Albertsons grocery chain is the latest nationally-recognized business joining the campaign to help Florida’s uninsured children

Tampa, FL (Oct. 30, 2007)– The Florida Covering Kids and Families Initiative, based at the University of South Florida’s Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, has partnered with the grocery chain Albertsons LLC to promote Florida KidCare, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Albertsons has placed Florida KidCare advertisements in its prescription bags to create consumer awareness of Florida’s low-cost or free healthcare coverage for children and is distributing Florida KidCare applications and brochures to each of its 93 Florida stores.

“We are excited about our participation in the Florida KidCare program in all of our locations,” said Jeff Carlen, Division Pharmacy Manager of Albertsons LLC Florida Division. “Florida KidCare is a very worthwhile program and Albertsons believes it is critical that all eligible children without health insurance apply for Florida KidCare.”

Florida Covering Kids and Families, under contract with the Agency for Health Care Administration, is conducting an integrated, statewide outreach campaign for Florida KidCare, in cooperation with Gov. Charlie Crist’s office and the state agencies responsible for administering the program. During the back-to-school period, Florida Covering Kids and Families organized news conferences, enrollment fairs, and provided statewide technical assistance to events intended to raise awareness of Florida KidCare and to enroll eligible families. These efforts included forming partnerships with several nationally-recognized businesses. Albertsons LLC is the latest to join the Florida Covering Kids and Families team.

“We are very happy that Albertsons LLC is taking such an active role to inform families about Florida KidCare. Getting businesses involved in promoting Florida KidCare is an essential part to a successful outreach effort,” said Jodi Ray, director of Florida Covering Kids and Families.

Florida has the second highest number of uninsured children in the United States. Approximately 700,000 Florida children have no health insurance, while around 500,000 of these children may be eligible for Florida KidCare.

For more information on becoming a Florida KidCare business partner, please contact Patrick Cannon at (813) 974-8272 or pcannon@health.usf.edu.

For more information on Florida KidCare, call 1-888-540-5437 or visit www.floridakidcare.org.