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Schools: Schools and day care programs will be an important avenue for outreach to families. A contact person at each public school will be responsible for distributing brochures and applications to students. School nurses, Head Start programs, day care providers, private schools and home school organizations will also be provided with information about CoverKids to give to students and families.

Other Government Programs: State and local agencies will also distribute CoverKids brochures and applications. The Department of Human Services (which is responsible for TennCare eligibility, Child Care, Child Support, disability determination, TANF, Food Stamp, Home Energy Assistance, and Vocational Rehabilitation) has a central office in Nashville and offices in all 95 counties in the state. The Tennessee Health Department also has local offices in each county. Tennessee Early Intervention Services within the Department of Education (which serves children with special needs from birth through age 3) has service coordinators throughout the state. Each of these programs will be provided with information and application materials for the CoverKids program. Unemployment and Department of Motor Vehicles offices, WIC programs, public housing, homeless shelters, community centers, employment and training centers, recreation centers, and libraries are other locations for distribution of brochures and other information. CoverKids will also coordinate closely with TennCare to assure applicants to either program are referred to the appropriate program in a timely, efficient manner. (See section 4.4 for a complete description.) The CoverKids program will also work with the Tennessee Office of Minority Health and multicultural service agencies in local communities to reach diverse ethnic groups.

Providers: CoverKids will work with providers such as hospitals, community health centers, clinics, and physician groups to publicize CoverKids with brochures, newsletter articles, and education sessions. Major hospital systems and hospitals in Tennessee include Baptist Memorial, Methodist Healthcare, Mountain States Health Alliance, Wellmont Health Systems, West Tennessee Healthcare System, University of Tennessee Medical Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Metro Nashville General Hospital. CoverKids will work with these and other Tennessee hospitals, clinics, and physician groups (especially pediatricians) to outreach to families.

Community Organizations and Businesses: CoverKids will be contacting community service, civic, and professional organizations to establish partnerships. These organizations include YMCAs, Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, and Junior Leagues. Businesses such as department and grocery stores, pharmacies, fast food chains, and

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