TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama is again preparing to lead the state in helping uninsured children with a $900,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for the foundation's Covering Kids & Families project.

The grant is part of a four-year, $55 million, national RWJF initiative that offers grants to statewide and local coalitions throughout the country to increase the number of eligible children and adults benefiting from federal and state health care coverage programs.

The grant will be used to find and enroll eligible families, simplify enrollment and renewal processes, and coordinate health care coverage programs. In Alabama, a family of four earning up to $36,200 a year or more may qualify for coverage. There are an estimated 70,000 uninsured children in Alabama -- with 50,000 or more eligible for one of Alabama's three health care coverage programs for children.

“Thousands of Alabama’s uninsured families do not realize they qualify for Medicaid, ALL Kids, or the Caring Program for Children,” and Tracy Carter, project director at UA. “With generous funding and support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we are better equipped to identify and enroll eligible children for coverage.”

Medicaid, ALL Kids, and the Caring Program for Children jointly offer free or low-cost health care coverage for eligible children. In Alabama, a family of four earning up to $36,200 a year or more may qualify for coverage. Eligibility is based on family size and household income. Benefits include doctor visits, immunizations, medications, eyeglasses, and dental care.

“Covering Kids & Families will build on the success of Covering Kids and ensure that even more eligible children get the health care coverage they need and deserve,” said Judith Whang, senior program officer at RWJF. “Our experience has shown that informing working families about these programs and simplifying the enrollment process are critical components in getting eligible children enrolled. Through CKF we plan to keep up our efforts to see that the low-cost and free health care coverage programs offered in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are fully utilized.”

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, based in Princeton, N.J., is the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care. It concentrates its grantmaking in four goal areas: to assure that all Americans have access to basic health care at reasonable cost; to improve care and support for people with chronic health conditions; to promote healthy communities and lifestyles; and to reduce the personal, social, and economic harm caused by substance abuse-tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

For more information regarding Medicaid, ALL Kids, or the Caring Program for Children call 1-888-373-5437. Information about the Covering Kids & Families initiative can be found at www.coveringkids.org .