Family Connection Partnership News

Georgia Awarded $60K Packard Grant to Promote Health Insurance for All Children

Family Connection Partnership (FCP) and partner organization Voices for Georgia's Children recently were awarded a $60,000 grant by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to promote healthcare coverage for all children in the state.

FCP and Voices are sharing the funds to jointly administer a year-long project called the Children's Health Coverage Narrative, spearheaded by the Communications Leadership Institute in Washington, DC. on behalf of the Packard Foundation.

The Children's Health Coverage Narrative Project is an effort to frame discussions among policymakers, advocates, the public, and other stakeholders, establishing a common understanding of the central issues involved in children's health coverage. Specific messages are tailored to each state using a consistent story line and disseminated through the media, policy briefings, presentations to stakeholder organizations, and other channels.

Universal health insurance coverage for children is a growing trend nationally as states acknowledge the benefits of providing preventive care and timely treatment at each stage of a child's development. Legislation introduced in both houses of the Georgia General Assembly during 2006 sought expansion of PeachCare for Kids and Medicaid eligibility, as well as an affordable buy-in program. Neither of the two bills passed, but similar proposals are expected to be introduced in 2007.

Georgia was selected along with six other states from among 30 applicants to receive the Packard Foundation grant based on the merit of submitted proposals. Illinois, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin are the other grantees. In addition to funding, grantees are receiving training, technical assistance, and supportive materials.

Voices for Georgia's Children is an independent, nonprofit advocacy organization speaking up for the well-being of the state's children. Voices' aim is to be a primary information source to assist the leaders and citizens of Georgia in making sound decisions on policy, investment and systems that serve children and youth. In so doing, the organization can ensure that every child is safe, healthy, educated, employable, and connected by family and community through supportive public policies, as well as adequate public and private resources. Based in Atlanta, Voices is a network member of the national organization Voices for America's Children.

The Communications Leadership Institute (CLI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing nonprofits with the training and tools they need to increase their communications capacity and develop high-impact communications campaigns and programs.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is a private family foundation created in 1964 by David Packard (1912-1996), co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company, and Lucile Salter Packard (1914-1987). The Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the following program areas: Conservation and Science; Population; and Children, Families, and Communities. The Foundation makes national and international grants, and has a special focus on the Northern California counties of San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey. Foundation grantmaking includes support for a wide variety of activities, including direct services, research and policy development, and public information and education. The Foundation does not make grants intended to influence legislation or support candidates for political office.

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