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At the Lowndes County Children’s Policy Council Oct. 2 meeting, representatives from agencies serving local children learned that an Alabama program aimed at ensuring healthy babies is now available in all 64 counties across the state.

Aleacha Manuel, ALL Kids and ALL Babies education and outreach worker with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) presented details about the free or low-cost, full-coverage insurance plan for eligible pregnant women.

Benefits include maternity, postpartum, mental health, pharmacy, dental and vision care for qualified mothers who meet income guidelines. The program, launched as a pilot in 2019, became available throughout the state as of Oct. 1.

“There were only three counties at first — Macon, Montgomery, and Russell,” Manuel said. “Last June, 33 more counties became covered. We tried to do the smaller counties first. As of Oct. 1, it is available for the entire state.”

According to Manuel, applications received for Medicaid and ALL Kids are considered for ALL Babies. If eligible, coverage begins on the date the application was received.

“There is an easy application process,” Manuel said. “It’s the same application as we use for ALL Kids and Medicaid. So, everyone completes the one application, and a worker will determine, based on the application, if the person eligible for Medicaid, ALL Kids or ALL Babies.

Coverage is provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama and once on the program, the person can visit any provider who accepts Blue Cross coverage.

“There may be a small copay, just like with ALL Kids,” Manuel said. “There’s a ‘no copay’ and ‘low copay’ plan. The mother is covered for two months after delivery, and we want the person to get in as early as possible to take advantage of all services.”

Applications are available at www.alabamapublichealth.gov/allbabies. For more information, call ALL Kids customer service at 1-888-373-5437.

Council members also heard from Michele Sousa, coordinator of Lowndes and Butler Counties Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots, who provided an update of the program’s reach and current needs.

Serving both counties by keeping donations in the area to serve children locally, Sousa said the program provided 23,764 toys to 4,561 economically disadvantaged children in 2023 and is needing additional support to meet needs for 2024.

“We lost a $15,000 grant from Walmart,” Sousa said. “Nothing we did wrong; it was a hiccup between corporate and corporate, and that’s really going to hurt this year because we used that to shop for toys. I’m asking for the community [to give] a lot more support.”

Sousa described the organization’s efforts for helping families impacted by Hurricane Helena. She also expressed a willingness to partner with any agency interested in giving support as well as those in contact with families who may need assistance providing Christmas gifts for their children this year.

Lowndes County Sheriff’s Lt. Nicholas Cognasi addressed council members to describe the department’s plans to add drone operations. While still in the planning phase, Cognasi said he hopes the department can send four officers to train as operators and purchase one drone for use with search and rescue efforts and crime investigations.

“Something we’re trying to do is to change and evolve with the times, especially with protecting kids,” Cognasi said. “We’re looking at a drone program. Every agency around us has the ability to use a drone to keep children safe.”

Cognasi described the many ways drone technology helps law enforcement serve their community. Some uses include surveillance during sporting events or search and rescue of missing persons.

The council discussed granting a donation to help with the cost of officer training and purchasing the drone. District Judge Adrian Johnson, chairman of the council, asked Cognasi to submit a request for consideration.

The next Children’s Policy Council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. in the Lowndes County Courtroom.