In a round table discussion with Governor Roy Cooper and Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, early childhood professionals from across North Carolina shared stories of how the health care coverage gap is negatively affecting their colleagues. Attendees expressed concern that too many early childhood educators without access to health care are living with and dying from preventable diseases, and they urged legislators to expand Medicaid.
“We place a lot of trust and responsibility in the hands of early childhood educators, and it’s heartbreaking to hear about how many of them can’t afford health care,” said Governor Cooper. “Our child care and pre-K teachers should be healthy so they can focus on preparing our children for lifelong learning, and it’s time we expanded Medicaid to help half a million North Carolinians access affordable health care.”
Cassandra Brooks, owner of Little Believers Academies in Garner and Clayton, told Governor Cooper that she is grieving the loss of her employee and friend, Brenda Pernell. An early childhood educator for more than 30 years, Mrs. Pernell died from a stroke in April. Without health insurance, she had been unable to get care for her high blood pressure. Earlier this year, Mrs. Pernell had joined other early childhood educators to speak out about the lack of access to health care that she and so many other families face.
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