All Kids News

Contact: Christine Glunz (HFS) 312/814.6691 Kathleen Strand (HFS) 312/814.0908 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2006 Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor

Blagojevich Administration Launches Statewide All Kids Training Tour in Rockford Today

Events will provide important enrollment information on several state healthcare programs

ROCKFORD – Barry Maram, the Director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) today joined community leaders and social service agencies at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine in Rockford to launch the Governor’s All Kids Training Tour. The training tour will hold nearly 20 events statewide over the next month to make sure over 1,500 community leaders, services providers, and social service agencies are informed about the new or recently expanded healthcare programs offered by the state.

“Every child deserves the chance to be healthy, to be able to get the care they need, when they need it. All Kids means that children that previously were uninsured can see a doctor for a regular checkup, go to the dentist to fill a cavity or to the pharmacy to fill a prescription when they need to,” said Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich. “Since 2003, we’ve made healthcare available to thousands of working families, individuals, seniors and children. This training tour brings information on all our different programs, and one-on-one assistance to communities across the state so that residents can get better access to healthcare.”

“Providing information about state programs at the community level helps build awareness about the resources available to families and answer questions about new or updated programs,” said Barry Maram. “We will reach every part of the state over the next month to spread the word about All Kids, FamilyCare, Illinois Cares Rx and many other new or expanded programs.”

Training tour participants will receive information about the new programs available to the state and updates to existing programs, so Illinois families have access to the quality healthcare they deserve. The programs presented at the trainings include:

All Kids offers low cost or free comprehensive healthcare coverage for all uninsured children, regardless of family income;

FamilyCare provides access to affordable healthcare coverage for parents of children ages 18 and younger in Illinois;

Illinois Cares Rx offers Illinois’ low-income seniors and persons with disabilities prescription drug assistance to avoid high out-of-pocket expenses and gaps in coverage created by the new Medicare Part D program;

Illinois Rx Buying Club helps anyone save an average of 24 percent on hundreds of the most popular prescription drugs and I-Save Rx, which allows participants to save up to 80 percent on hundreds of the most popular drugs imported from Canada and the United Kingdom;

Veterans Care provides access comprehensive, affordable healthcare to Illinois’ uninsured veterans;

Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program provides breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment for uninsured women.

The full schedule of events is listed below:

Scheduled Trainings:

May 22nd Rockford
May 23rd Dolton (9-12)
May 23rd Joliet (1-4)
May 24th Chicago (9-12)
May 25th Chicago (1-4)
June 1st Arlington Heights (9-12)
June 1st Wheaton (9-12)
June 6th Ullin (9-12)
June 7th Chicago(9-12)
June 7th Chicago (1-4)
June 8th Quincy (9-12)
June 8th Springfield (1-5)
June 9th Urbana (9-12)
June 13th Alton (9-12)
June 13th East St. Louis (1-4)
June 14th Peoria (9-12)
June 15th Moline (9-12)