Children's Health Care Initiative
The Overall Goals of the Children’s Health Initiative 
- Improved access to healthcare services through universal health insurance coverage for all children at or below 300% of the federal poverty level in San Luis Obispo County.
- Coordinated outreach and streamlined enrollment and retention processes through “no wrong door,” maximizing use of integrated systems.
- Increased utilization of dental care by children and reduced dental caries.
- Increased use of preventive care and reduced emergency room care. Improved school attendance and learning due to healthier children.
News release for the launch of the initiative
Organizational Structure:
Incorporation and Board of Directors
After a lengthy review of how the project should be organized, it was
decided to form a new non-profit dedicated solely to the mission of insuring
all children in SLO county. An official name was chosen, Children’s
Health Initiative of San Luis Obispo, Inc. (CHISLO), a mission statement
was crafted and bylaws developed. Incorporation was completed in March
and CHISLO applied for federal and state tax-exempt status. 
Children's Health Initiative Founding Board of Directors:
- K. H. “Katcho” Achadjian, President, Chairperson, First 5 Commission
- Brian Roberts, MD, Treasurer, Emergency Room Physician
- Debby Nicklas, Secretary, Foundation & Public Affairs, French Hospital
- René Bravo, M.D., Past President, Pediatrician
- Ron Castle, CEO, Community Health Centers
- Lee Collins, Director, SLO Department of Social Services
- Julian Crocker, County Superintendent of Schools
- Nancy DePue, SLO County Community Foundation
- Joel Diringer, Esq., Diringer and Associates
- Kathleen Long, M.D., Pediatrician
- Joseph Mercardante, DDS
- Laura Murphy, Morris & Garritano Insurance
- Gregory Thomas, M.D., MPH, Director, SLO Public Health Department
Funding
- Funding from First 5 San Luis Obispo County, the County of San Luis Obispo, private foundations and donors will sustain the effort.
- CHISLO received initial support from by the SLO County Board of Supervisors who dedicated $42,319 to planning. Other start-up costs were provided by The California Endowment ($46,866) and the California HealthCare Foundation ($39,246).
- From 2007-2009 $781,510 over three years has been allocated by First 5 SLO County for planning, administration and premium subsidies for children ages 0-5.
- $200,000 per year has been allocated by the SLO County Board of Supervisors
for matching premium subsidies for children ages 6-18.
Dave Edwards presents a check in the amount of $44,390 from the SLO County Community Foundation to Joel Diringer, René Bravo and Katcho Achadjian. The funding supported planning efforts.
Click here to review history of the Children's Health Care Initiative.
No Wrong Door
The CHISLO Operations subcommittee has redesigned the county’s enrollment process. A streamlined enrollment process was developed that offers “no wrong door” for enrollment into the Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, and Healthy Kids programs. Families of uninsured children who visit private providers, community health clinics, schools, daycare centers, etc., will have the ability to apply for any of the health coverage programs with one single application and without having to go to a regional Social Services office. (See enrollment flow chart)
Health Plan
One of the major milestones to be achieved before Healthy Kids could become a reality was to secure a health plan to administer the program in SLO County. CHISLO solicited proposals and decided to enter into negotiations with the Santa Barbara Regional Health Authority (SBRHA) for a fee for service medical plan. As an added bonus to local residents, SBRHA will also bring its Healthy Families product to San Luis Obispo County. (SBRHA is the local Medi-Cal managed care plan in Santa Barbara County, and is currently developing its own Healthy Kids program in that county.)
The Santa Barbara Regional Health Authority is working to expand its SLO provider network in San Luis Obispo County and has applied to the State for licensure of the new product, Healthy Kids. Enrollment is projected to begin in the spring of 2005.
For more information about Children's Health Care Initiative, contact (805) 540-5177 or visit the web site.