Health and Human Services, Business, and Education Leaders Join Forces to Help Children Stay Healthy, Keep Learning

Business Wire, Dec 3, 2002

"Good health has been proven to affect a child's ability to learn and the lack of health insurance is a major barrier to quality of life for many students," said Roy Romer, superintendent for the LAUSD. "From the beginning, the LAUSD has been a principal supporter of ELE because it will help our children become better students. As the site for the first ELE pilot program in California, the LAUSD is committed to making ELE a successful program."

"There is a clear relationship between a lack of health care and student achievement," said Wayne Johnson, president of the 330,000-member California Teachers Association. "These ELE programs will make it easier for the neediest children to get affordable insurance. By supporting these programs, community leaders can help make sure that every child has a healthy chance to learn."

In San Jose, the district health coordinator at Alum Rock Union Elementary School District is also poised to launch ELE. The district, with funding from the Packard Foundation and assistance from Consumers Union's Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools project, has built trust over the last few years between families, the school lunch program, county government and the school district administration.

"All of us should have zero-tolerance for uninsured children in California," said Walter Zelman, Ph.D., President of the California Association of Health Plans. "ELE programs will be an effective means of reducing the number of uninsured children in California. The Health Plans of California are committed to ensuring the implementation of this program."