This information supplements handouts in members packets. 1. Welcome and Introductions Beth Giesting, Executive Director of the Hawaii Primary Care Association, opened the meeting at 10:00 AM and welcomed the thirty-one attendees. 2. Announcement We are halfway through the RWJF grant and Barbara thanked everyone for their partnership and support. We look forward to another one-and-a-half years of working together to help children and families. 3. The Hawaii Uninsured Project Beth explained a three-year campaign sponsored by HMSA Foundation to address the issues facing 100,000 uninsured Hawaii residents. Their first Leadership Assembly for the Uninsured was held on 28 November 2000. 4. Pilot Project Reports a. Big Island Pilot Project: Electronic Application The second training was held August 17 in Hilo and the outreach workers are still testing the software. Toddy Hagans will meet with the West Hawaii Med-QUEST Office in December to review downloading applications. b. Kalihi-Palama Pilot Project: Immigrant and Refugee Outreach Bob Hashimoto explained they are focused on outreach to Micronesians through Queen Kaahumanu Elementary School and McKinley High School and Laotians through a Buddhist priest. They have not currently expanded their use of interpreters beyond the health center and plan to work more closely with INS beginning in January. Pat McManaman from Na Loio: Immigrant Rights and Public Interest Legal Center presented information at the November 29 pilot coalition meeting and distributed public charge handouts. c. Maui Pilot Project: School Lunch Outreach Maui received 580 referral forms from July through November and attempts were made to contact all parents and guardians by telephone. However, if that was not possible information and an application were mailed to their homes and there has been a 20 percent return rate to the Hawaii Covering Kids outreach worker for these applications. 5. Information Bill Wood thanked Ruth Ota, Dee Helber, and the Hawaii Association for Independent Schools for their help with the Hawaii Covering Kids Data Project for year one. The report will be published this month. During year two, additional work will be done with preschools, daycare centers, WIC, and Head Start. Senator Chun Oakland noted the opportunity for outreach in early childhood centers in addition to data collection. Supin, the graduate assistant working on the project, is distributing flyers to the centers. 6. Special Guests Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, Representative Dennis Arakaki, and Con Hogan presented information on children's health issues. Highlights are: a. Senator Chun Oakland (state legislature issues) * uninsured population and state health coverage solutions * dental check-ups included in public school requirements * Good Beginnings Alliance created a public-private partnership for early childhood initiatives to help young children succeed in school and life; access to health services is a very important component. * CHIP includes immigrant, refugee, and Compact of Free Association kids up to 200% FPL but there are still gap group children not insured. * $8.4 million for substance abuse prevention programs; communities can access money * need to publicize and outreach to public and private early childhood, K-12 schools * Tobacco Settlement HHI (02/01) and Teen Substance Abuse Prevention (10/01); organize at school and community levels * Partnering for Positive Outcomes * Welfare Reform * Homeless Issues: more families with children, substance abuse involved, domestic violence; need to provide substance abuse treatment on-site. * An emergency appropriation bill will be submitted to make Healthy Start statewide this year * Help uninsured young adults (ages 18-24 years) in government employee families * Prescription drug coverage and access * Judiciary will begin drug courts statewide including substance abuse treatment * Adult immigrants and refugees need to be covered under State CHIP * Bill to negotiate with health insurance companies for lower premiums for uninsured groups * PCNCs and Families for REAL b. Representative Arakaki * HB 540 became a comprehensive bill to cover as many immigrant children as possible. * 2001 Legislature: he will chair the Health Committee and Michael Kahikina will chair the Human Services and Housing Committee * Three central points: Prevention, Prevention, and Prevention * Goals: 1. Increase QUEST and Medicaid eligibility for adults, children, and youth to 300% FPL 2. Provide equal access to mental health care and dental care 3. Improve EPSDT participation and follow-up 4. Increase school-based health services and establish more school-based and school-linked services c. Con Hogan Note: Con is the former Secretary of Vermont's Agency of Human Services (1991-1999) and is a member of the Covering Kids National Advisory Committee. * Hawaii and Vermont have numerous similarities: percent of kids insured, prevention-oriented indicators, very rural with one main urban center, natural beauty, and alcohol abuse problems. * Vermont borrowed many health promotion ideas from Hawaii * Vermont increased Medicaid eligibility for kids (300% FPL) and adults (185% FPL) that resulted in other positive indicators * community development is weaving the important web of community engagement * give schools credit for what is done and go public with positive information * avoid labeling "programs for kids at-risk" * all newborns in Vermont are visited regardless of families income level * dentists: reimbursement rates are not necessarily the problem; they are very independent and don't like when clients miss appointments * cost benefit of electronic application program far outweighs public access to the application * ask everyone: "What can you do to improve access for children to health?" 7. Next Meeting Our next meeting is Monday, 26 February 2001 at 1:00 PM at the YWCA on Richards Street in Honolulu.