Covering Kids and Families in Minnesota funds outreach sites where families can receive one-on-one assistance in applying for public health coverage or find out more about low-cost health care options. In addition to enrollment activities, each pilot looks for ways to simplify the renewal process for the families it serves. When a family is not eligible for one of the public programs, the pilot outreach workers will help families apply for low-cost health care programs or refer them to other low-cost or free clinics in their communities, such as those listed in our Low-Cost Health Care Directory.

The four pilot projects are:
• Hennepin County - Minneapolis Covering Kids and Families Pilot
• Olmsted County Covering Kids and Families
• Ramsey, Dakota, Washington Counties - Portico Healthnet (MetroEast) Covering Kids and Families Pilot
• Beltrami/Cass County Covering Kids and Families Pilot

The Minneapolis pilot is operated in partnership with the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support and the Minneapolis Public Schools. It is located in the Minneapolis Public School's New Families Center where all families who are new to the district come for testing, immunizations and screening. Those families who indicate they do not have health care coverage are referred to the Covering Kids and Families outreach workers. The Minneapolis site also takes referrals from school nurses, social workers and community groups throughout Hennepin County. In fact, anyone who lives in Hennepin County who needs help with applying for health care coverage may contact the Minneapolis pilot site. Interpreting services are available in Spanish, Somali, Swahili, Hmong, and Oromo.

The Olmsted County pilot operates in partnership with Olmsted County Community Services and is located within the county offices. The Covering Kids and Families outreach workers, however, do most of their work out in the community visiting sites such as the Salvation Army Free Clinic, alternative schools, Head Start programs, and a variety of social service agencies to help families with their health coverage needs. Anyone who lives in Olmsted County may contact the Olmsted County pilot for assistance in applying to one of Minnesota’s public health coverage programs. Interpreting services are available.

The Portico Healthnet Covering Kids and Families pilot assists families in Ramsey County and parts of Washington and Dakota Counties in applying for health care coverage. Under the Covering Kids and Families grant, Portico Healthnet primarily focuses on the health coverage needs of the Latino population in St. Paul. Outreach workers at Portico Healthnet screen people without insurance for eligibility in Minnesota’s public health coverage programs. The outreach staff provides personal assistance and counseling throughout the entire enrollment process. For those who do not quality for public programs, Portico Healthnet offers its own unique program that helps families receive health care services until they do qualify for the public programs or receive employer-sponsored coverage benefits. Interpreting services are available.

The Beltrami Covering Kids pilot is a cooperative of healthcare, educational, tribal, and county organizations developed to address issues related to access to health care coverage. A pilot outreach worker provides information and application assistance to families interested in Minnesota's public programs at locations throughout the county. Specific attention is paid to the county's Native American population and to rural families. In addition to providing application assistance, the Beltrami pilot coordinates enrollment and retention efforts with county and tribal programs and works with other organizations in the county that serve low-income families to disseminate information about health coverage programs and educate parents about the importance of insurance in keeping their families healthy. Nine outreach sites throughout the two counties assist the CKF outreach worker in helping families assess their health care needs.

E-mail our Covering Kids and Families director Elaine Cunningham or call 651.855.1176