness impact learning:

Missing more than 10 days in a semester can cause problems remaining at grade level.*

An estimated 51 million school hours a year are lost due to dental related illness alone.**

Absenteeism costs districts money.

* American Academy of Pediatrics,

**Assembly Select Committee on Low Performing Schools

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Does Insurance Make a Difference?

Uninsured kids are at a disadvantage. They are: 7x more likely NOT to get needed medical services,

preventive care, or fill prescriptions.* 5x more likely to receive their healthcare in an emergency

room.** 60% more likely to die during hospitalization*** Children without dental insurance (59%) are more likely to

miss two or more school days per year due to a dental problem***

* Robert Wood Johnson Covering Kids Study** Children’s Partnership Study *** Children Now - California Report Card 2011

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If Children Are Eligible, Why Aren’t They Insured?

Parents are: Unaware of health care coverage

programs for children.

Uncertain of eligibility requirements.

Fearful that enrollment or application will impact their immigration status.

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Health Coverage ImprovesStudent Performance

After one year in the Healthy Families program, children in the poorest health showed:

68% improvement in paying attention in class 68% improvement in keeping up with school

activities; 25% improvement in overall health

Source: MRMIB Children’s Health Assessment Project

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What Can You Do To Help?Share information with parents.Share information with parents.

Teachers:Teachers:

Are trusted messengers of information.

Have been the missing link in school outreach.

Have daily contact with children and parents.

See the link between health and achievement.

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Remember…

Teachers can’t teach to an

empty desk.