SAN DIEGO COUNTY: Community Groups Act To Boost Healthy Families Enrollment

      While the state recently unveiled a "streamlined" Healthy Families application, San Diego county community groups are trying "new ways to get the word out and sign up children." With 8.5% of the state population, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the county is lagging behind with only 5.2% of Healthy Families enrollment. Sandra Shewry, executive director of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, "said she expects a surge in enrollments early next year," partly due to the shortened application and partly due to "what she hopes will be clear reassurance from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that participating will not hurt a family's residency status." In addition, Shewry "said she hopes the incoming governor, Gray Davis (D), will expand Healthy Families to more children by raising the income limits." San Diego County, meanwhile, is engaging in its own efforts to reach out, funding projects such as the San Diego Kids Health Assurance Network and another program that will enroll children through local schools (see CHL 10/13). In addition, the Union-Tribune reports that state Sen. Dede Alpert (D-Coronado) is educating tax preparers who work with low-income families how they can help eligible families sign up for the program (Duerksen, 12/7).