Maternal and Child Health Programs

The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program serves children who have serious physical, behavioral or emotional conditions that require health and related services beyond those required by children generally. In Washington State, children who participate in this program must be under the age of 18 years at initial enrollment and have, or be at risk of developing a serious or chronic condition such as: diabetes, neuromuscular disorders, cancer, AIDS, sickle cell anemia, asthma, cystic fibrosis, hearing or visual impairments, cleft palate, kidney disease, ventilator dependency, or metabolic disease. Some children who are already part of the program may be able to continue services until the twenty-first birthday for purposes of transition to adult care.

Mission

The MISSION of the Washington State Children with Special Health Care Needs Program is to promote integrated systems of care that assure the population of children with special health care needs the opportunity to achieve the healthiest life possible and develop to their fullest potential.

National Performance Measures

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau requires State Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs Programs to report on six national performance measures. These performance measures are:

Families of children and youth with special health care needs are partners in decision-making at all levels and are satisfied with the services they receive. More...
Children and youth with special health care needs receive coordinated comprehensive care within a medical home. More...
Families of children and youth with special health care needs have adequate private and/or public insurance to pay for the services they need. More...
Children are screened early and continuously for special health care needs. More...
Community-based services for children and youth with special health care needs are organized so families can use them easily. More...
Youth with special health care needs receive the services necessary to make transitions to all aspects of adult life, including health care, work, and independence. More...

The performance measures are used to measure progress towards the overall goal of providing and promoting family-centered, community-based, and coordinated care for children and youth with special health care needs. It is also to facilitate the development of community-based systems of services for such children, youth and their families. Information on what Washington State is doing related to the national performance measures in order to achieve the overall goal is provided.

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Page last updated: 05/21/2009