chipra newsletter issue 2

CHIPRA Enrollment & Retention Program By Shirley Begay

By now, many of you may know about the services of our CHIPRA Enrollment &

Retention Program offers here at NAHC.; We are an outreach team that assists American

Indian/Alaskan Native families in enrolling their uninsured children into the Med-Cal and

Healthy Families health insurance programs. We also assist families in maintaining their

insurance during their annual redetermination processes.

Over the past nine months, our program has successfully assisted our Bay Area

American Indian/Alaskan Native families in enrolling more than 90 children into Med-

Cal and Healthy Families. What does this mean? This means that there are 90 more chil-

dren in our community that now have health insurance and are able to receive quality

health care when and where they need it.

The CHIPRA Outreach Team is here to assist you in obtaining public health

insurance for your uninsured children. We will also answer any questions you and your

family may have regarding eligibility for public health insurance and even assisting with

paperwork for your annual determination processes. Feel free to call us with any questions

at (510) 535-4408 for Lorena or (510) 535-4474 for Shirley. Lets all take a stand to make

sure no American Indian/Alaskan Native child goes without health insurance. Protect our

younger generations’ health!

CHIPRA & IFH Team up to Host Community BBQ

Issue 2

June 2011

CHIPRA TIMES Native American Health Center

By Lorena Rivera

March 12, 2011 a day filled with many options for family activities, many chose

to attend the CHIPRA Community BBQ held in collaboration with the Intertribal

Friendship House. The sun was shining and there were plenty of activities for people to

participate in including a face painter, balloon twisters, family gardening, vendors and

arts & crafts for the kids. As always the main goals of CHIPRA’s events are to get the

community familiar with what CHIPRA is and to locate American Indian and Alaskan

Native Children in need of health insurance.

Part of the program included the first showing of the CHIPRA media project,

highlighting the importance of children having health insurance. With the help of the

NAHC’s media center crew, the CHIPRA team was able to get their message across.

Shedding light on health issues and complications prevalent in American Indian Com-

munities; like diabetes, obesity, asthma and lack of health insurance.

The wonderful food was prepared by local community members William Ste-

vens (San Carlos Apache) and Jackie Webster (Oneida). They spent numerous hours

preparing such a large meal, and it was enjoyed by all. Raffles were held throughout the

event and the main prize was a Nintendo DS.

A most memorable event, some people were asking when the next one would

be. I am happy to report the next CHIPRA event is coming soon! For questions contact

our CHIPRA team at 510-535-4474 or 510-535-4408.

Inside this issue:

A Note from our CEO

2

Do Your Children Qualify for Medi-Cal or Healthy Families?

2

Child Seat Safety 3

CHIPRA Photo Contest

4

Announcements 5

Kids Corner 6

Organization Spotlight

7

CHIPRA TIMES

As the CHIPRA Enrollment & Retention Program moves into it’s second year, we would like to share some words

from our CEO:

NAHC is proud to have been awarded full grant monies for the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reinstatement

Act, which offers outreach and enrollment services for state funded Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs and

extend these services to uninsured American Indian and Alaska Native children and their families in the Bay Area. We

have a dedicated outreach and enrollment team whose vision and tireless efforts are driven by the belief that health

care is a right and not a privilege. So far they have made a tremendous impact on the community by making them-

selves visible at all local events; creating a newsletter; creating a public service announcement that can be found on

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd2WpcMyO_s ; and supporting our children and their families so they

may have access to the health care they deserve.

The CHIPRA Enrollment & Retention program at NAHC affords the opportu-

nity for mission-driven employees to satisfy their ambition to provide their com-

munity vital services and also offers a clear avenue for uninsured children and

their families to access health care in a culturally relevant environment.

NAHC strives to provide services that are continuously being evaluated and im-

proved to give the next generations a solid medical home.

Martin Waukazoo

A Note from Our CEO

What if I have income? That’s ok, you may still qualify for Medi-Cal or Healthy families depending on your household size and in-come.

Do I have to make an appoint-ment? While appointments are recommended , drop-ins are avail-able. Monday-Friday 9 AM-12PM, 1-5PM.

What if I do not live in Alameda County?

We can still help, in fact we are in the midst of setting up times when our CHIPRA team can travel to Contra Costa, San Fran-cisco and San Mateo Counties. Keep your eye open for our

announcements'.

What type of documentation do I need to bring in?

– Proof of Identity

– California Drivers License or Identification Card

– U.S Citizenship or alien status documents (passport)

– Birth Certificate

– Documentation of Income

– Paycheck stub

– A copy of last year’s federal income tax return

– Proof of Residency

– Rent Receipt or Utility bill, or

– A pay stub that shows your address in California or

– A handwritten letter of room

If I am Native American do I need to provide proof? If so, what kind is acceptable

No, but these documents are helpful in reducing co=pays and premiums.

– Enrollment document from

your federally recognized, or

– Certificate Degree of Indian

Blood (CDIB)

Currently seeking submissions for our next CHIPRA TIMES. Poetry, Artwork, and informational pieces are being accepted. Keeping with the Health Insurance topic, all work should be relevant for American Indian Children & Families.

Do my children qualify for Medi-Cal or Healthy Families?

Schedule of Events

June 2011

• All month on-site Medi-Cal/Healthy

Families enrollment

July 2011


Families enrollment

• 07/15– American Indian Care Aware-

ness Day at 7 Directions

• 07/29- Gathering of the Lodges

August 2011


Families enrollment

•

Issue 2

From birth to at least age 1 and 20 lbs.

For the best possible protection, keep your infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in a back seat for as

long as possible - up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. The "12 months and 20

pounds" rule that many parents cite when turning their child forward-facing in the car is actually the

minimum size and age requirement for that change. New recommendations suggest that children re-

main rear-facing to age 2. Use a rear-facing car seat correctly in a back seat every time your baby rides in a car. Use the right car seat for your baby’s weight and height. Infants are weighed and measured at every doc-tor visit, so be sure to keep track.

Use the car’s safety belt or LATCH system to lock the car seat into the car. Your car seat should not move more than 1 inch side to side or front to back. Grab the car seat at the safety belt or LATCH path to test it. Put harnesses through the slots so they are even with or below the infant’s shoulders. Be sure the harness is tight, so you can’t pinch extra webbing at the shoulder. Adjust the chest clip to armpit level. Use your baby’s car seat rear-facing and reclined no more than 45 degrees, so the baby’s head stays in contact with the seat and the baby’s airway stays open. Read the car seat instructions.

Child Seat Safety Tips

By Dawn Lulua-Claxton (Child Safety Technician)

The CHIPRA Outreach Team is pleased to announce the winners of the 'Faces of CHIPRA Photo Contest.' Recently, the

CHIPRA Outreach Team Launched a photo contest to select families to be highlighted as the next ‘Faces of CHIPRA.’ Ameri-

can Indian/Alaskan Native families were asked to submit family/child photos along with a statement of how Medi-Cal or

Healthy Families benefitted their families.

Photos were voted on by staff of NAHC and, it is with pleasure we announce that the top photo title and prize goes to the

Magpie Family from right here in Oakland. Estela, Calvin and baby Freeman will have their beautiful picture as the next

"Faces of CHIPRA.'

Our two runners up are the Whitecrane Family with her precious baby girl and the Leyva Family, with an adorable photo sub-

mission.

Enjoy!

CHIPRA Photo Contest!

CHIPRA TIMES

“Medi-Cal gave us a good start to raising a

happy, healthy baby.” - Estella Cuevas

Magpie Family

“My daughters and myself are proud recipients of Healthy Families. I am grateful that they can

receive health care at no cost because of our Native American heritage. They are able to see the

same pediatrician which helps me balance work and my busy schedule.

The health of my daughters is as important to me as teaching them their culture. I try to teach

them its a privilege to dance and they do it for those who cannot, our elders, and our ancestors.”

-Amanda Whitecrane

Whitecrane Family

Leyva Family

“We are a low-income family, and Medi-cal has given us security and reassures us that we will still

receive excellent care and more. I know I can rely on Medi-cal to help us when we need it. From

when I was pregnant til now that my son is almost two years old, Medi-cal has not given up on us,

from unexpected hospital stays, to prescriptions, to doctor visits. Even though we have a low-

income, Medi-cal makes us feel no different! We are so thankful for Medi-cal!”

-Melissa Leyva

Issue 2

Announcements!

CHIPRA TIMES

A Fun and Healthy Recipe to make with your child!

Kids just wanna have fun!Kids just wanna have fun!Kids just wanna have fun!Kids just wanna have fun!

Hintil Kuu Ca, Pomo for The Indian

Children’s Place, was started in 1974,

as a parent participation pre-school by

Indian Parents in the Oakland commu-

nity. Hintil is a unique, educational

child care program in which curricu-

lum not only teaches and enhances

student’s academic skills to be success-

ful in school, but it also incorporates

Native American culture and values in

the day to day operation. Hintil is very

much a community program with staff

and parents working together to meet

children’s needs. Many parents,

alumni, community and current stu-

dents agree Hintil is like a second

home where everyone is family.

After threatened closure in 2010, Hin-

til remains opened and groundbreaking

for a new facility is expected to begin in

2012!

State requirements for enrollment man-

dates that all parents in the household

be employed, going to school, seeking

employment or have special needs.

Hintil’s hours are from 7:30-5:30PM

daily, year round. Ages served are 3

years- 5th graders.

Community Organization Spotlights

CHIPRA TIMES

Hintil Kuu Ca Child Development Center

11850 Campus Drive

Oakland

510-531-8400

Hintil currently has

opening’s, imagine your

child here! See Hintil

secretary Loretta for an

United Indian Nations Inc

1436 Clarke Street Suite #b

San Leandro CA 94577

510.352-4510

UIN is an American Indian man-

aged non-profit agency established

in 1979 servicing the economic

needs of the more the 60,000

American Indians living in the

Greater San Francisco Bay Area.

UIN is controlled and operated by

Native Americans. The experi-

enced UIN staff provides employ-

ment services that address the spe-

cific needs of the Native American

and Alaskan Natives.

UIN can help you obtain occupa-

tional training, remedial reading

and math services, high school

equivalency diploma (GED), assis-

tance with starting a post –

secondary school, completing of

request for financial aid, work

experience, job search assistance,

supportive services/ access to other

UIN intake specialists and pro-

gram coordinators work with indi-

viduals on a one-to –one basis in

order to develop a personalized

plan to employment goals, identify

training and job opportunity,

mock job interviews, active job

searching via internet, completing

job applications, resume prep and

building, cover letter preparation

and overcome employment barri-

ers.

UIN is especially committed to

serving those who have the great-

est need for their services.

In order to apply you must be 18

yrs and older, Native Americans/

Alaskan Natives who reside in

Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin,

San Francisco, or San Mateo

counties, must be unemployed

for at least 7 days, and registered

with the Selective Service (if ap-

plicable). Applications must be

completed and verified in order

to be determined eligible.

Applications must be completed

and verified in order to be deter-

mined eligible.

Application process is done by

appointment only Monday – Fri-

day 830-5 and closed from 12

noon – 1 for lunch.

Native American Health Center

assists American Indians and Alaska Natives to

improve and maintain their physical, mental,

emotional, social and spiritual well-being with

respect for cultural traditions and to advocate for

the needs of all Indian people, especially the most

vulnerable members of our community.


7 Directions

2950 International Blvd.

Oakland, CA. 94601


Phone: 510-535-4408 and

510-535-4474

Fax: 510-535-4409

E-mail:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Striving to make sure no Bay Area American Indian/Alaskan Native

child goes without Health Insurance.

Find us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/ Native American

Health Center-Medical

chipra newsletter issue 2

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