POMPANO BEACH, FL (04.08.09) – Hundreds of uninsured children and families in South Florida will receive free medical care and health insurance application assistance thanks to a Broward Children’s Center initiative.  

The Center will use a $20,000 Health Foundation of South Florida grant to provide a wide range of primary care services to more than 350 uninsured children at its Pompano Beach-based Kids Klinic and aboard its mobile medical van.

The program is an attempt to provide immediate medical care to children to prevent serious illness or disease, while also offering their families the help they need to obtain insurance that can provide regular, sustainable medical care.

The Center’s pediatrician and nurse practitioners will focus on treating children living in South Florida neighborhoods that contain high numbers of the more than 750,000 Florida children eligible for healthcare who are not enrolled in state insurance programs, such as KidCare and Medicaid. 

Families will receive a free consultation with a medical professional and instruction from trilingual staff in how to apply for a range of programs and services designed to support child health and economic stability. Visitors will also be able to apply for services on-the-spot via a computer kiosk linked directly to the Department of Children and Families and staffed by Center experts. 

“This program is an attempt to provide much-needed medical attention to children today, and long-term regular medical care for them tomorrow and beyond,” said Thor Barraclough, Executive Director of Broward Children’s Center Foundation.  “Breaking the cycle of uninsured children only receiving care at hospital ERs requires families having regular access to a medical professional and healthcare coverage is the way to get them that.”

Center CEO, Marjorie Evans said the Health Foundation of South Florida grant ensured the Center can maintain its 38 year tradition of investing in the future of the most at-risk and special needs children in South Florida.

"This initiative has the potential to greatly improve child health in our community and provide families with the tools they need to become healthy, happy, and economically independent" said Evans. "From stopping children from developing chronic illnesses, to helping a pregnant mother apply for prenatal assistance, this program can make a profound difference in at-risk children's lives and prevent a lot of suffering."

For more than 38 years, Broward Children’s Center has been providing medical, educational, and advocacy services to infants, children, and young adults with special needs.

Contact: Thor Barraclough
954.410.4410 thorb@bcckids.org