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Related Items Kinship Caregiver Programs Generations United Announces 10 KinNET Grants for 2002-2003 Search the documents database on the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information Web site

Kinship caregivers face numerous obstacles in obtaining basic services for the children they are raising. Health care coverage, in particular, may be difficult to acquire due to numerous administrative barriers and a lack of awareness about what is available. Now, the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is offering two new publications meant to aid kinship caregivers in understanding and applying for Medicaid and the Federal Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Healthy Ties: Ensuring Health Coverage for Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives is based on the CDF's 50-state survey of Medicaid and CHIP enrollment policies for children being raised by kinship caregivers. Healthy Ties presents "State Snapshots," which outline each State's policy for health insurance enrollment as well as barriers faced by kinship caregivers. It also offers suggestions on how State agencies and advocates can increase access to health insurance for children living with kinship caregivers.

The companion brochure, Healthy Ties: The Grandparent's and Other Relative Caregiver's Guide to Health Insurance for Children, provides kinship caregivers answers to basic questions about enrolling children in Medicaid and CHIP. The brochure also lists helpful resources for kinship caregivers and State contacts for children's health programs.

Healthy Ties: Ensuring Health Coverage for Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives is available in PDF format at http://www.childrensdefense.org/pdf/healthyties_fullreport.pdf.

Healthy Ties: The Grandparent's and Other Relative Caregiver's Guide to Health Insurance for Children is available in PDF format at http://www.childrensdefense.org/pdf/healthyties_cg.pdf.

Copies of the publications can also be ordered by calling the Children's Defense Fund at 202-662-3568, by email at healthyties@childrensdefense.org, or by writing to the Children's Defense Fund, Child Welfare and Mental Health Division, 25 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.

Related Items

Kinship Caregiver Programs (http://www.calib.com/cbexpress/ nonissart.cfm?issue_id=2002-04&disp;_art=436)

Read Generations United Announces 10 KinNET Grants for 2002-2003 in the January 2002 issue of the Children's Bureau Express (http://www.calib.com/cbexpress).

Search the documents database on the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information website (http://www.calib.com/nccanch) for additional information related to kinship care.