Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-79 - Requesting County of Orange Support the Children's Health InitiativeRESOLUTION NO. 05-79 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THAT THE COUNTY OF ORANGE SUPPORT THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed in April of 2005 that "during my administration, I want to make sure that every child will be insured and has health care". The Governor has further stated that he is committed to working with stakeholders to find a solution to this critical priority for California; and WHEREAS, on October 18, 2005, the Orange County Board of Supervisors received the Report on the Status of Uninsured Children in Orange County prepared by the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA); and WHEREAS, the report was in response to a Board directive asking staff to: explore alternatives to provide health care coverage for uninsured youth in Orange County; review relevant programs in local counties; target any efforts currently underway in the County; and provide recommendations for County involvement in such efforts; and WHEREAS, the report recommended and gave specific strategies for County support of the Children's Health Initiative, an effort launched countrywide in 2004 by various private sector businesses and foundations; and WHEREAS, Costa Mesa is one of two cities in Orange County with the highest number of uninsured children, and has a higher percentage of uninsured children than any other Orange County city; and WHEREAS, many Costa Mesa children are not insured because their parents do not have employer health care benefits and do not meet the income eligibility requirements for public health care; and WHEREAS, the County's integration in the Children's Health Initiative will fill the gap for many of these families; and WHEREAS, healthier kids mean a stronger economy and a more productive workforce. In light of dramatically rising insurance premiums, the business community has strongly supported innovative efforts such as this to insure more children and make health care more affordable; and WHEREAS, healthy children are better students. Access to affordable health care and academic success are linked. Just as an education is provided for every child, the opportunity for health care coverage can be provided for every child; and WHEREAS, the Children's Health Initiative, in tandem with other existing programs, can cover almost every child in Orange County and ensure that they have access to affordable health care in a short time period. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Costa Mesa City Council hereby supports the concept that every child with legal residency status be insured so as to have access to basic health care services, and requests that Orange County adopt and implement the recommendations in the HCA report subject to available funding. F PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1't day of November, 2005. ATTEST: C�t4o� City e o theCity of Costa Mesa Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa APPROVED AS TO FORM ctyA 71-aP eie. STATE OF CALIFORNIA) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss CITY OF COSTA MESA ) I, JULIE FOLCIK, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing Resolution No.o579+vas duly and regularly Passed and adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 1° day of November, 2005, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Dixon, Foley, Monahan. NOES: Mansoor, Bever ABSENT: Mone IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the City of Costa Mesa this 2n' day of November, 2005. City erk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa 3