Back to School
Back to School 2022
For the 21st year, the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) is sponsoring the annual Back to School campaign. We want all students and parents to know about Virginia’s low-cost or no-cost health insurance through Medicaid and FAMIS.
We’ve made the 2022 Back to School flyers available to all public schools across the Commonwealth. Schools will decide the best way to distribute the flyers to parents and guardians. Some schools may give the flyers to students in person. Others may opt to mail, post on social media, share the information with parent and education groups, or other electronic distribution.
[PDF] 2022 Back to School flyer
English | Spanish | Arabic | Amharic | Urdu | Vietnamese | Dari | Pashto
For parents and guardians
The effects of the Public Health Emergency continues to impact Virginia’s 1.3 million public school students. We know that you and your family may still be facing many challenges. We want to make it easy to sign up for Medicaid and FAMIS low-cost or no-cost health insurance. It’s more important than ever to know your children are covered!
You can find out who qualifies for coverage and learn about Medicaid and FAMIS benefits at FAMIS. If you think your children may qualify, you can check. Use the Eligibility Screening Tool and answer five easy questions. You can also apply any time at Apply.
Help spread the word about Medicaid and FAMIS. Tell your neighbors, friends, and family about all the great services FAMIS covers. These include well checkups, doctor visits, mental health care, vaccinations, vision and dental care, prescriptions, and more.
We also cover parents! Since January 2019, we’ve provided no-cost health insurance for adults. Find out if you qualify. Use the Eligibility Screening Tool. Then apply.
Resources for schools
This year, we’re asking schools to give the flyers to students in several ways through the end of the calendar year.
Printed flyers will be made available to schools for students returning at the start of the school year. For those who will be meeting with students virtually, you are encouraged to use the electronic pdf of the flyer. Schools are welcome to order more flyers at no charge on the Materials page or email Covervirginia@dmas.virginia.gov for assistance.
For the first time, we have developed additional messaging materials for schools to make it easier than ever to let students and parents know about health coverage. You will find the Back to School flyer pdf (available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, Urdu, Vietnamese, Dari, and Pashto), social media posts, graphics, scripts for automated calling systems and more!
We’d like your help!
Please share the news about this important effort with the McKinney-Vento homeless liaison, school nurse, nutrition program supervisors, enrollment coordinators, social workers, and your Medicaid coordinator.
Medicaid outreach is a claimable activity for school divisions in the Medicaid and Schools billing program. Your school division can get reimbursed.
Please use one or all of these ways to engage:
- Place a link to www.coverva.org Back To School on school websites
- Distribute flyers through Virtual Learning Packets
- Distribute flyers through new students’ enrollment packets
- Distribute flyers during in-person or virtual PTA meetings and other school events
- Distribute flyers through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison
- Distribute flyers online and through email correspondence to parents
- Add the FAMIS widget to your school’s website
- Distribute an automated calling message (i.e. Robo Call)
- Distribute via SMS or social media platforms
Pull information from the Back To School webpage on www.coverva.org to distribute via online and through digital correspondence to parents
SignUpNow
The Virginia Health Care Foundation partners with the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to offer SignUpNow (SUN) training workshops. They are open to school personnel, community-based organizations, and individuals dedicated to helping eligible families enroll in and benefit from Virginia’s health coverage programs. To learn more and to sign up, go to SignUpNow.
Need help?
If you have questions about the Back To School Campaign or want help with community outreach and engagement, contact us at CoverVirginia@dmas.virginia.gov.