LTC 214-2013 National League of Cities Selects Miami Beach MIAMI
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER~
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NO. LTC # 214 -2013 LETTER TO COMMISSION _ =;
To: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and N embers of. e City Commission W From: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manage
Date: June 21, 2013
Subject: National League of Cities Selects iami Beach for Leadership Academy
The purpose of this LTC is to inform you that the National League of Cities (NLC)
Institute for Youth, Education, and Families has selected the City of Miami Beach to
participate in a leadership academy focused on the development of citywide outreach
campaigns that connect children and families with affordable health insurance.
The NLC will host the leadership academy in September 2013 for a select 22 cities as
part of its Cities Expanding Access to Health Care for Children and Families initiative,
which is funded by a generous grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.
A three - person team consisting of Mayor Matti Herrera Bower, Dr. Leslie Rosenfeld, and
Mrs. Karen Rivo will represent our city. The leadership academy will be designed to
strengthen cross - sector partnerships that support health benefit outreach programs.
City teams will learn effective outreach and enrollment strategies from national experts
and other cities that have taken steps to increase child enrollment in Medicaid and the
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Medicaid. and CHIP are the nation's two most important public health insurance
programs for low- income families with children. Approximately 70 'percent of the
nation's uninsured children currently qualify for the coverage under the existing Medicaid
and CHIP programs. Connecting these children with Medicaid and CHIP is critical to
curbing preventable disease and helping families avoid financial crises that result from
unaffordable medical bills.
As part of the Cities Expanding Access to Health Care for Children and Families, the
City of Miami Beach will be eligible to apply for further technical assistance and pass-
through grants later this year. Through a competitive process, NLC will award grants to
8 -10 cities and assist them in developing plans for increasing participation in Medicaid
and. CHIP. Out of this group, NLC will select six cities for the initiative's implementation
phase. These cities will receive additional pass- through grants, participate in cross -site
meetings of city teams, and receive ongoing site -level assistance as they launch their
community outreach campaigns.
Our City plays a central role within the health care system as first responders, employer,
and safety net provider. Lack of health insurance is associated with reduced access to
preventive care, poor health outcomes, reduced - school attendance and academic
i
achievement and family financial instability, which all pose threats to local economic
vitality and quality of life.
As a participant in the NLC leadership academy, our City will have a forum to learn and
discuss effective strategies for connecting more children and families with health
insurance coverage.
We will continue to support our strategic outcome to provide enhanced learning
opportunities for youth throughout Miami Beach through our Education Compact.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
K B /LDR
Cc: Executive Staff
Dr. Leslie Rosenfeld
Attachment
i
: NATIONAL
LEAGUE
of CITIES
NLC Selects 22 Cities for Leadership Academies on
Expanding Access to Health Care for Children and
Families
JUNE 10, 2013
By Chuan Teng
NLC's Institute for Youth, Education and Families has selected 22 cities to participate in two regional
leadership academies focused on the development of citywide outreach campaigns that connect
children and families with affordable health insurance.
NLC will host the leadership academies as part of its Cities Expanding Access to Health Care for
Children and Families initiative, which has been funded by a generous grant from The Atlantic
Philanthropies.
Selected cities include:
• Aurora, Colo.;
• Baltimore, Md.;
• Chula Vista, Calif.;
• Columbia, Pa.;
• Dallas,.Texas;
• Gainesville, Fla.;
• Garden City, Mich.;
• Groesbeck, Texas;
• . Hattiesburg, Miss.
• Houston, Texas;
• Jackson, Mich.;
• Jacksonville, Fla.;
• Las Vegas, Nev.;
• Miami Beach, Fla.;
• New Bedford, Mass.,
• Newark, N.J.;
• Omaha, Neb.;
• Portland, Maine;
• Providence, R.I.;
• Savannah, Ga.; .
• Tucson, Ariz.; and
• Wilson, N.C.
Leadership Academies
The leadership academies will take place in Denver from July 25 -26 and Baltimore from September
17 -18. Each selected city will be represented by a three - person team consisting of local elected
officials, senior municipal staff, and other key community stakeholders. The leadership academies
will be designed to strengthen cross - sector partnerships that support health benefit outreach
programs. City teams will learn effective outreach and enrollment strategies from national experts
and other cities that have taken steps to increase child enrollment in Medicaid and the Children's
Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Medicaid and CHIP are the nation's two most important public health insurance programs for low -
income families with children. Although provisions in the Affordable Care Act that will subsidize the
purchase of private health insurance coverage through new exchanges have garnered substantial
media attention, approximately 70 percent of the nation's uninsured children currently qualify for
coverage under the existing Medicaid'and CHIP programs. Connecting these children with Medicaid
and CHIP is critical to curbing preventable disease and helping families avoid financial crises that
result from unaffordable medical bills.
Opportunities for Grants and Assistance
As part of the Cities Expanding Access to Health Care for Children and Families initiative, cities
selected to participate in a leadership academy will be eligible to apply for further technical
assistance and pass- through grants later this year. Through a competitive process, NLC will award
grants to 8 -10 cities and assist them in developing plans for increasing participation in Medicaid and
CHIP. Out of this group, NLC will select six cities for the initiative's implementation phase. These
cities will receive additional pass- through grants, participate in cross -site meetings of city teams, and
receive ongoing site -level assistance as they launch their community outreach campaigns.
The Role of Cities in the Health Care System
Cities often play central roles within the health care system as first responders, employers, safety net
--providers and funders. When families lack insurance, .many cities ultimately shoulder some of the
healthcare costs of uninsured residents. Additionally, the lack of health insurance is associated with
reduced access to preventive care, poor health outcomes, reduced school attendance and academic
achievement and family financial instability, which all pose threats to local economic vitality and
quality of life.
To combat these problems, many cities have partnered with community stakeholders to launch broad
-based outreach campaigns that connect children and families with public health insurance programs
and other benefits. As participants in the leadership academies, city leaders will have a forum to learn
and discuss effective strategies for connecting more children and families with health insurance
coverage.
Details: For more information on the Cities Expanding Access to Health Care for Children and
Families leadership academies and technical assistance project, contact Chuan Teng at (202) 626 -
3041 or teng @nlc.org.