Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch has been awarded a $12,000 community mini-grant to fund the agency’s First Steps program and support awareness of Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® redetermination among underserved populations in Georgia.
The grant is one of five “Stay Informed. Stay Covered.” Community Mini-Grants awarded by HOPE for Georgia Moms at Northeast Georgia Health Systems and the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) as part of broad efforts to ensure as many eligible families as possible, especially pregnant women and children, are informed about their Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® redetermination status.
Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch will leverage its local expertise to inform and educate difficult-to-reach Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® members in Bulloch and surrounding counties.
“We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with HOPE for Georgia Moms and the Georgia Department of Human Services to inform eligible families about the redetermination process and the importance of completing the process.,” said Lora Cooper, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch.
“With this additional funding, we can better support our mission of preventing child abuse and strengthening families through programs like First Steps. Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch’s First Steps program is a universal support service for families who are expecting a child or have children ages 0-5. The service includes a brief screening to identify resources a family may use to create the best environment for their family. Families receive a community resource guide, a packet of information and referrals to relevant resources. First Steps program participants include the eligible families that the Stay Informed, Stay Covered Mini-grant is designed to reach.,” said Cooper.
Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch participated in a competitive application process, and awardees were selected by a panel of community and state-based experts. All grant recipients must complete their proposed programs in time for the conclusion of Medicaid redetermination in May.
The “Stay Informed. Stay Covered.” grants have a special focus on reaching pregnant women and new mothers as national research shows that pregnant women are considered one of the most at risk populations for losing coverage during redetermination because of the challenges in reaching this cohort to complete paperwork1.
“We were delighted with the quality and comprehensiveness of the grant applicants, and it was difficult to choose the final awardees,” said Julie Walters, Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Operations at the Georgia Department of Human Services and the grant awards committee co-chair. “We are looking forward to seeing how this infusion of resources toward the end of redetermination will encourage additional Medicaid members to learn about their options and take action to stay covered.”
Since fall 2022, DHS, the Department of Community Health, and other community partners have been working to educate and mobilize Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® members through a statewide public information campaign.
The public-private partnership with HOPE for Georgia Moms is the latest example of the campaign’s dedication to emphasizing local solutions, local outreach, and local impact.
“Georgia’s extension of Medicaid to a full year postpartum is an important way we can improve maternal health in our state, and we must make sure that eligible pregnant and postpartum women take action to complete Medicaid redetermination so they can keep their coverage,” said Dr. Heidi Ehrenreich, project director, State Maternal Health Innovation Program known as HOPE for Georgia Moms. “The donation to the ‘Stay Informed. Stay Covered.’ mini-grant program shows our commitment to our mission of improving the health and quality of life for residents in our community and throughout the state.”
Background on Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® Redetermination
The Medicaid redetermination process is the result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which requires all states to resume annual Medicaid eligibility checks after a three-year pause during the pandemic. States were required to begin these “redeterminations” by April 2023 and finish the process by May 2024, reporting on their progress monthly to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Georgia Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® members can update their contact information through one of three ways:
- Online at Georgia DHS’ benefits website: gateway.ga.gov
- In person at their local DFCS office: dfcs.georgia.gov/locations
- By phone at 1-877-GA-DHS-GO or 711 for the hearing impaired
To learn more about Medicaid redetermination, visit staycovered.ga.gov.
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $5,170,233 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
