State Focuses on Health Coverage for Children in August

Throughout the month of August, Department of Health representatives will be making special efforts to enroll uninsured children into public health coverage.  These efforts are part of the agency’s celebration of Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) Month to coincide with children returning to school.

“The start of the school year is a good time to make sure children have all the important tools to ensure success in the classroom,” said LDH Secretary Dr. Fred Cerise.  “We know that healthy kids are better prepared to learn, and we are working to identify families of uninsured children to let them know about the services they can get through LaCHIP.”

LaCHIP provides no-cost heath coverage to children from working families who do not have health insurance and are younger than 19.  A family of four can earn $3,334 a month and still qualify for LaCHIP coverage for their children.  The program covers visits to the doctor, dentist and hospital stays as well as prescriptions and immunizations.

Representatives of the LaCHIP program will be participating in events at stores, schools, churches and community centers across the state to answer questions about and help families sign up for LaCHIP’s no-cost health care coverage. They will also help families who already have children with LaCHIP complete renewal forms for the program.  This year they will also work to inform families about new federal rules that require all U.S. citizens to prove their citizenship to get and keep LaCHIP or Medicaid.

Applications and renewal forms can be downloaded from www.lachip.org. The toll-free LaCHIP hotline, 1-877-2LaCHIP (1-877-252-2447), also will have extended hours throughout August, with operators available from 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Parents and caregivers can call the LaCHIP hotline and use the automated telephone system to answer the questions necessary to renew a child’s coverage.

The following pages contain a list of events taking place all across the state where representatives will promote LaCHIP and other Medicaid programs as children prepare to go back to school this fall.

Thursday August 3, 2006

    * Lafayette Parish Outreach @ Lafayette Parish Health Unit, 220 Willow Bldg. A, Lafayette, 1-3 p.m.
    * Avoyelles Parish Outreach @ Canadaville FEMA Living Center Complex Health Fair, State Hwy. 1 north of Simmesport, Simmesport 8 a.m. - noon
    * Concordia Parish Outreach @ Fred’s Department Store, U.S. Highway 84, Vidalia, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    * 22nd Annual New Orleans Association for the Education of Young Children Conference @ Delgado Community College, City Park Campus 615 City Park Avenue, New Orleans 11 a.m. -12:15 p.m.

Friday August 4, 2006

    * St. Martin Parish Outreach @ St. Martin Parish Health Unit 303 W. Port Street, St. Martinville, 8 a.m. - noon
    * LaCHIP Back to School Outreach @ Mabile’s Pharmacy, Coushatta 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Webster Parish Health Unit, 1200 Homer Road, Minden 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Claiborne Parish Health Unit, 624 W. Main, Homer       8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    * 22nd Annual New Orleans Association for the Education of Young Children Conference @ Delgado Community College, City Park Campus 615 City Park Avenue New Orleans 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Saturday August 5, 2006

    * Children’s Resource and Health Fair, Monroe Civic Center Arena, Monroe 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    * East Baton Rouge Parish Outreach @ Capitol Middle School Baton Rouge
    * East Baton Rouge Parish Outreach @ Leo S. Butler Community Center Baton Rouge
    * Safe & Healthy Kids Day @ Southland Mall, 5953 West Park Avenue, Houma 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

 Tuesday August 8, 2006

    * Lafayette Parish Outreach @ Lafayette Parish Health Unit, 220 Willow Bldg. A, Lafayette

      1-3 p.m.

    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Caddo Parish Health Unit, 1035 Creswell, Shreveport, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday August 9, 2006

    * Covering Kids and Families Back to School Event and Press Conference @ Family Roads, E. Airport Drive, Baton Rouge event: 9:00am- noon and press conference at 10 a.m.
    * Lafayette Parish Outreach @ Lafayette Parish Health Unit, 220 Willow Bldg. A, Lafayette       1-3 p.m.
    * LaSalle Parish Outreach @ Super-Valu Food Store, U.S. Hwy 84, Jena 9 a.m. - noon
    * LaSalle Parish Outreach @ Mac’s IGA Supermarket, U.S. Hwy 84, Jena 1- 4:30 p.m.
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Caddo Parish Health Unit, 1035 Creswell, Shreveport 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Bossier Parish Health Unit, 3022 Old Minden Road, Bossier City 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Thursday August 10, 2006

    * Winn Back to School Kickoff Event, Shopper Village, U.S. Hwy 167 Winnfield 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    * City of Alexandria Back to School Bingo Bash @ Convention Center, Alexandria 4-6 p.m.

Friday August 11, 2006

    * St. Martin Parish Outreach @ St. Martin Parish Health Unit, 303 W. Port Street, St. Martinville 8 a.m. - noon
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Caddo Parish Health Unit, 1035 Creswell, Shreveport  8-3:30 p.m.
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Bossier Parish Health Unit, 3022 Old Minden Road Bossier City 8-3:30 p.m.
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Red River Parish Health Unit, Red Oak and Clarkson Street, Coushatta 8-3:30 p.m.
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Claiborne Parish Health Unit, 624 West Main, Homer 8-3:30 p.m.

Saturday August 12, 2006

    * Sisters of Sophistication, Inc. 4th Annual Back to School Rally, BREC’s Howell Park Gymnasium 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Baton Rouge
    * Back to School Bash @ Dupont Pero Center, River Road 1-5 p.m. Reserve
    * Outreach @ Prien Lake Mall, 496 Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    * Outreach @ Wal-Mart, 525 N Cities Service Hwy., Sulphur, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
    * The Scene: Alexandria Mall Back to School Event @ Alexandria Mall, 3437 Masonic Drive, Alexandria 5-8 p.m.
    * Bright Star Baptist Church Back to School Health Fair and Celebration @ 2415 Hearne Avenue, Shreveport 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    * Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation Therapeutic Division Fun Day @ Querbes Recreation Center, 3500 Beverly Place, Shreveport 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    * LaCHIP event @ Hammond Square Mall, Railroad Avenue, Hammond 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
    * LaCHIP event @ North Shore Square Mall, Slidell 10 a.m. – 5  p.m.
    * Maternal and Child Health Fair @ Babies R Us, 6851 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Sunday August 13, 2006

    * Louisiana School for the Deaf, Back to School Registration, 2888 Brightside Drive, Baton Rouge Noon – 4 p.m.
    * Rapides Schools Open House @ various school sites, Rapides Parish 1-6 p.m.

Monday August 14, 2006

    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Caddo Parish Health Unit, 1035 Creswell, Shreveport 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Bossier Parish Health Unit, 3022 Old Minden Road, Bossier City 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Thursday August 17, 2006

    * School Registration @  James Singleton Charter School, 2220 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. New Orleans 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Friday August 18, 2006

    * St. Martin Parish Outreach @ St. Martin Parish Health Unit, 303 W. Port Street St. Martinville, 8 a.m. - noon
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Red River Parish Health Unit, Red Oak and Clarkson Street, Coushatta 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    * Back to School Immunization Clinic @ Claiborne Parish Health Unit, 624 W. Main, Homer       8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    * Washington Parish LaCHIP Back to School Event @ Community Outreach Fair, Main Street, Franklinton 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    * School Registration @ James Singleton Charter School, 2220 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. New Orleans 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturday August 19, 2006

    * Community Health Fair- Back to School Event, Kingsley Place, University Drive, Shreveport 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    * School Registration @ James Singleton Charter School, 2220 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. New Orleans 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tuesday August 22, 2006

    * Imperial Counsel of the Ancient Egyptian Arabi Order Nobles of the Mystic Shine Community Health Fair, 2020 Jackson Street New Orleans 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturday August 26, 2006

    * Mt. Calvary Baptist Church Health Fair, 320 Daspit Street, Alexandria Time: TBA

Monday August 28, 2006

    * Boys-n-Girls Back to School Open House @ St. Paul Baptist Church, Colorado Street, Hammond 6 p.m.