TARGET POPULATION:
The population of children with special health care needs includes children who are at risk for or have health or developmental problems that will require more than usual pediatric health care. Some of these children will need only periodic screening and monitoring; others require specialty or subspecialty care.
It includes children who: have disabilities and handicapping conditions, have chronic illness and conditions, have health-related educational or behavior problems; or are at risk for disabilities, chronic conditions, and health-related educational and behavioral problems.

The focus of this program has gradually shifted from payment for services to linkage to necessary services and identification of resources for payment.

Case management/family resource coordination (primarily utilizing public health nurses) is available to ANY child (with a handicapping or potentially handicapping condition) and family regardless of income level.

SERVICES:
Children with special health care needs may benefit from services such as:

Early identification of health or developmental problems,

Screening and/or assessment of the child and family's concerns, priorities and resources,

Tracking or monitoring,

Therapeutic intervention(s) including family education and support, and resource identification, referral, and coordination.

Home visits and/or telephone consultations with a Community Health Nurse can help provide Care Coordination Services.

Children with Special Health Care Needs may coordinate the following:

• Community agencies
• With medical providers
• Early Intervention services
• Special Education

And offer education about the following:

• Medical problems, the care needs and available resources
• Child behavior, growth and development, and Nutrition, basic baby and childcare
• Parenting issues
• Immunization information
• Safety issues
• Stress reduction
• Taking care of yourself to prevent illness
• Assist with problem solving and decision making
• Provide support and grief counseling

ELIGIBILITY:
Eligibility is related to medical and financial criteria, and is available up to the eighteenth birthday, Financial and medical eligibility are determined in the local CSHCN office, with eligibility questions reviewed by a team.

Medical eligibility implies only that a child is at risk for or has a health or developmental problem, which will require more than the usual pediatric health care.

To be eligible for CSHCN funding of diagnostic or treatment services, financial eligibility criteria must be met. CSHCN is only able to fund services denied by Medicaid and is always considered the payor of last resort. Any other resources (insurance, Medicaid, CHAMPUS) must be utilized first.

All services that may be funded through CSHCN must be pre-authorized. Eligibility begins on the date the application is received in the CSHCN office.

REFERRALS
Referrals to CSHCN may be made from any source including family, physician, public health nurse, other health care provider or schools.

After an application has been requested, the application goes out that afternoon or the following morning with a letter of instruction (to help insure the necessary information is provided, thereby reducing delay in determining eligibility for the program), information about the recent changes in the program's funding policies.

If you give an application to a family, or assist them in completing one, please make them aware of the need to also apply for Medicaid, and notify the CSHCN office with basic information and the service (s) being requested.

No one shall be excluded from this program on the basis of race, color, creed, political beliefs, sex, national origin, religion or disability.

Offered through the Mason County Department of Health Services - Personal Health for Mason County Residents.

For more information or to request an application call:
Shelton: (360) 427-9670 ext. 400
Belfair: (360) 275-4467

RESOURCES:

1. Family Resources Coordinator for children 0-3 years for kids in early intervention services (360) 426-5430 for information.
2. Parent-to-Parent, connects families who have children with similar needs for information and support (360) 352-1126 for information.
3. School districts that provide school based services for children who have developmental issues.

• Grapeview - (refer birth - 3 to Holly Ridge in Bremerton)
• Hood Canal
• Mary M Knight
• North Mason - (refer birth - 3 to Holly Ridge in Bremerton)
• Pioneer
• Shelton

4. DDD - Division of Developmental Disabilities. Funding available from the state, also Medicaid personal care call 432-2151 or 432-2039
5. Free developmental screenings for children birth to 3. Vision and hearing screening will be available soon. call (360) 426-5430
6. To apply for Social Security benefits for your special needs child call 1-800-772-1213 to request an application.
7. A Gift for Special Children, a non-profit to assist family and children with needs beyond what other services can provide. Call (360) 426-9670 ext 400for information.
8. Infant Toddler website