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Share Your Story Today to Help Insure All Children

Stories make programs and policy issues personal; they create connections between people. That is why sharing a story can be one of the most effective ways to communicate. Stories can create buy-in to do this important work to Insure All Children. Share your story today, to help families who may be reluctant to enroll their children or do not understand the importance of health insurance.

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Story

Brandon, a six-year-old in the Houston Independent School District in Houston, TX had two working parents until his father was laid off. Brandon lost his health insurance when his father lost his job. Brandon’s mother, employed by the school district, quickly scrambled to try to enroll her son who has asthma in new insurance, but met some obstacles and didn’t know where to turn. An outreach worker in Brandon’s school, stepped in and helped her find insurance for Brandon through the Children’s Health Insurance Program. With his new health insurance, doctors discovered Brandon also had high blood pressure and prescribed medication to control it. Now the school nurse monitors his blood pressure every day and Brandon is healthy and happy to be in school learning.

Story

In El Monte, CA, the Mountain View School District’s Health Clerk was an essential part of the district’s team to ensure all eligible children were enrolled in health insurance. Two siblings originally from Mexico were trying to enroll in the district but lacked the required immunizations and physical exam. Their guardian, an older sister, was referred to the Health Clerk who connected them to a local health care facility partnering with the district. There she got assistance with her applications and successfully enrolled her younger siblings in Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. The children then got the physical exams and immunizations needed to complete their health screenings, and were healthy and happy to be able to attend school.

Story

Martin arrived in Compton, California as an unaccompanied minor without health insurance. His nomadic journey across America included violence, poverty and separation from his mother and siblings. When Martin enrolled in the Compton Unified School District, a staff member connected him to a social worker. As an unaccompanied minor, the district provided gift cards for clothes and food, helped him get eyeglasses and health insurance. With his new insurance, Martin was able to receive the therapy he needed to address the trauma from the violence and his multiple relocations. He credits his successful graduation from high school with honors and admission into 11 universities to the support he received from the school district. Martin is now following his dream of becoming a college graduate and creating a better life for himself and his family.

Story

In the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District in Edinburg, TX the story of a 12-year-old with a pre-existing health problem and no insurance captures the heartbreak and limitations for children without access to health care. With a debilitating heart condition, Evelyn could not participate in any physical activities and often ended up in the nurse’s office suffering from shortness of breath. The nurse urged Evelyn’s mother to take her to a heart specialist. But her mother, even with a full time job, could not support her family and afford the doctor’s fees. Through the school’s health enrollment outreach efforts, the school nurse referred Evelyn and her mother to an outreach worker who successfully helped them navigate the health insurance application process. Weeks later, Evelyn had open-heart surgery to replace a faulty valve. Now Evelyn’s mother has become an ambassador for the school’s enrollment efforts and has become more involved with her daughter’s education.

The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. 

CDF provides a strong, effective and independent voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor children, children of color and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investments before they get sick, drop out of school, get into trouble or suffer family breakdown. 

CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by individual donations, foundation, corporate and government grants.

AASA, the School Superintendents Association, represents, works alongside, supports, and is the voice of superintendents and education leaders across the United States. Thirteen thousand strong and 151 years old, we remain committed to excellence and equity for each and every child in public schools. Leveraging our 49 state affiliates and national partners, we focus on developing school system leaders who can meet the challenges facing 21st century students and beyond.