From 1999 to 2001, the State of Oregon Department of Human Resources, Health Division (formerly the Department of Human Resources) worked with other statewide organizations through a coalition to increase the number of eligible children in the state enrolled in government-funded health insurance coverage programs.

Efforts focused chiefly on outreach, simplification of enrollment procedures and forms, and coordination among agencies. Department staff worked closely with staff from the Salem-based nonprofit advocacy organization Oregon Health Action Campaign, which led the coalition.

The project was part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Covering Kids®: A National Health Initiative for Low-Income Uninsured Children national program.

Key Results

• The percentage of uninsured children in Oregon declined from 21 percent in 1990 to six percent in 2001.
• A total of 10,348 children and youth benefited from application assistance during the project.
• Project staff and partners simplified enrollment forms for the Oregon Health Plan and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
• Adult and Family Services revised procedures for processing applications, in some cases cutting the time it takes to enroll in the program to two weeks, down from 45 days prior to the project.

Funding
RWJF supported this project through a grant of $930,413.