Public Benefits Outreach and Enrollment in the Chicago Public Schools: A Match Made in Heaven

The scope of the issue

Chicago Public Schools has 600+ schools with 435,000 students

87% enrollment in Free and Reduced Price Meals (similar eligibility guidelines as Medicaid and food stamps)

90,000 students with Free and Reduced Price Meals but no active medical card at any given time, the targeted population for food stamp and health care enrollment

Why CPS Cares

Academic Performance: Proven connection between healthy kids and academic achievement

Increased emphasis on improving student health Coordinated School Health Vending machines Gates Foundation

The “Bottom Line”

For every eligible child who is enrolled in food stamps, All Kids or cash assistance, CPS receives upwards of $2,000 in state educational revenue

At any given time, approximately 90,000 CPS students are potentially eligible but not enrolled in health benefits.

If CPS was able to increase the Poverty Count by 10,000, there would be an increase of $20 million in state revenue.

What to Do

USDA funded research proves a dedicated Unit, whose sole responsibility is public education and enrollment assistance, is the only effective way to increase food stamp enrollment

CPS creates the Children and Family Benefits Unit and receives partial funding from USDA as part of Illinois Food Stamp Outreach Plan

Community Based Model

CFBU Liaisons are strategically placed in

CPS schools through out Chicago in areas with highest concentrations of under-enrollment

Links with neighboring schools and Community Based Organizations are established and sustained

11 Liaisons- 7 bilingual, bi-cultural One bilingual English/Spanish Hotline Operator Liaisons complete applications for food stamps,

Medicaid, SCHIP and TANF over the phone or in person

Attend parent meetings Host school-based enrollment events Train parents and school staff about income support

policy Provide case management for families

Children and Family Benefits Unit

Why schools work

Existing infrastructure Data Departments Events Phone system

Trust Ease of application completion

THANK YOU!

For more information please contact the

Children and Family Benefits Unit Hotline:

773-553-KIDS.