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Effective Date: April 1, 2009

Approval Date: ____________ 29

Section 5. Outreach (Section 2102(c))

Describe the procedures used by the state to accomplish:

Outreach to families of children likely to be eligible for child health assistance or other public or private health coverage to inform them of the availability of the programs, and to assist them in enrolling their children in such a program: (Section 2102(c)(1)) (42CFR 457.90)

In October 2000, New Jersey began a statewide ad campaign to promote the change in the name of the program from NJ KidCare to NJ FamilyCare. This campaign included television advertising, radio and print ads, as well as bus advertising. In addition, the Department of Human Services partnered with private and public organizations to offer free food and ticket incentives for new NJ FamilyCare applicants.

Other outreach efforts include a joint private/public sector school outreach program, Back-to-School campaigns, corporate partnerships with organizations serving markets that attract low- and middle-income children and parents, a grant-funded collaborative effort to reach community-based organizations, development of outreach training sessions and printed material to encourage hospital and faith-based organizations to participate, Production of a directory listing the more than five hundred application assistance sites statewide, production of an education/awareness video for use in county welfare offices and in local businesses, and a series of over 110 exhibits, training sessions and presentations during Federal Fiscal Year 2001.

The outreach campaign consists of a comprehensive effort to reach uninsured children. This plan uses a phased approach to outreach that includes 4 major components. The public awareness and media campaign supports the effort with various public information material including posters, brochures, public service announcements, press releases, letters and notices.

The targeted outreach uses known resources and databases as well as concentrating on specific locations such as day care centers and schools with a high percentage of children eligible for school meal programs. It involves a coordinated effort between the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Education and includes efforts such as Train the Trainer sessions. Direct outreach workers, including outreach workers for other maternal child health and public health programs, are trained to respond to questions concerning the program. Outstationed eligibility workers in certain hospitals and FQHCs serve as both outreach and referral sources. Bilingual staff and/or language lines are used as needed. In all cases, the use of culturally competent outreach resources is a paramount consideration.