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| www.casbhc.org CASBHC News |
Winter 2010 |
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CASBHC Welcomes New Employee
In December, Stacey Moody joined CASBHC as the Director of Member Services. Stacey's role is to develop and implement programs that support the needs of CASBHC's membership with an emphasis on improving the sustainability of school-based health centers.
Stacey is also responsible for managing CASBHC's Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) Outreach and Enrollment grant (see the article below). Briefly, the grant supports efforts to find and enroll children who are uninsured but eligible for either Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHP+). For the past eight years, Stacey has worked in Medicaid and CHP+ outreach, enrollment and policy development.
As Colorado Covering Kids and Families Project Director, Stacey led the statewide coalition working to ensure that eligible children and families are enrolled in public health coverage. Stacey also chairs the state-appointed 211 Advisory Committee on Covering All Kids in Colorado. Stacey is a valuable asset to CASBHC and will greatly enhance the support CASBHC provides to SBHCs and members. Welcome aboard, Stacey! | |
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CASBHC Annual Member Meeting January 19
CASBHC will host the annual member meeting on January 19 from 9:30 until noon at the CASBHC office. Because lunch will be provided following the meeting, please RSVP by emailing CASBHC at info@casbhc.org. CASBHC's office is located at 1801 Williams Street, Suite 400, Denver.
The member meeting is an opportunity for members to celebrate CASBHC's successes in 2009, meet and network with one another, meet the CASBHC Board of Directors and staff, and to provide input to CASBHC for 2010. It is also a time when many of CASBHC's supporters renew their membership because CASBHC's membership year extends from January 1 to December 31 of each year (see the article below). |
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CASBHC Receives Federal Grant to Increase Access to Health Care Coverage for Colorado Kids
CASBHC is one of only 69 grant recipients nationwide to receive a two-year federal Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) Outreach and Enrollment (O&E) grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of the grant is to increase enrollment and retention of children in Medicaid and CHIP.
CASBHC, in partnership with Pueblo StepUp, received $499,835 to replicate the Pueblo StepUp school outreach model in five communities across Colorado. The five school-based health center sponsors participating in the grant include Community Health Services, Inc. in Adams County; Peak Vista Community Health Centers in El Paso County; Durango 9R School District in La Plata County; Montrose County School District in Montrose County; and Greeley-Evans School District in Weld County.
Each of the five participating sites will target and enroll children in their school district using school district information on the uninsured children who are eligible for the National School Lunch Program. The sites will also ensure eligible children retain coverage after initial enrollment. Using this proactive outreach strategy, the project aims to enroll and retain over 2,000 children in Medicaid and CHP+ over the two-year grant period. |
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Federal Health Care Reform Supports SBHCs
Prior to the holiday recess, the House of Representatives and the Senate had passed health care reform bills which contain language supporting school-based health centers. The two bills must now be reconciled and the compromise bill passed by both chambers before it can be signed into law by President Obama.
It appears federal health care reform will authorize a new federal program to support school-based health clinics. The House bill appropriates $50 million for fiscal year (FY) 2011 and "such sums as may be necessary for each of FY 2012 through FY 2015 to carry out this program". The Senate bill was amended to include $200 million in emergency appropriations for SBHC facilities and equipment but no funding for SBHC operations.
The House bill stipulates that SBHCs are reimbursed for covered services provided to children enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. In addition, the House bill would require that State Medicaid programs reimburse school-based health clinics on the same basis as they reimburse federally-qualified health centers (cost-based reimbursement). The Senate bill did not contain either of these provisions.
CASBHC is now working with NASBHC to insure that the final legislation includes the most beneficial language and an appropriation of at least $50 million to support the new federal grant program in FY 2011. |
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Time to Renew Your CASBHC Membership
CASBHC relies on your support to advocate for SBHCs that provide much needed health care to many of Colorado's most vulnerable children. Because the membership year runs from January 1 through December 31, each year at this time CASBHC asks supporters to renew their memberships.
There are several levels of membership. Associate members are organizations or individuals who support CASBHC's mission and goals. Annual dues for an Associate Organization Member are $100. Annual dues for individuals are $35.00.
Collaborating Organization members have a contractual affiliation with an operational school-based health center in Colorado. Annual dues for a Collaborating Organization Member are $100.
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CASBHC Board Develops Working Definition for "Integrated Care"
CASBHC's vision is that Colorado's children will have quality, integrated school health services that improve health status, optimize academic achievement, and enhance well-being . Conversations among CASBHC Board members led to the discovery that "integrated school health services" did not have a common meaning. After much discussion and examination of integrated care descriptions from a variety of sources, the board developed the following definition for Colorado's SBHCs:
"Integrated school health services" means comprehensive, coordinated, continuous and age-appropriate physical, behavioral and oral health services, provided by a multidisciplinary team to students while they are in school, using a process of care that includes direct delivery, co-management, and referral. |
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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care:
A Critical Component of School-Based Health Care
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, at least one in five children and adolescents has a mental health disorder. At least one in 10, or about 6 million children under age 18, have a serious emotional disturbance. The National Assembly on School-Based Health Care website states that approximately 20% of youth need mental health intervention with some estimates range as high as 38%.
The causes of these disorders may be due to biology or the child's environment. Biological causes include genetics, chemical imbalances or damage to the central nervous system, such as a head injury.
Environmental factors which put children and youth at risk for mental health disorders include exposure to violence, such as witnessing or being the victim of physical or sexual abuse, drive-by shootings, muggings, or other traumas. At risk children may also have experienced the loss of an important person in their lives through divorce, death or separation. Because many SBHCs are housed in high-poverty neighborhoods, stress related to chronic poverty, discrimination, or other serious hardships may lead to or contribute to mental health issues in those visiting the SBHC.
Like adults, children and adolescents can have mental health disorders that interfere with the way they think, feel, and act. When untreated, mental health disorders can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, and even suicide. Untreated mental health disorders can be very costly to families, communities, and the health care system.
The Center for School Mental Health Assistance asserts that children referred to a school-based mental health program are more likely to follow through on the referral and receive care than those referred to a community-based program. No doubt this is due in part to services delivered in a school and in conjunction with primary care services are perceived by students as less threatening and without stigmatization which may be associated with a community-based mental health service. In addition, the school location makes available opportunities to observe and work with students in their own social context. For these reasons, the mental and behavioral health services provided in the SBHC are a vital piece of caring for the whole child and an effective way to improve the lives of thousands of Colorado's young people. |
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By the Numbers
Over 40% of the youth in the juvenile justice system have a mental health issue.
Colorado's suicide rate is almost 40% higher than the national average.
Colorado's suicide rate is the 7th highest in the nation.
Over 90% of those who die as a result of suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder.
One in five Coloradoans will be affected by a mental health issue this year.
Source: Mental Health Awareness of Colorado |
People, Resources and Events
CASBHC's Annual Conference CASBHC's 2010 annual conference, Building Bridges to School Health: Coordinating Care and Recognizing Successes, will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in the Denver Tech Center on May 6th and 7th. The conference seeks to provide clinicians and administrators with practical tools that will enhance the provision of , communication of services, and coordination of services with other local and community health and support systems. On May 5th, just prior to the conference CASBHC will host a training on the adolescent reproductive health toolkit it has developed. Registration information will be posted on the CASBHC website in February.
Traumatic Brain Injury Network Launches Web Site The Traumatic Brain Injury Network has launched a new website for educators. With grant funds from the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund, this site has comprehensive information on identification, evaluation and accommodation strategies for school personnel working with students who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. The website can be found at: http://cokidswithbraininjury.com/
Legal Issues Related to Undocumented Children NASBHC partnered with over a dozen other organizations to produce a booklet titled, Legal Issues for School Districts Related to the Education of Undocumented Children. The booklet offers guidance on questions relevant to SBHCs providing health services to undocumented children. An example of one such question addressed in the booklet is, are undocumented students permitted or required to receive services that other students receive from school districts? The booklet is available for free download from the NEA website at: www.nea.org/assets/docs/09undocumentedchildren.pdf.
Free Resource Available Online The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health recently published an online booklet designed to help educators tap into local, state and federal health department resources to improve student health. The booklet titled, How Health Departments Work & How to Work with Health Departments, is available for a free download at the website of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors at: www.chronicdisease.org/files/public/CDCHHDWBrochurewebv17%5b1%5d.pdf
The Colorado Health Foundation grant deadlines occur quarterly The next deadlines for submitting grant applications are January 15 and April 15. The foundation has dedicated almost $11 million dollars over the next three and a half years to plan for and implement approximately 20 new school-based health centers in Colorado. To speak with a TCHF program officer, please call the main number, (303) 953-3600, or toll-free at (877) 225-0839, and you will be directed to the most appropriate person. To see the guidelines and to apply for a grant online go to www.coloradohealth.org/school-based_health_care.aspx.
Sign Up to be Notified of New Funding Opportunities by The Colorado Trust To be automatically notified of RFPs offered by The Colorado Trust, sign up online by going to www.coloradotrust.org/sign-up. You may also request to receive a variety of other updates from The Colorado Trust at the same time.
American Academy of Pediatrics Launches New Website The AAP recently launched a new website which will be a good resource for parents and teens to learn about health issues and find recommendations for healthy living. The site can be found at www.HealthyChildren.org.
Managing Director Position Available Boomers Leading Change in Health (BLCiH) is looking for a managing director. BLCiH is a three-year grant funded initiative to directly engage people 50 and over in the implementation of health care change on two levels: through direct services as health systems navigators and community health workers; and as advocates for improving the health care system. For more information, go to www.cndc.org/Job_Applications.html.
Quality Management Peer Review Supervisor Position Available Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) is seeking a Quality Management Peer Review Supervisor to participate in the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the quality assurance, peer review and protocol development of programs for PPRM contraceptive and abortion centers. Applicants must have a current Colorado state licensure, midlevel clinician experience in Men's & Women's Health, GLBT experience and family planning or abortion-related experience strongly preferred. For more information, go to www.plannedparenthood.org/rocky-mountains/.
LPN Position Available Full time position with Arapahoe House is available in Thornton. Duties include providing prescribed medical treatment and personal care services to clients in an adult residential unit. Other duties include group facilitation, staff consultation regarding client medical issues and medication management. Prefer experience working with clients with co-occurring substance abuse and mental illness. LPN required. Submit your resume and letter of interest indicating your interest in a Nurse position, specifying the program and title of the position at jobs@ahinc.org or by faxing the information to 303-412-3339.
Several Counselor Positions Available Several CAC I and CAC II positions are available in the Denver Metro area. For more information, go to www.arapahoehouse.org/about/careers.
Healthy Learning Paths' Winter Classes Childcare professionals and teachers can receive credit for attending health classes. All classes are held in Broomfield, Colorado. See the complete schedule of winter classes at http://www.healthylearningpaths.org/?page=calendar. For more information, call 303-464-7191. | |
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