Welcome to Florida KidCare's Email Newsletter!
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We are excited to introduce our revamped KidCare Connector newsletter! If you've been a Florida KidCare family for a long time, you're most likely familiar with our quarterly newsletter. If not, welcome! We're so glad to have you. Our goal is to keep you connected to Florida KidCare by providing valuable tips and tricks about your Florida KidCare benefits, as well as information from some of our partners that you might find useful.
First things first: Are you prepared to send your kids back to the classroom? We know it's the heart of summer break, but back-to-school time will be here before you know it! The pediatrician's office gets busy during the school season, so we encourage you to take advantage of your child’s health and dental benefits and make your appointments soon! During the summer months, while children are out of school, can be the most opportune times for parents to schedule these visits.
If you are unfamiliar with your child's benefits or are wondering what kind of appointments your child might need, let us help you with some ideas. They could need immunizations (shots), sports physicals, dental cleanings or just a routine check-up to look at their overall growth and development. All of these things and more can be done through your Florida KidCare health and dental insurance plan.
Also, did you know that Florida KidCare consists of four unique programs – Medicaid (for children), MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids and the Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan? Here's a helpful chart that maps it out for you:
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All four Florida KidCare programs include doctor visits, check-ups, hospital stays, surgeries, immunizations, prescriptions, emergencies, vision/hearing, dental, mental health services and more. Many of these are offered for free or provided with only a small co-pay due from you.
Studies have shown that a healthy and active child performs better in school, is more focused in the classroom and relates better to their fellow students. All children deserve the opportunity to be healthy and successful learners!
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Summer BreakSpot
Florida KidCare and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have teamed up to make sure kids and teens stay happy and hunger-free this summer.
The Summer BreakSpot Program provides free, nutritious meals to children 18 and under during the summer break from school. Many meal sites are located at places like parks, libraries and churches and offer breakfasts, lunches, snacks or supper.
To find a meal site location near you, dial 2-1-1, text "FoodFL" to 877-877 or visit www.SummerBreakSpot.org for an interactive map.
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Be Safe When It's Sunny
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Summer means hot days and outdoor adventures. It also means taking extra steps to keep your family safe from too much sun. The sun can damage skin. Too much sun can lead to wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer. Heat illnesses, such as heatstroke, are another concern. Children and older adults are most at risk. To protect against heat illnesses:
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Keep inside when it’s hot. If it is very hot and you don’t have air conditioning at home, go someplace cooler, like the library.
- Stay in the shade when you’re outdoors.
- Use sunscreen. Choose a type that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 and that protects from both UVA and UVB rays. Apply more every two hours.
- Wear clothes that will protect your skin, such as long-sleeved shirts and wide- brimmed hats.
Source: American College of Emergency Physicians; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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July is UV Safety Month!
Summer vacation is here! Is your family spending more time outside playing, swimming, or going to the beach? Outdoor activities expose your skin and eyes to harmful, ultra-violet (UV) rays from the sun.
Children’s eyes receive 70% more exposure to these harmful rays than adult eyes! This can put them at risk of developing eye diseases as adults.
- Wear sunglasses – especially younger children
- Wear protective eye gear for ball or shooting sports
- Don’t rub if sand gets in the eyes
- Use a non-irritating sunscreen
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat. Remember, whenever you are wearing sunglasses or a hat for comfort and protection from the sun, your children should be wearing them too.
- Check chlorine levels in your pool to prevent eye infections from algae and other bacteria. Keep your eyes closed under water to prevent eye irritation from the chlorine.
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Which Shots Do I Need?
No one likes to get shots. But they can protect against lots of viruses. Health experts recommend different shots depending on your age and health. Talk to your doctor about which shots and vaccines are right for you. Some of the most common vaccines are listed below.
- Chickenpox / Shingles Vaccine: If you had chickenpox as a kid, you could get shingles as an adult; each is a separate vaccine
- Flu Vaccine: Reduces your risk of getting the flu and spreading it to others
- HPV Vaccine: Protects against the virus that causes cervical cancer
- MMR Vaccine: Knocks out measles, mumps and rubella with one shot
- Pneumococcal Vaccine: Guards against pneumonia and ear infections
- Td/Tdap Vaccine: Protects against Tetanus (lockjaw), diphtheria and whooping cough
Some vaccines protect you for life; others require you to get a shot every year. Ask your doctor if you’re due for any vaccines at your next appointment.
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Brought to you by
Florida's Boys and Girls Clubs
Health and wellness are essential factors in creating happy children who are prepared to be successful in life. Florida’s Boys and Girls Clubs, which offer out-of-school time programs for kids, know the importance that good health plays in a child’s education. That’s why six local clubs in Florida have partnered with Florida KidCare to have Florida KidCare Outreach Specialists engaging the families of Club members.
These six Outreach Specialists volunteer for a year of service, dedicating their time to helping families learn more about Florida KidCare. These individuals can answer Florida KidCare questions, assist with the application process and connect families with local community resources. Current Outreach Specialists are available at Clubs located in Gadsden, Leon, Hillsborough, Polk, St. Lucie and Taylor counties. In addition, some of their time is spent mentoring and connecting with children enrolled in their local Clubs.
The Boys and Girls Clubs programs promote education, sports and recreation, the arts, health and wellness, and career development for kids. Over 240 Florida Clubs offer afterschool and summer programs for children for as little as $10 a year – you can learn about memberships or find a location near you by visiting the Florida Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs’
website
.
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Brought to you by
Healthy Families Florida
Babies don’t come with instructions, but Healthy Families Florida offers something even better! Having a baby can be stressful for even the most prepared parents. It’s normal to feel anxious about how life will change when a baby comes. Healthy Families’ Support Workers (FSWs) deliver personalized, in-home parent coaching and support to new and expectant parents. During visits, FSWs help parents understand how their baby is developing, strengthen their parenting skills, and guide them through the challenging stages. FSWs also help parents establish and reach personal goals and learn how to take care of themselves, so they can give the best of themselves to their family.
Families who participate in the program thrive! Last year Healthy Families Florida’s 38 community-based projects served 9,960 families and their 18,313 children.
- 98% of children in families served were free from abuse during services and one year following program completion
- 99% of children were connected to a primary health care professional
- 85% of participants improved their self-sufficiency by gaining employment, enrolling in job training, furthering their education, securing stable housing or obtaining a driver’s license
Healthy Families Florida is a nationally-accredited family support and coaching program that helps parents provide the safe and stable environments children need for healthy growth and development. Parents voluntarily participate in services provided in their homes. The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida administers Healthy Families Florida through service contracts with community-based agencies in all 67 counties in Florida.
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Step Up For Students
A child’s health and education are certainly top priorities for any parent. Just as Florida Healthy Kids improves the lives of children without health insurance, Step Up For Students offers a path toward a brighter future to the state’s most disadvantaged students.
Not all students learn in the same way. Step Up For Students provides education options to Florida’s neediest children so they can find what works best.
Step Up is a nonprofit scholarship organization that helps administer four scholarships for Florida schoolchildren: the
Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC)
for lower-income families, the
Gardiner Scholarship
for children with certain special needs, the
Hope Scholarship Program
for schoolchildren who are bullied or victims of violence in a school, and the
Reading Scholarship Accounts
for public school students in grades three to five who struggle with reading.
To learn more about these four scholarship programs, please visit our
website
.
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Brought to you by
Help Me Grow Florida
Help Me Grow Florida promotes early identification of developmental, behavioral and educational concerns, and then links children and families in need to community-based services and supports at no cost to parents or caregivers.
By calling 2-1-1 and asking for Help Me Grow, any family can be connected to local resources and supports relating to child development and behavior, along with basic needs such as housing and utilities, jobs and employment services, food, crisis, emergency/disaster, veteran affairs, and more.
Our Help Me Grow Care Coordinators can also provide a free developmental screening for any child, birth through age eight.
One of our most exciting and successful initiatives are our "Books, Balls, and Blocks" community screening events! These family and child-centered events are held locally throughout the state and feature fun activities, games, and opportunities for play for children while parents/caregivers complete a free developmental screening. Families can often get connected to services immediately at these events.
Help Me Grow Florida currently serves children and families in 27 counties throughout the state, and will be introducing Lake and Marion counties to affiliate sites in the upcoming weeks.
To find Help Me Grow or a "Books, Balls, and Blocks" event in your county/area, please visit the
website
www.helpmegrowfl.org
or call 2-1-1 and ask for Help Me Grow!
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Florida KidCare “In the News”
July 3, 2018
– Florida Healthy Kids Corporation Debuts Online KidCare Eligibility Calculator
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Is Your Smile Ready to Go Back to School?
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Summertime fun can make it hard to keep up with your regular dental care routine. That’s why it’s important to get back on track with a back-to-school dental checkup! It’s the best way to start the new school year with a healthy smile.
A back-to-school dental checkup lets your dentist check your teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy. If there is a problem like a cavity, the dentist and his staff can treat it before school starts and you won’t have to miss out on any class time. Cavities cause children to miss more than 51 million school hours each year and can also cause pain, trouble eating, and difficulty speaking.
Here’s a list of common things that may happen during your visit to the dentist:
- full dental exam to check your teeth, gums, and the rest of your mouth.
- A dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar from teeth.
- X-rays to diagnose problems that are not visible to the naked eye.
- Oral hygiene instructions about good dental habits at home.
If you have not already scheduled your back-to-school dental checkup, call your dentist today! The earlier you call the better to make sure you get an appointment before class starts.
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Upcoming Community Outreach Events
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Florida KidCare outreach partners participate in community and back-to-school events around the state.
To find one near you,
click here
to visit the Community Outreach Calendar.
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Contact Florida KidCare
1-888-540-KIDS (5437)
Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (EST)
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