August 20, 2002
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(Chicago, Il…) August 1, 2002 Dobmeyer News Service: The space age is finally hitting programs for the poor. A Boston-based group, Community Catalyst, (Enrique Balaguer, 617-275-2804) a non-profit and New York-based Bluemark, LLC, a software developer, working with Chicago public benefits whiz, Mike O'Connor (773/262-2199) have come up with a computer program to benefit low-income people called RealBenefits.
REALBENEFITS strengthens and increases the self-sufficiency of low income families by increasing their access to work support and other public benefit programs, provides private and non-profit organizations with new knowledge and tools with which to support their clients and communities, and facilitates public sector interaction with the public regarding the delivery of human services.
REALBENEFITS is a web-based information service and tool set that enables private and public sector organizations to assess eligibility, generates applications and facilitates enrollment for a multiplicity of public benefit programs over the phone and in accessible community locations on a "one-stop" basis.
REALBENEFITS currently is being implemented in three different metropolitan areas: Chicago Illinois; Miami/Dade County, Florida; and Boston, Massachusetts. In each of these areas, it is available in both English and Spanish. The effort is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, City of Boston Public Health Commission, Annie E. Casey Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Technology Opportunities Program), and the Chicago Community Trust.
REALBENEFITS is both an information service and an on-line tool set. Front-line personnel use the program to help eligible families and individuals enroll either in a single priority program or obtain "packages" of work support and other benefit programs to promote their self-sufficiency and stability. Among these programs in Illinois are:
REALBENEFITS leads case managers through client interviews, collecting information about family composition, income, and needs, and matching family characteristics against rules governing eligibility for all federal, federal/state and state-based benefit programs in the jurisdiction. They can produce completed applications as well as written reports listing programs, estimated amounts of benefit for members of households, verifications necessary to ensure enrollment, and location of enrollment offices.
Example of use: In Chicago, there's a funded project with the Illinois Hunger Coalition (312/629-9580), that Darnell Coleman a new staffer did 28 Food Stamp applications at the recent veterans stand down last week. He also did eight Food Stamp applications at a Cathedral Shelter Health Fair.
(Chicago, Il…) August 1, 2002 Dobmeyer News Service: Latest Numbers: The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition reported the latest enrollment numbers in KidCare from an Urban Institute report. The numbers were based on 1999-2000 data sets. A previous University of Illinois at Chicago study based on 1999 data revealed 210,000 kids eligible for KidCare.
KidCare is the state's non-welfare program for poor families. There are 3,775,000 children in Illinois. Almost ten percent (351,200) are without insurance, Of this number, 144,300 are eligible for KidCare.
Robyn Gabel, Executive Director said, "We think the state has been making improvements. We still have a ways to go."
Follow up events:
Contact Kathy Chan at 312/491-8161 for follow up.
The story offers good opportunities for photos and interviews. The danger is this venue will be closed to the homeless through the publicity. See a successful column based on this story idea
A festival was held on Honore over July 4th to celebrate the first year since the reported sighting of the Virgin Mary.
A good follow up story is what is the position of the Catholic Church on the reported apparition. Another is what do the mostly lower-income Hispanic worshippers receive from visiting the sight.
Numerous excellent local sources are available to discuss the currency makeover and reparations issue.
Click here to see story ideas for current Dobmeyer Communications clients.