There are an estimated 12,000 uninsured children in Westchester County. More than two-thirds of New York's uninsured children are eligible for, but not enrolled in, public health insurance.

• Uninsured children are 6 times more likely than insured children to go without needed medical, dental and other health care.
• They are more likely to have health problems that routine health care could either prevent or help to manage, and they often fail to receive prescribed medications.
• Children with poor health have poorer school attendance reflected in low school achievement.

WCA is a key leader of the County's Facilitated Enrollment project, which places trained staff in community settings where they help eligible families enroll their children in publicly sponsored insurance programs.

WCA meets regularly with the project's partners -- County Departments of Health and Social Services, health insurance plans and community based organizations -- to make sure that application, enrollment and renewal procedures are as easy as possible and that program rules do not deter participation by eligible children.

• WCA has trained hundreds of front-line social service, day care and other workers on what insurance is available, and how to refer eligible families for help.
  
  
• We have persuaded selected school districts to include information about health insurance with free-lunch applications and kindergarten enrollments.
  
  
• We have led targeted outreach efforts to underserved populations, including Northern Westchester families, and Caribbean immigrants in Mt. Vernon.