New Campaign PSAs are Here
Have you seen the Campaign’s newest public service announcement (PSA), “For All Life’s Moments”? This PSA shows children of all ages through different stages of childhood and encourages eligible families to enroll in Medicaid and CHIP to access services like well-child visits, dental care, hospital care, and more. The PSAs are available in English and Spanish and are formatted for TV and radio. The Campaign has resources available, including a pitch letter , to help you integrate the PSAs in your outreach.
Mental Health webinar
Check out the Campaign’s latest webinar focused on mental health. The presentation featured speakers from the National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland and CMS’ Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, highlighting the importance of school-based mental health services and the mental health benefits covered by Medicaid and CHIP. A recording of the webinar is available on InsureKidsNow.gov.
Upcoming Observances
Organizations can tie national observances, like the ones listed below, into Medicaid and CHIP outreach and enrollment efforts.
- June: National Safety Month
- June 11: National Children's Day
- June 12: Family Health and Fitness Day
Mental health among youth continues to worsen. And during May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, the Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign is reminding you to share outreach resources in your community to encourage families to enroll in coverage and provide essential coverage to kids. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, psychological distress among young people has increased. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) help children in lower income households access comprehensive coverage for mental and behavioral health services, including teletherapy, outpatient services, counseling and more.
The Importance of School-Based Mental Health Services
Schools can play a critical role in providing access to both behavioral health services and referrals to kids and teens experiencing mental health issues. Embedding effective mental health programs into schools can help improve health outcomes and provide access to a variety of treatment options, as well as close the gap for kids who may not have access to health care otherwise due to location, providers shortages, and other barriers. For more information, check out the CDC’s “Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools” action guide for strategies on promoting youth mental health in your community.
Mental Health Resources Available
Medicaid and CHIP cover important mental and behavioral health services for kids and teens up to age 19. The Campaign is excited to share resources with partners that are geared towards improving youth mental health including newsletter templates , digital videos, posters , social media messages , and more. Resources are available on the Campaign’s Mental Health Initiative page and several of the resources, including the posters, are available in up to 24 languages.
Stay Connected with the Campaign
- Share our Campaign materials. Our ever-growing, Outreach Tool Library features a variety of targeted resources to use in your outreach and enrollment efforts, available in multiple formats and languages.
- Contact us. To get more involved with the Campaign, contact us via email at ConnectingKids@cms.hhs.gov.
- Follow the Campaign on X (formally Twitter). Remember to re-tweet or share our messages from @IKNGov with your social network and be sure to use our #Enroll365 and #KidsEnroll hashtags in your posts.
Subscribe to the “Campaign Notes” eNewsletter
The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign eNewsletter “Campaign Notes” is distributed throughout the year and provides updates on Campaign activities. If a friend or colleague forwarded this email to you, we invite you to sign up to receive this eNewsletter directly to your inbox.