As America continues to suffer a serious economic downturn, one of the largest worries facing families is health coverage. For many families, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is providing a critical lifeline to ensure that their children have access to quality, affordable health coverage. In Pennsylvania over 183,000 children have health coverage through CHIP, including tens of thousands of children from Philadelphia and surrounding counties.

With President Obama having just signed into law legislation expanding and strengthening CHIP, Pennsylvania will be able to expand coverage to tens of thousands of additional children.

To discuss how the new federal law will benefit Pennsylvania families, Senator Casey, Reps. Schwartz and Fattah, and local healthcare and children’s advocates will host a press conference today, Monday, February 9th. At the press conference a local father will also share his personal story of how CHIP enabled him to provide health coverage to his children after he lost his job.

WHO:  

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) 
U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Montgomery County/Philadelphia)
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Philadelphia)
Pennsylvania children and families
Shelly Yanoff, Executive Director, Public Citizens for Children and Youth 
Maddy Malis, Federation Early Learning Services President & CEO Federation Early Learning Services 

Other participating organizations include, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Nazareth Hospital, Childcare Information Services-Northeast, District 10 Health Center,  Maternity Care Coalition, and Jewish Family and Children’s Services officials     

WHERE:

Samuel Paley Early Learning Center
2199 Strahle Street (Near Bustleton and Castor)
Philadelphia, PA 19152

WHEN: 

Monday, February 9, 10:15 a.m.

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