SLO County Health Access Update
Connecting Children Ages 0-5 to Health Care
 July 2019   

This month, we are excited to share information about SLO County Public Health's Nurse Navigator program. The program will work with your clients to help them navigate the health care system, from getting insurance to finding care. This much-needed service is available free to any county resident, so please share their information with clients/patients who need help accessing care.


Public Health Navigators Help Steer Clients To Better Health
Help with Health Care Access at County Public Health

Finding insurance and accessing health care resources can be a difficult process. The SLO County Health Department's Health Care Access program has expert Navigators available to help. This free program is available over the phone or in person for any SLO County resident who needs help with finding insurance, locating providers, and connecting to low-cost or free services.

Finding Health Insurance:
The Health Care Access team helps people understand the ins and outs of finding the right insurance to fit a family's financial and health care needs. A Navigator will work with clients to gather information and determine whether family members are eligible for Medi-Cal, the Medically Indigent Services Program, or Covered California. Navigators are also available to help complete enrollment paperwork and guide families through the initial enrollment process.

Finding Medical Services:
The Navigator can help clients find providers who take a particular insurance, fill out health care-related paperwork, and problem solve with providers.  Navigators are also able to help clients find medicines that are covered in their health plan and assist with finding low-cost or free services.
 
Contact the Health Care Access team at 805-781-4838. To download the Health Care Access brochure, click here.
Food Resources for Children and Families
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Free Summer Meals and Food Bank Resources

Many school districts in SLO County are offering free meals to children age 18 and younger with no enrollment paperwork or application required. To find out where free breakfast and lunch locations are in SLO County, parents can text the word FOOD in English or COMIDA in Spanish to 877-877.

In addition to lunch locations at school sites, libraries in Nipomo, San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay are serving free lunches to children age 18 and under on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. No registration is required and lunches are served on a first come, first served basis. Click here for details.

For an overview of all summer meal sites, go to https://www.healslo.com/free-summer-meals-2019/.

And don't forget, the SLO County Food Bank Coalition has numerous resources for families struggling to afford nutritious food for their families. For a listing of food distributions and food pantries located throughout the county, and for CalFresh sign-up information, click here.

Resources for Immigrant Families During Turbulent Times
Immigrant Rights and Health Handouts

Rapidly changing immigration enforcement, proposed policy changes, and rumors have created a climate of fear and confusion among SLO County's vulnerable immigrant families.

Visit the Immigration and Health page on the SLOHealthAccess.org website to download our Immigrant Rights Resource List; use the embedded links in the list to access the resources for immigrant families. These resources, many available in both English and Spanish, include preparedness plans, "Know Your Rights" handouts, and other important documents.
  
 
While you're on the SLOHealthAccess.org website, download and distribute our Public Charge information handout and handouts for parents on supporting immigrant children's mental health, all in Spanish and English and with local referral information.  



Health Access Information at SLOHealthAccess.org
A First 5 SLO County Funded Program
SLOHealthAccess.org has a wealth of information to help you help families, with local resources related to:
   * Special Needs     
   * Behavioral Health
   * Immigration: safety and service access  
   * Dental
   * Prescriptions
   * Medi-Cal & Covered CA
   * Transportation
   * Parental Substance Use, and 
   * R esources to help parents advocate for services

General needs and system navigation:
Send families in need of help to their local Family Resource Center : 
 

Can't find an answer? 
Let us know and we will find you  the  informati on  you are looking for.  For general questions about health ac cess and health care refo rm,  contact:
Becca Carsel, Health Access Project Director,  
at (805) 674-0776 or   [email protected] .phone
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