Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503140038
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The development is important: CHIP will be able to serve more Salem children. Beyond that, it's the latest reflection of Salem's outstanding support of CHIP's mission.
CHIP is an innovative health-care delivery system that rips away roadblocks to basic medical care for low-income youngsters. By giving poor children a medical ``home'' where they're seen regularly by primary- and preventive-care doctors, dentists and other health professionals - and by helping make sure they get to their appointments - CHIP greatly reduces the odds that sicknesses will go undetected and untreated until they become full-blown medical emergencies.
More than the valley's other local governments, Salem has demonstrated its understanding of how important this particular service can be. It is helpful not only for children's health and physical development, but also for school performance and, ultimately, the ability to function well in adulthood.
Salem is the only CHIP-served locality in the Roanoke Valley with a budgeted line-item for the program - demonstrating a commitment to provide a reliable stream of funding for CHIP's services to poor children. The city also provides significantly more money than does any other local government - despite the fact that it has fewer children enrolled or eligible for the services.
Contrast, for instance, the $37,000 a year that Salem (population: about 25,000) provides CHIP to the sum of $6,600 that Roanoke city (population: about 95,000) has put up this year. Contrast, too, the caseload. Salem has about 130 children now enrolled, and about 200 in need of services (as defined by income level). Roanoke city has about 600 children enrolled, and more than 3,600 in need of services.
As Roanoke city officials fashion a new budget, they should crunch those numbers into their deliberations. If it wouldn't make them feel too shabby, the budgeteers might even want to visit the new CHIP office in Salem - a renovated building at 915 Union Street that the city of Salem is providing for CHIP's use.
by CNB