Last year s legislation added dental coverage to the package of services available through this program. Because of aggressive outreach efforts, the program is experiencing a 60 percent increase in the number of eligible children being served, and over 1.2 million eligible children are expected to have health care coverage under KidCare and Medicaid by June 2001. In fact, Florida is a front-runner in the nation in providing such coverage with approximately 84 percent of all eligible children projected to be served by that date. Several important new health service initiatives are being funded. The first of these new initiatives addresses health disparities in ethnic and racial minorities.
Teenage pregnancy is a significant public health concern.
From January through June 2000, the education program was delivered to more than 28,000 adolescents. Through the use of federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funds, the number of abstinence education programs has grown to 23 projects. In contrast to 1997, the Florida birth rate to teenage mothers has declined from 58.15 per 1000 women, aged 15-19, to 54.98 per 1000 in 1999. Preliminary results for January through September 2000 indicate a further decline to 52.99 per 1000 adolescent women. Governor Bush s vision for individualized care in the least restrictive environment has also brought about major changes in our behavioral health care system.