Photos Courtesy of Alissa Fleck

A number of groups and individuals met today in Foley Square to rally in support of SCOTUS upholding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Health Care for All New York organized a “Rally to Respond” to the ruling, which was quickly retitled a “Rally to Celebrate,” announced Director Mark Hannay to the crowd. Hannay was among several speakers—doctors, advocates and elected officials—addressing the jubilant crowd of community supporters at the evening rally.

(by Alissa Fleck)

Hannay called the ruling a “milestone step forward in the history of justice,” pointing to the Declaration of Independence’s insistence on the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Hannay said these rights cannot be met without affordable, accessible healthcare for all.

Hannay added SCOTUS making healthcare a right for all means America is finally moving toward other industrialized nations, though he said we are only “9/10ths of the way down the field” and must continue to politically support those who uphold affordable healthcare.

Other speakers laid out the main points of what the ruling would mean for Americans, and New Yorkers in particular, including a breakdown of what could be expected by 2014. State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried explained the ACA would help make health funding available for working families, encourage providers to communicate with one another and ensure senior citizens can afford necessary drugs among numerous other modifications. Preventive care will become more widely accessible, particularly pertinent to many women’s health issues.

Georgetown law student and women’s rights advocate Sandra Fluke took the stand to applaud the efforts of Americans who worked to support the SCOTUS decision as well as to remind crowd members the fight is not over.

“I don’t want to see ideologically-driven legislators work to repeal this decision so they can say they fought Obamacare,” said Fluke. “We want the implementation of the whole Affordable Health Care Act and we want it now.”

All the speakers agreed this decision, while important, is foundational and there are still hurdles from here, including building on decisions made in Washington to make laws in New York “even better” and make health care “a right, not a privilege.”

Speaker Quinn called what happened in Washington an “incredibly American act” and said the days of no options for many sick people and “whether you could get treatment [meaning] how big your paycheck was” are coming to an end.

“All have the right to get well, be well and stay well,” said Quinn. “Let’s make it even better.”

During National Women’s Health Week, Celebrate Healthcare

As a mother of two, I know the challenges faced by millions of American women when it comes to keeping our families healthy and safe. That’s why as a Member of Congress it has always been one of my top priorities to ensure women have access to affordable healthcare and it’s why we have so much to celebrate now, during National Women’s Health Week.

With the help of my Democratic colleagues and President Obama’s strong leadership, today women of all ages have more choices, greater coverage, and better control over their own healthcare because of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act two years ago.

Because of the ACA, over 20 million women nationwide have received preventative services such as mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, and pre-natal tests without a co-pay or out-of-pocket expenses. Just my Congressional district, over 60,000 women have benefitted from this provision in the law.

It used to be that a healthy 22-year-old woman could be charged premiums 150% higher than a 22-year-old man. The ACA ends this unconscionable insurance industry practice.

It also prohibits denying women and children coverage because of a “pre-existing condition.” No longer will insurance companies be able to label women who have had Caesarean sections or who have been victims of domestic violence as “pre-existing conditions,” and deny or drop their coverage at any moment.

What’s more, for mothers, the ACA ensures coverage of maternity benefits which are often not provided in health plans in the individual insurance market. Moms can also have the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children have coverage after graduation, even if they can’t immediately find a job. Healthcare reform requires insurers to permit parents to retain coverage for their children until they reach age 26. Over 2.5 million young adults nationwide have been able to gain insurance coverage, and over 6,100 young adults in our district have healthcare because of the ACA.

I’m overjoyed to say that this year, on the heels of Mother’s Day, we have so much to celebrate. As a nation, we have taken great strides to ensure that women lead healthy lives and have access to healthcare.

But with so much to celebrate, so much also remains at stake. We must band together to protect the care of women from the political games that threaten to take away important benefits. The Supreme Court will make their decision about America’s healthcare next month and should any or all of the law be repealed or rolled back, millions of Americans—both men and women—will lose critical healthcare benefits.

If the Affordable Care Act is repealed, women of all ages will lose the privileges of maternity care, low-cost access to birth control, prescription drug benefits, and preventative services. We cannot leave these women at the mercy of the insurance companies.

This week, stand with me and millions of Americans as we bring together women, health care providers, and all citizens who save on healthcare costs to celebrate the many ways in which the Affordable Care Act is working for the nation. Together, we can help women take steps for longer, healthier and happier lives.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney represents New York’s 14^th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. The district includes most of the East Side of Manhattan and neighboring cities including Astoria, Long Island City, parts of Woodside and all of Roosevelt Island.

1. Involve Your Child—to a Degree

“Obviously, you maybe don’t let the child pick the exact camp, because they may pick it from the pretty picture in the brochure and not based on safety or some other issue,” said Jon Malinowski, Ph.D., camping author and expert. “But the worst thing a parent can do is to just choose a camp, decide that the child is going to camp and not involve the child in the process at all. It’s a recipe for a very unhappy, very homesick child.”

Christopher Thurber, Ph.D., camping author, said that even with children as young as five, parents can do research ahead of time then present a few options, any of which they’d be happy to follow through with. “You can make it collaborative at any age,” he says. “Just kind of tailor it to what is developmentally appropriate.”

Alternatively, consider bringing your child along when you shop for camping supplies, even for things as simple as a new toothbrush or pair of sneakers.

2. Accreditation

Many camp experts believe that accreditation is the first thing a parent should look for when evaluating camps. Unfortunately, this is not as cut-and-dried an issue as parents might wish. Just because a camp is accredited doesn’t mean it’s good, while a camp that lacks accreditation isn’t necessarily bad. And finding an accredited camp certainly doesn’t let a parent off the hook when it comes to doing additional research.

Accreditation is typically given by the American Camp Association (ACA). Two highly trained standards visitors, one of whom is often a camp director, tour the site for about a day, poking through cabins, prowling in the mess hall and scoping out the waterfront to make sure the camp meets the association’s approximately 300 safety and health standards. There’s also a thorough review of paperwork beforehand. (You can read more about the process at acacamps.org/accreditation.)

And don’t immediately dismiss camps that aren’t accredited, either, according to Malinowski.

“I know of some established camps that have been in business for a long time,” he said. “They do their own thing and don’t feel a need to be involved with the ACA.” It’s not uncommon for YMCA, Jewish and Christian fundamentalist camps to pass on accreditation, he explained. The bottom line, though, is that if a camp isn’t accredited, parents should ask why.

3. Are People Sticking Around?

Accredited or not, parents should try to find out if people are coming back. That goes for the director, staff and campers.

A camp that attracts directors who stay for a long time is probably stable, has a consistent vision and is generally a fun place to be. But don’t just ask how long the current director has been around, says Thurber—the current director might be a relative newcomer. Instead, ask what the average tenure for directors has been in the life of the camp.

Also ask about return rates. No camp will have all at its staff or campers return the following year, since many become too old for the program. But a 70 to 80 percent return rate is “fabulous,” according to Thurber.

If between 50 and 70 percent of campers and staff return, that’s “very good.” But if less than half of eligible campers and staff are choosing to return, it could indicate problems with the camp’s quality.

A caveat: Specialty programs may have lower return rates by nature.

4. Meet and Greet

We know you’re busy, but once you’ve narrowed down a short list, be sure to visit camps or at the very least meet the director. Many camps offer rookie days or weekends for prospective campers, according to Joanne Paltrowitz, founder of the advisory service Camp Experts. A visit also lets a parent see firsthand that the waterfront is safe (can you easily identify who’s in charge?), the grounds are well kept (is there broken glass underfoot or tools laying around?) and the bunks meet fire codes (are there fire alarms and fire extinguishers?).

5. Be Honest About Your Child

Your kid is obviously better than everyone else’s. But try, when you’re chatting with the director, to give the full picture.

“Tell [directors] not who you want your child to be, but who your child really is,” said Flax.

Believe it or not, a director will tell you if your child won’t fit in, Flax says.

An honest assessment of your child’s personality will also help the director decide on counselors and bunk placement. Honesty means being frank about your child’s interests and talents as well.

But for other families, summer is a busy time, and traveling to multiple camps in different states can be a difficult and exhausting task. Now that the summer has come and gone, many parents worry that they’ve missed out on camp tours and are at a disadvantage in their decision-making process. This is not the case, and here’s where camp fairs come to the rescue.

Manhattan Media and American Camp Association-NY camp fairs allow families to meet with multiple camp representatives, obtain written materials along with videos and ask questions regarding many different types of programs—all at one prime Manhattan location. The fairs are not only a wonderful time-saver, but a fruitful introduction to the many options that are available to your child. However, before you grab the kids and head out to the fair, it’s wise to be prepared. By asking yourself some of these questions, you will narrow your approach and not feel overwhelmed when you arrive.

• Are you interested in a day or overnight camp?

• If you are looking at day camps, do you need bus service and/or extended hours?

• How many weeks do you want to send your child to camp?

• Do you prefer a co-educational, brother/sister or single sex camp?

• What is your budget?

• What locations are you focusing on?

• Will your child prefer to pick his/her own activities at camp or do you want a structured program?

Having the answers to these questions before you arrive at the fair will give you a better idea of where to begin and on which camps to focus your attention. When you register at the fair, there will be a list of participating camps available for your review—the guide can be very helpful in knowing which direction to take. The map provided will indicate which are day camps and which are overnight camps.

Once you have selected the type of camps you want to consider, here is a recommended list of questions you can ask the camp representatives in order to make your interaction with them productive. Keep in mind, camps typically have two staff people in attendance, and they want to touch base with as many families as possible in the few hours they have, so having a list of questions prepared will help you make the most of your time spent with them.

• What is the camp’s philosophy?

• Is the camp accredited with the American Camp Association?

• What is the background of the director?

• What is the camper-to-staff ratio?

• What kind of training do the counselors receive?

• What is the percentage of returning campers and program staff?

• What is a camper’s daily schedule like?

• Is the camp equipped to manage special requirements (food allergies, medication, etc.)?

Be sure to bring a notebook, as you will probably be talking with many camps, and it will be difficult to remember each camp’s specifics. If your children are with you, have them get involved in asking questions. It’s important they feel involved in this process as well. Camp representatives will be happy to respond to any questions and can provide you with names of current camp families who can speak with you about their experience. Camps will also provide you with promotional written materials and videos/DVDs to give you a glimpse into their camp world. Manhattan Media will supply you with a goody bag to carry all of the materials you collect along the way. Some camps participating in the fair will also have camp-related gifts and treats for your children to make the experience a fun one.

If you have any questions, please look for ACA-NY representatives at the fairs as well. We would love to talk to you and help you make this important decision. We look forward to seeing you there!

Renee Flax, director of program services of the American Camp Association-NY, is a professional camp advisor for the American Camp Association. She works closely with families who are choosing camps for their children. She can be reached at 800-777-2267 or Renee@aca-ny.org.