Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Connecting Kids to Coverage (CKC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The Outreach and Enrollment Cooperative Agreement program provides funding to reduce the number of children who are eligible for, but not enrolled in, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and to improve retention of eligible children, parents, and pregnant women who are enrolled in the programs.
This CKC NOFO makes available $66.3 million ($8.29 in AI/AN grants funds and $58 million for broader grants) in cooperative agreements, up to $3 million, for a five-year period of performance to achieve these goals.
Eligibility for this grant opportunity includes:
- State and local governments;
- Indian tribes or tribal consortia, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations receiving funds under title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, or Indian Health Service providers;
- Federal health safety net organizations;
- National, state, local, or community-based public or nonprofit private organizations, including organizations that use community health workers, community-based doula programs, or parent mentors;
- Faith-based organizations or consortia; and
- Elementary or secondary schools.
This funding will support innovative outreach strategies aimed at:
- Educating families about the availability of free or low-cost health coverage under Medicaid and CHIP;
- Identifying children likely to be eligible for these programs; and
- Assisting families (including parents and pregnant women) to apply for and renew coverage.
The deadline for applicants is March 7, 2025. Notice of Awards will be issued to grantees on July 1, 2025 and April 1, 2026.
