SUMMARY:
Overview
Recently, Senate Bill (SB) 893 was introduced by Senator
Dave Cox, which proposes to eliminate dedicated funding
to all county First 5 Commissions. This is a request
for our Board to oppose SB 893.
Recommendation(s):
CHAIRMAN RON ROBERTS:
1. Adopt a position
of opposition to SB 893, as introduced by Senator Dave Cox and direct the Chief
Administrative Officer to add this to the County’s legislative
agenda.
2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to draft a letter for the Chairman’s
signature to the Chair of the Senate Health Committee
and our local state delegates expressing our Board’s opposition
to SB 893.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact related to this action.
BACKGROUND:
First 5 San Diego currently funds a variety of health care
services that focus on prevention, early intervention and treatment of
children ages 0 to 5 and their families. These programs include: healthcare
insurance enrollment, health screenings and services, dental screenings and
services, newborn home visiting for first-time moms, speech therapy, and
behavioral health services.
Recently, Senate Bill 893 was introduced by Senator
Dave Cox, which would jeopardize these proven programs.
This bill proposes to eliminate dedicated funding to all
county First 5 Commissions for the purpose of expanding
state administered health insurance for children.
As the sponsor of several county health initiatives,
I value the importance of healthcare insurance especially
for children. I further recognize that health programs
that best meet the needs of our community are locally
tailored and administered as opposed to state controlled.
Furthermore, we have learned that making health insurance
available for children is not enough; to be successful
it must be coupled with enrollment and retention support
services as well as assistance accessing services. This
approach has proven to be effective through our current
array of First 5 San Diego health programs. Measured
outcomes show that children participating in these programs
are more likely to: see a physician, as a newborn, to
obtain a medical check-up and screening as recommended
for all infants; see the dentist annually; and have and
maintain their health insurance. They also use the emergency
room less frequently, saving taxpayer dollars.
There is no question that our First 5 Commission is committed to providing
health services for San Diego children. More than $11
million has been budgeted since 2004 to healthcare and
insurance access. Last year alone, the First 5 Healthcare
Access Project (HCA) made contact with approximately 150,000
children ages 0 to 5 and assisted more than 16,500 with
health insurance enrollment. In addition to application
assistance, HCA focuses on retention and appropriate utilization
of health insurance.
By de-funding our County’s First 5 Commission, SB 893 would not only terminate
our local health related services, it would eliminate
family support, child development and capital projects
currently funded in our community. These programs were
selected through planning and decision making processes
involving local public input and transparent government.
They truly represent the will of the people in San Diego
County .
The California Children and Families Act requires local
commissions to focus on the well-being of children and families in three
areas: improve child health, enhance child development and increase support
for families. The First 5 Commission of San Diego has been successful
addressing all three of these areas through strategies that are tailored to
the unique needs of our area. Having local control of these dollars is the
best way to meet the needs of San Diego children and families.
As the current Chairperson of the First 5 Commission, I am asking you to
join me in opposing SB 893.
Respectfully submitted,
RON ROBERTS
Vice Chairman, Fourth District
