Implementation

The Department of Children and Families, Office of Refugee Services has contracted with the University of South Florida, College of Public Health, the Lawton Rhea Chiles Center to provide project development and evaluation. Community based organizations that resettle refugees and entrants in Duval, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Broward and Dade Counties are the project’s primary focus, although the technical assistance has a statewide focus. Community based organizations include Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Charities and other organizations that have been designated refugee and entrant resettlement or employment agencies. A total of  $264,000 is available to support this project.

The project purpose is to increase the number of refugee and entrant children covered by Medicaid, or other Florida KidCare programs as appropriate during open enrollment periods. Additionally, technical assistance and consultation is provided to community based organizations regarding access to and utilization of community based health care programs in the absence of Florida KidCare.

Project activities include providing on-site and telephone consultation, outreach strategies, and updates regarding policy and procedural changes in child health insurance programs to appropriate community based organizations. The project also represents the health care and health insurance needs of refugee and entrant families to Florida KidCare partners (Agency for Health Care Administration, Department of Health, and Healthy Kids) and to others involved in the health care system.

In addition to health care access issues, the project provides assistance to the Department in identifying appropriate areas for technical assistance to refugee resettlement agencies, and appropriate training topics for their staff. The project also assists in the development of the statewide conference agenda, planning and facilitation of conference activities, and securing speakers or workshop leaders.

Also, in order to ensure that refugees and entrants, as well as community professionals have access to current and accurate information about community resources that serve refugees, the project facilitates and supports the renewal of data and the maintenance of the Information and Referral directory databases in the eight counties listed above.

For more information, contact Mariana Tutwiler at: mtutwile@hsc.usf.edu