Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council

Savannah-Chatham Public Schools will showcase a new school based partnership that will bring the mobile services of the Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care providers directly to SCCPSS families.

This collaborative effort exemplifies shared goals of each organization to ensure child and family well-being. Greater collaboration and a stronger infusion of community services for the students and families of the school district is an area of focus for Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ann Levett. “We’re committed to the growth of the whole child, as we know that healthy, happy students perform better in school,” she said. “Being able to grow our partnerships and directly connect resources to our families is beneficial to all involved and we can’t thank enough the leadership of Curtis V. Cooper for their dedicated support of our mission.”

Albert Grandy, Curtis V. Cooper Chief Executive Officer stated, “We look forward to expanding access to needed health services for our community. Most safety-net providers of care believe SCCPSS is the primary genesis and we expect this partnership to galvanize our community. I would be remiss without acknowledging Dr. Levett’s foresight and the SCCPSS’s support to engage in this partnership.”

The partnership will provide a Mobile Healthcare Unit that will visit area schools at designated times. Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care, Inc. (CVCPHC) is a non-profit community health center, funded federally and locally to serve citizens of the Savannah-Chatham County area. Services date back to 1971, when Dr. Curtis V. Cooper organized a group of citizens from the west side of Savannah for the sole purpose of funding a primary health care center to serve the under-served. Today, there are seven delivery sites and approximately 150 staff members, including 30 healthcare providers serving over 19,000 patients. Services include primary care, prenatal, podiatry, radiology, pharmacy, dentistry, behavioral health, patient assistance, outreach, enrollment and more.

Now, with a Mobile Health Services Unit, healthcare services will have greater reach for the families of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.

The partnership kickoff will take place at various locations during the week of January 29. SCCPSS parents and the public are invited to attend the events and learn more. Each venue will include a tour of the Mobile Healthcare Unit, family fun activities, and information from other partners including Peach State, Amerigroup, Well Care, and Care Source. SCCPSS Administrative staff, along with Dr. Ann Levett, Superintendent of Schools, and Mr. Albert Grandy, Chief Executive Officer of Curtis V. Cooper Primary Healthcare, Inc., will be on hand to share more partnership details and answer questions.

SCCPSS and the Curtis V. Cooper School Based Initiative
PARTNERSHIP KICKOFF! (Events will take place in the respective school gymnasiums)

Monday, January 29, 2018
East Broad K8 and WINGS Alternative
6:00pm-8:00pm

Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Building Bridges Middle School
1:00pm-3:00pm

Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Shuman Elementary School
6:00pm-8:00pm

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Article Source: Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools

Juwana Hightower has been recognized as Outstanding Partner Enroller for the Coastal Campaign for Healthy Kids at the December 2017 Chatham County Safety Net Full Council Meeting.

Ms. Hightower has demonstrated her commitment to the families she serves as Public Benefits Coordinator at St. Mary’s Community Center. Under the leadership of Sr. Pat Baber, St. Mary’s continues to reign as superstar enrollment assistance partner organization for the Coastal Campaign for Healthy Kids!

We are pleased to recognize Ms. Hightower because even though she has not been a part of the Coastal Campaign for very long — just six months (May-October 2017) — her enrollments have accounted for 40.2% of all children applied for during that period (287 children out of 712 kids total). That is an extraordinary number! She has also broken the record for the highest total number of children served within a single month at 77 in May 2017. She then broke her own record the next month by applying on behalf of another 78 children in June. All in all, she accounted for 22% of all families served during those 6 months and because of this accomplishment, we are honored to spotlight her achievement.

St. Joseph/Candler Health System, St. Mary’s Community Center is located at 812 W. 36th St. in Savannah.  If you would like to make an appointment, call Ms. Hightower at 912-447-0578.

Congratulations to J.C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center on the awards received at the Georgia Primary Care Association 40th Anniversary Annual Conference:
J.C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center received the Georgia Primary Care Association Peach Award for 2017 Health Center of the Year, and
Michael Adams, MD, received the Georgia Primary Care Association Peach Award for 2017 Provider of the Year.

We are proud of our partners and thankful for the work they do in our community!

Representing the Safety Net Planning Council at the award presention are, from left, Diane Weems, Robert Bush, Lisa Hayes,  Laura Colbert, executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future, Robyn Wainner and Lee Smith.

The Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council has been named as recipient of the 2017 Community Impact Award by Georgians for a Healthy Future, an organization dedicated to increasing access to quality affordable healthcare for all Georgians. The Community Impact Award is presented to an individual or organization whose work directly improves the health of Georgians in and around their community.

Safety Net was formed in 2004 by the Chatham County Commission to better understand and meet the needs of uninsured and underinsured residents in Chatham County to find ways to improve access to and maximize resources. Today, Safety Net is a county-wide planning body of key stakeholders including healthcare providers, government representatives, advocates, and consumers whose goal is to strengthen the infrastructure of and improve access to primary and behavioral health care, build capacity within our community’s healthcare safety net system, and link the uninsured and underinsured to a medical home.

“This award is well deserved.  Chatham County is proud of the collaborative environment between our providers and stakeholders developed through Safety Net,” said Lee Smith, Chatham County manager.  “These efforts have resulted in improved quality and coordination of care in our hospitals, federally qualified health centers and detention center, over 4,000 children being covered through Medicaid and PeachCare, and new programs to address the capacity gaps in behavioral health for our most vulnerable children and young adults.”

Safety Net formed the Georgia’s first health information exchange  nine years ago, which has since partnered with Georgia Regional Academic Community Health Information Exchange to support our HIE infrastructure. The HIE now benefits more than two million patients and includes non-traditional partners, including behavioral health, HIV+ and incarcerated populations to ensure we are working to improve outcomes and lower costs for our most vulnerable and underserved communities.  The Council also implemented the Coastal Campaign for Healthy Kids which helps provide free enrollment assistance for children and teens for Medicare and PeachCare for Kids.

In light of these successes, Safety Net is addressing unequal access and outcomes among vulnerable populations in behavioral health and implementing a community-wide suicide intervention and prevention program.  “This is a wonderful recognition of the work of the Safety Net staff and our community partners”, said Executive Director Lisa Hayes, “I am so proud to be a member of this team!”

Article source: Savannah Morning News, October 3rd, 2017

Savannah, GA – On Friday, August 25th, at J.C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center’s 2017 Annual Gala,  Ms. Jennifer C. Wright, Director of Medical Staff Services & Public Policy at Memorial Health University Medical Center, received the “2017 Inspiration Award”.

Ms. Wright, who serves as a Board Chair at JCLPHCC and also is a Board Member at Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council, has truly been an inspiration to many for her commitment to our community and hard work toward improvement of health services and health status of our residents.

With gratitude and much appreciation, Safety Net team congratulates Ms. Wright for this well deserved recognition!

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After moving to Savannah in 2008, Jennifer Wright joined Memorial Health and currently serves as the Director of Medical Staff Services and Public Policy. Jennifer previously held director level positions with a regional medical center in Kentucky and successfully developed a new human resource infrastructure after the merger of two hospitals. She also served as Director of the HealthPark, a medical fitness and wellness facility, leading many initiatives to improve community health. During her six years as Director of the HealthPark, Jennifer also had responsibility for community outreach including a free clinic, healthy community initiative, school health partnership, a diabetes health resource center. After graduating from Murray State University with a bachelor of science degree in Organizational Development and Communication, Jennifer worked in the Washington, D.C and the Kentucky field office for United States Senator Mitch McConnell.

Jennifer is currently on the Board of Directors for J.C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center, Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council, Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition, Riverview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and the United Way of the Coastal Empire. She previously served on Board of Directors for Community Health Mission, Healthy Savannah, MedBank Foundation, and the Youth Futures Authority.

Jennifer and her husband, Chris, have two sons, Ben and Warren.

By Anne Hart

The future of PeachCare for Kids is at risk.

PeachCare provides health insurance for children of the working-poor in Georgia, those whose families typically make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but who also can’t afford private insurance.

The child health insurance program — part of the state Children’s Health Insurance Program — is up for renewal by federal policymakers.

Known more simply as CHIP, the program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and provides matching funds to states for health insurance to families with children.

CHIP has been around for 20 years and has been reauthorized three times since it started, but funding is set to end Sept. 30.

Without PeachCare, children like Jasmyne Davis’ two sons would return to a life without health insurance.

Davis is a correctional officer at Smith State Prison in Glennville. She makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford health insurance that’s offered through her job.

Before enrolling her sons, ages 11 and 6, in PeachCare, the boys did not go to the doctor because they didn’t have health insurance, said Davis, who lives in Hinesville.

Not having health insurance for your kids is a scary scenario even with healthy children.

Add the fact that Davis’ 6-year-old has sickle cell anemia, a condition that can be life-threatening — then lack of health insurance for your kids is downright unbearable.

“It was a lose-lose situation,’’ said Davis, who does not have health insurance herself.

When Davis learned about a PeachCare enrollment event in Long County, she attended and signed up her sons about six months ago. With it, she pays $64 a month for health insurance for her children.

PeachCare means the difference between zero health care for her sons versus the regular doctor visits they are able to have today. Visits that are all the more crucial now that Davis’ 11-year-old was recently diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.

What would her sons’ lives be like if PeachCare is not preserved?

“We would be back to square one — no insurance, no going to the doctor, no getting medication,’’ Davis said.

PeachCare prevents people from incurring insurmountable debt because of medical bills, said Eva Elmer, campaign manager for The Coastal Campaign for Healthy Kids in Savannah.

“Families we serve tell us they like the program because it offers comprehensive coverage, including dental and vision services. It brings peace of mind knowing that their child has health insurance and that if anything very serious happens, like having to go to the emergency room, for example, their family won’t be subject to crushing medical bills, deductibles and co-pays,’’ Elmer said.

Another advantage of the program is low cost.

“If a child is added to an insurance plan at a parent/guardian’s work, it may add to the premium cost significantly and even more if you include dental and/or vision,’’ Elmer said. “For some families, it becomes more cost effective for parents to get their individual insurance through their place of work and put their children on PeachCare for Kids.”

The Coastal Campaign for Healthy Kids, a program of Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council, offers free, in-person enrollment and renewal assistance into PeachCare for Kids for children and teens who are eligible, but not enrolled.

The Safety Net has enrollment services in six counties, Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, Liberty, Long and McIntosh.

Who is the typical PeachCare family?

“They are working families, single parents, guardians (like grandparents) who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid,’’ Elmer said.

Others are parents who put their child on PeachCare for Kids for a short period of time because the parents were going to school and working part-time or getting a divorce or between jobs (and employer-based health insurance programs.)

Today, 8.9 million children in the United States — including roughly 2,300 to 2,400 children in Chatham County — have health insurance through CHIP.

Since the program started, the number of uninsured children nationally has decreased by 68 percent, according to New York State Health Foundation.

All the more reason to keep the program and ensure that children enrolled in PeachCare don’t lose their health insurance.

Contact Anne Hart at anne@southernmamas.com. Follow her on Instagram @southernmamas.

About PeachCare for Kids

• With PeachCare for Kids, a parent is not required to pay more than 5 percent of their yearly income for premiums and co-payments.
• If a family reaches the 5 percent limit, they will not be required to make co-payment and premium payments for the rest of the year.
• Premiums are based on family size and income. Monthly premiums will never exceed $36 per month for one child or $72 per month for two or more children.
• Co-payments can be $2 or $3 and prescription medication may be 50 cents.
• There is no out-of-pocket cost for children 6 and younger.
• Children who qualify can stay in the program until their 19th birthday.
• Regular enrollment sessions offer free help through the process. For a list by county, go to coastalcampaign.org. Enrollment help is also available by appointment.

Article Source: Savannah Morning News, August 25, 2017

At the July Full Council Meeting, Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council recognized its founding member, Mr. Robert W. Bush, for his years of service.

In grateful recognition of exemplary leadership and commitment to the Council and to the under-served of Chatham County, Dr. Diane Weems, Chair, and Ms. Lisa Hayes, Executive Director, presented Mr. Bush with a special award as well as shared many of his valuable contributions to our community.

“Robert Bush has served on the Council in various leadership positions since its formalization in 2004, and it is with mixed feelings I share with you his departure at this time, as he focuses his work in other areas – and knowing the Safety Net Council will always have an advocate and friend in Robert, even absent a formal leadership position… It always seems challenging to decide how to recognize someone who has contributed so much for so many years,” said Dr. Weems in her heartfelt speech during the presentation.

Although Mr. Bush will no longer serve on the Board of CCSNPC, his accomplishments, the friendships and successes realized during his time with the Council will always be remembered and treasured by those who will continue the good work that he has started in this community.

Savannah, Georgia –  On Sunday, April 30, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (“HMHB”) awarded Savannah mom, Eva Elmer, one of six “Inspiring Mothers of Georgia 2017”.

“We are so privileged to honor Ms. Eva Elmer for her contributions to the Chatham-Savannah community, as well as to her family,” said Elise Blasingame, executive director. “We received nominations from all over the State, and the women we read about blew us away. After a thorough blind-review of all nominees, the stories shared about Ms. Elmer’s work to ensure access to health insurance and care for our most vulnerable children really stood out to the selections committee.”

“It is such an honor to receive this award,” says Elmer. “I am deeply touched to have been nominated and overwhelmed to have been chosen!  I feel especially gratified to have our work helping children gain and keep help health coverage be recognized. It is so important to me and truly a labor of love.”

Ms. Elmer works as the Campaign Manager for the Coastal Campaign for Healthy Kids, a program of the non-profit Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council.  The Coastal Campaign is a grant-funded initiative that strives to dramatically reduce the number of uninsured children and teens who are eligible for Georgia Public Health Insurance Programs, Medicaid & PeachCare for Kids but are not enrolled.  She has been responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the Campaign since August 2014.

The initiative began its work serving Chatham County and with the help of federal funding in June 2016 expanded to five additional counties Bryan, Effingham, Liberty, Long and McIntosh.  The Coastal Campaign’s own mobile enrollment team and coalition of enrollment assistance partners including Step Up Savannah, St Joseph/Candler’s St. Mary’s Community Center, Curtis V Cooper Primary Health Center and has provided application assistance services for health insurance coverage nearly 3,200 children.  Her work also includes connecting families whose children have chronic medical conditions and/or disabilities to service agencies and funding resources.

Elmer is mom to 9-year old, Stephen, a little boy with cerebral palsy and cortical visual impairment. She has become a dedicated advocate for children and adults with disabilities in her community promoting inclusion and access for all.

Ms. Eva Elmer was honored with five other ‘Inspiring Mothers of Georgia’ at the HMHB Inaugural Mother’s Day Luncheon on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at the Emory Conference Center Hotel.  They were honored alongside six First Ladies of Georgia, including Mrs. Sandra Deal, Mrs. Mary Perdue, Mrs. Shirley Miller, Mrs. Marie Barnes, Mrs. Rosalynn Carter and Mrs. Mary Beth Busbee (in memoriam) for their work to improve maternal and infant health in Georgia during their respective careers.