W. VA Healthy Kids and Families Coalition

Join 152 Organizations in the West Virginia Campaign to Raise Young Children out of Poverty

The Facts
Thirty percent (30%) of West Virginia boys and girls under age six live in poverty. That means that a family of three earns less than $20,000/year, or about $400/week.Research in brain development shows that social, emotional and cognitive development is shaped in early childhood and has a lifelong effect.Poor kids are 5 times more likely to have children outside marriage, twice as likely to be arrested, and nearly 3 times as likely to have severe health problems, than kids not living near the poverty line. Poor kids also end up earning incomes less than half those of their counterparts.Taking care of our most vulnerable children is not only the right thing to do; it is the best way to help our state’s health, welfare, and economy in the long run.

Our Goals
Over the next year, as we begin this campaign, our goals are to:

• Organize a broad coalition across race, religious, geographic, and ideological lines.
• Survey and mobilize a base of families and kids to share their stories and lead this campaign.
• Research and develop a full policy agenda that, if implemented, would reduce child poverty in West Virginia by half.
• Create and begin to act on a legislative strategy for achieving our policy goals.

-- Download the flyer --

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W. Va. Medicaid Made Simple Now Available

Twenty-two percent of West Virginians rely on Medicaid for health care. Medicaid Made Simple explains why Medicaid is so important to West Virginia, its people, its economy and its future.

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VIEW THE WINNING VIDEOS

Our Mission

We. along with other individuals, private organizations, and state agencies, work to improve the health of children and families in West Virginia. We provide a forum for diverse organizations to discuss, coordinate and collaborate on issues that improve the health and well-being of West Virginia children.

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September 24th-25th, 2013: Our Children, Our Future Symposium

This fall, we are convening a diverse cross-section of West Virginians -- kids and families, business and labor leaders, ministers and lawmakers, educators and advocates -- to create action plans on 18 separate issues that affect children living in poverty.  The topics will range from Foster Care Reform to Physical Activity and Education in Schools to Juvenile Justice Reform... and on the second day of the Symposium, we will present a wide range of recommendations to House and Senate leadership.  To become a sponsor for the Symposium, or to receive a nomination form to attend, please contact Alyson Clements at aclements@wvpolicy.org.

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Our 2013 Platform

After 47 community meetings and 250 additional stakeholder meetings across the state, we voted on our 2013 Our Children, Our Future Platform.  Click here to see our top 10 issues.  Then let us know if you are interested in participating in our Kids and Families Day, or one of 12 Regional Forums across the state, to ask your legislators to SIGN ON!

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Host Your Own Community Meeting

The West Virginia Healthy Kids and Families Coalition, in conjunction with 37 partner organizations, is conducting a “community meeting campaign” across the state.  These meetings are designed to identify policy solutions and local leaders, like you, who are willing to take action to fight for those policies.  This campaign is beginning in the fall of 2012, but this is just a start.  We are prepared to work as long as it takes to turnaround the circumstances facing our kids and families.

We invite you and your organization, church, school, union, chamber of commerce, law firm, Rotary Club, sports club, service agency, or other group to join us as we discuss what can be done to fight child and family poverty, and who among us will step forward to fight for that change.  Think of all the children in your extended family - imagine if 1 in 3 was living in poverty, closed off from food, health, and parental support.  You would do everything in your power to help them.  West Virginia's family is hurting.  1 in 3 of our young children is suffering.  Will you act?  We are especially looking for children and parents to step forward and take leadership in this fight for change.  Contact Stephen Smith at ssmith@wvhealthykids.org for more information.

Download: How to Host a Community Meeting on Child Poverty

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Guide to Health Care Reform

West Virginians for Affordable Health Care has released a guide to health care reform entitled "The Affordable Care Act: Moving Forward in West Virginia" The guide can be found in at the West Virginians for Affordable Health Care website.

Welcome
to the New Healthy Kids Executive Director

Stephen Smith has been named the new West Virginia Healthy Kids and Families Coalition Executive Director.  Prior to coming to Healthy Kids, Stephen was the director of organizing for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and is the author of Stoking the Fire of Democracy: Our Generation's Introduction to Grassroots Organizing.  A graduate of Harvard University and the London School of Economics, Stephen has worked with a wide range of communities - from running a for-profit bakery operated by people with disabilities to founding a youth advocacy organization that won victories on health care and financial aid.  Born in Charleston, Stephen and his family are thrilled to be back home in West Virginia.

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Now Options for Health Care Coverage

The health reform bill called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed by Congress in 2010 has many new benefits.  The new law will be phased in through 2014 and beyond.  There are benefits starting in 2010, however, which will help many West Virginians. 
 
● Have you been denied health coverage because you have heart disease, cancer or some other chronic condition?  People with chronic illnesses, who cannot find affordable coverage in the private market, now have access to two insurance plans.  One is the new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan created by the ACA and available at www.pcip.gov or 866-717-5826.  The other is AccessWV, created by 2004 state legislation, and housed within the West Virginia Insurance Commission.  Depending on their income, West Virginians may even be eligible for a subsidy to pay part of their premium.  To find out more go to www.accesswv.org or call 1-866-445-8491. 
 
●  Are you a young adult up to age 26 who does not have coverage?  You now have the option to stay on your parents’ health insurance plan up to age 26.  You can be married, working and/or living in another state and still stay on your parents’ health plan.  If your parents have coverage through the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Plan, the new benefit will be available on July 1, 2011.  For other plans, you will be eligible at the beginning of the new plan year.  Talk to your parents and their health plan administrator to get more details. 
 
● Do you have a child who does not have health coverage?  Depending on your income, your child is eligible for Medicaid or the West Virginia Children’s Health Insurance Program.  It’s easy to apply.  Go to www.chip.wv.gov to find a mail-in application or call 1-877-WVA-CHIP for more information.  If you are a family of three and earn less than $45,775 per year your child is eligible.  Even if you are not sure if your child is eligible, go ahead and apply; some expenses may be deducted from your income and eligibility may increase in the future. 
 
● What if you can’t afford to buy coverage under the options available now? You may have to wait until 2014 when many new options go into effect.  A new coalition helping to implement health reform in West Virginia will be advertising and promoting the new coverage options.  If you want to help get more West Virginians covered, check out www.wvahc.org or email renatepore@gmail.com to get involved.