Irvine to continue reaching out to families lacking insurance

IRVINE – Citing the success of the Irvine Children's Health Program, city leaders have decided to continue working toward connecting uninsured Irvine families and children to health-care programs.

On Tuesday, city leaders unanimously voted to renew a contract with Volunteer Center Orange County, the fiscal agent of the nonprofit Children's Health Initiative of Orange County that administers the city's program.

"We are touching, we are reaching out to many hundreds of children and families in Irvine," said Mayor Sukhee Kang.

During 21 months of the program, 472 children have been enrolled into various medical programs. More than $84,000 in donations and grants have helped offset the city's costs, officials said.

In 2007, the city identified 1,670 uninsured children. High cost of living, lack of community-based clinics, a sinking economy and steep insurance premiums and low employer-based health coverage contributed to families' lack of insurance, according to the city.

The program – initiated by Kang in 2008 – costs about $48,000 annually. Two Kaiser Permanente Community Programs grants, the Cancer Center of Irvine, Bristol Park Medical Group and Hoag Hospital have donated $84,000 since the program's inception.

"Every child we get insured is a success," said Corinne Schneider-Jones, the city's community services manager.

Jones said the city has worked with the school district to survey students at four elementary schools and will assess the needs of more students starting in the fall.

Angelica Vanegas, who resides in Irvine with her husband Gerardo Vanegas and their children Daniela and Santiago, credited the program for helping her family attain insurance coverage.

Vanegas, who immigrated to the United States from Colombia and became a U.S. citizen a few years ago, said her family was in limbo when her husband found a new job that didn't provide health benefits. After seven months without health insurance, the family got help from the Children's Health Initiative and qualified for the state Healthy Families Program.

The city is also planning to expand the program to uninsured adults starting January – at no additional cost to the city. Also, those who qualify will have access to food stamps, CalWORKS and Women, Infant and Children programs.

Kenneth Tokita, medical director of the Cancer Center of Irvine who donated $17,500 to the program, lauded city officials for pulling together its resources and helping children.

Visit http://www.cityofirvine.org/cityhall/cs/ichp/eligibility.asp for eligibility information.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7956 or epak@ocregister.com