Site Directory:

Current Projects

Autism Grant	Epilespia en Washington
Medical Home Leadership Network	Birth Defects Surveillance
Children with Special Health Care Needs Assessment	Feeding Team Services
Nutrition Services	Family Leadership
Adolescent Health Transition Project

Autism Grant:

The Children with Special Health Care Needs program has been awarded a three year, $900,000 competitive state autism awareness implementation grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. "Autism Awareness: Partnership for Change" is funded from September 1, 2008 through August 31, 2011. The intent of this project is to raise awareness on the importance of early screening and diagnosis and improve access to quality, community-based systems of health care and services for children with autism spectrum disorder. For more information, please visit the Department of Health Autism Awareness Project web page.

Epilepsia en Washington:

Improving Access to Care for Children and Youth. The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program was a three year federal grant (September 2007 - August 2010) to focus on improving a community-based system of services for children and youth with epilepsy, beginning with medically underserved and rural areas of central Washington where there is a significant Hispanic population. Epilepsy is a challenging condition that affects from 6,100 to 15,000 children in Washington. It can seriously affect their lives by causing severe seizures, injuries, lifestyle restrictions, stigma, and depression, all contributing to a poor quality of life. Children with epilepsy who live in rural, under-served areas of Washington and who speak a language other than English have even more difficulty managing their epilepsy because they have less access to the range of needed health care services. Grant activities were accomplished in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation Northwest, parent organizations, local health departments, community health centers, specialty and community-based providers, and public schools. Link to the Epilepsy web page.

Medical Home Leadership Network:

The Medical Home concept is promoted through a contract with the University of Washington. A Medical Home is an approach to providing health care in a high-quality and cost-effective manner through a partnership between families and providers. Children receive the care they need from a pediatrician and other health care professionals and are able to access all the medical and non-medical services needed to help them achieve their maximum potential. The Medical Home Leadership Network at the University of Washington, together with the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, is working to create more medical homes for children in Washington.

Children with Special Health Care Needs Assessment:

This Assessment involves a systematic approach to developing and using data about children with special health care needs to improve statewide services. The approach includes determining prevalence and identifying needs of the population. It also promotes inclusion in community assessments, program planning and family leadership activities.

Birth Defects Surveillance:

The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program participates in birth defects surveillance to monitor trends and respond to public concerns.

Nutrition Services:

The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program contracts with the University of Washington Center on Human Development and Disability to support a statewide network of community-based nutritionists who provide nutrition services to children with special health care needs.

Feeding Team Services:

The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program contracts with the University of Washington Center on Human Development and Disability to support a statewide network of community-based, interagency, interdisciplinary feeding teams that provide feeding assessment and follow-up services to children with special health care needs.

Adolescent Health Transition Project:

The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program contracts with the University of Washington Division of Adolescent Medicine and the Adolescent Health Transition Project to provide education and information through a variety of media and forums on health and life transitions for youth with special needs.

Family Leadership:

The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program is committed to involving families of children and youth with special health care needs as decision-makers in program planning and policy development. We strive to ensure that families are provided with services and supports that are integrated, family-centered, and culturally competent. The program has a full time Family Consultant who takes a lead role in identifying and developing opportunities for families to become involved at the level where they are most comfortable.

Unless otherwise noted, all materials and forms on this page are in PDF format.

Links to external resources are provided as a public service and do not imply endorsement by the Washington State Department of Health.

To request documents on the Children with Special Health Care Needs Web site in alternative format, contact cshcn.support@doh.wa.gov or 360-236-3571