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The REACH Healthcare Foundation awarded Enrollment Assistance grants totaling $150,369 to six organizations to support focused efforts to increase enrollment for health coverage and other public benefits. The grants aim to help eligible consumers with health insurance and eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women Infants and Children (WIC) and other benefits. The grants align with the foundation’s Enroll All Eligible outcome investment area.
The funded organizations were selected based on their experience with the health insurance marketplace and public benefit programs, understanding of common barriers to health care, and track record in working with individuals who struggle to secure the services they need due to language, literacy, documentation and other challenges.
“Lack of information and understanding of application processes pose significant barriers for many individuals,” said Brenda Sharpe, REACH president and CEO. “The organizations selected have firsthand knowledge of local health needs and trusted and reliable systems in place to assist consumers with these types of benefits.”
El Centro, Inc. works primarily with Latino residents in Johnson and Wyandotte counties. The REACH grant will help the agency expand its team to establish a full-time enrollment specialist in Johnson County to serve that area’s growing Latino population.
Communications and outreach are the focus of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment’s (JDHE) project. The health department will build on a bilingual public information campaign developed in 2018 to make people aware of the health insurance marketplace open enrollment period and other benefits assistance. JDHE uses social media and print and digital media to promote enrollment opportunities.
The Health Care Coalition of Lafayette County, Missouri, operates four clinics in the largely rural county. Their target population are adults and families at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Information and enrollment assistance is provided at multiple sites, including the clinics, Lexington Food Pantry and health fairs.
Recipients of the 12-month grants are:
- Budget and Financial Management Assistance – $29,600
- El Centro, Inc. – $20,787
- Health Care Coalition of Lafayette County – $30,000
- Johnson County Department of Health and Environment – $19,192
- KC CARE Health Center – $20,790
- Thrive Allen County, Inc. – $30,000
