The grant is designed to fund a program called the Child Health Access Program (CHAP) that will allow children ages 0 – 5 years access to a primary care physician and other outpatient services provided by culturally sensitive health providers within the HSA system.

More than 5600 Stanislaus County childrn below age five do not meet government health insurance program guidelines or have healthcare needs that are not covered by these programs. The CHAP program will target young children living in families with incomes at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level who do not qualify for publicly sponsored programs like Medi-Cal or Healthy Families.

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to provide primary care and prevention services to children who have nowhere else to turn,” stated Mary Ann Lee. Lee is the Associated Director of Managed Care at the HSA and the team leader for the CHAP program. “This program will make great inroads into getting these children good continuity of care by giving them access to a family doctor.”

The grant will fund $1.3 million for January – June 2003; $2.8 million for July 2003 – June 2004; $3.4 million for July 2004 – June 2005; and $1.8 million for July 2005 – December 2005. The program is designed as a three-year pilot.

George Skol, recently elected Vice-Chair of the Children and Families Commission from Modesto, stated, “We have a moral obligation to do what we can to make sure every child in this county has the appropriate health care and is protected against abuse and neglect. There can be no finer use of Prop. 10 funds.

Children and Families Commissioner Sallie Perez of Turlock is excited about the county partnership. She says the health care access need is great.

“This program is extremely important. It will have an impact on the health and well being of our children for years to come,” Perez noted.

Services offered through CHAP will include primary and preventive medical care, ambulatory specialty care, pharmaceuticals, laboratory services, x-rays and rehabilitation services such as audiology, speech and physical therapy. Inpatient or outpatient care provided outside the HSA service network is beyond the scope of services offered.

One recent national study of emergency room use estimates that approximately 75% of all pediatric emergency department patients could have been seen in a less-acute setting. CHAP has the potential to produce cost savings in the local health system by decreasing inappropriate and frequent use of these “crisis care” resources.
Proposition 10 was a voter approved statewide ballot initiative passed in 1998 that added a 50 cent tax per pack of cigarettes. The monies collected are to be used to fund education, health and childcare programs that promote early childhood development, from prenatal to age five. The intent is for all California children to be healthy, to live in a healthy and supportive family environment and to enter school ready to learn.

The Stanislaus County Children and Families Commission receives about 7 million dollars a year from the Prop.10 tobacco tax revenue. The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors established the Children and Families Commission on December 8, 1998. The nine-member commission is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Two years ago the Commission adopted a strategic plan to address the following community goals: children learning and ready for school, healthy children, strong families, and improved systems to help children and families succeed.

Through it’s partnership with United Way of Stanislaus County, the Commission has funded many programs to promote early childhood development. The Commission awarded $2.9 million in grants to schools, childcare providers and community agencies and a $5.3 million dollar contract with the Stanislaus County Office of Education and Modesto City Schools to expand countywide subsidized childcare to children 0-5.