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Model Application Template for the State Children's Health Insurance Program

Effective Date: August 24, 2001

Approval Date: 10 Surveys of SCHIP enrollees were conducted to assist in evaluating SCHIP implementation in South Dakota in both 1998 and in 1999. One of the items surveyed was outreach effectiveness. In the 1998 survey 76% of the respondents indicated that they had obtained information about the coverage program from the Department of Social Services. However, in comparison to the 1999 survey it appears the community based outreach efforts were increasing in effectiveness as only 55% of the respondents indicated the Department of Social Services was their source of information about SCHIP. Increasing in outreach effectiveness from 1998 to 1999 were community health nursing, health care providers and schools. Tribal health agencies also contributed effective outreach in both surveys.

American Indians are the largest minority population living in South Dakota. Approximately 7% of South Dakota’s population is American Indian, primarily residing on the 9 Indian Reservations within the States boundaries. For this reason specific outreach approaches have been considered for this population. Among the efforts specifically directed at American Indian persons are Consultation meetings held between the State and Tribal Government and Tribal Health officials. In addition, the Department has invited both Tribal Government and the IHS to be represented on the Medicaid Advisory Committee that assists in the monitoring of the Medicaid and SCHIP programs, and both entities are participating.

Some Tribal health departments have requested specific training of the their Community Health Representative staff in the SCHIP program and this training was provided by Department eligibility staff. One reservation even adapted the SCHIP radio ad to use in reaching the Indian population on their reservation.

Outreach brochures, posters and logos for SCHIP were designed with a culturally sensitive logo depicting children of varying ethnic backgrounds in an effort to convey that the program is intended for all races of children.

South Dakota has also had a successful applicant for the “South Dakota Covering Kids Initiative” through grant funding from the Robert Wood Johnson foundation for a three-year period of time from July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2003. The Community Healthcare Association of Sioux Falls, SD was the successful applicant. The South Dakota Covering Kids Initiative has four goals. They are: designing and conducting outreach programs to identify and enroll children in the Medicaid and SCHIP programs; continuing to simplify access to and completion of enrollment information and applications; assisting in coordinating coverage programs for low income, uninsured children; and designing programming specifically targeted to Native Americans and other special populations. The program will feature statewide initiatives to meet these goals and also pilot programs to address specific geographic areas and