Clark County promotes a system of care where children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families belong, participate, and thrive in communities with integrated, accessible systems that equitably support their physical and mental health, development, social and emotional well-being.
Children and youth with special health care needs are defined as those who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.
By collaborating with local medical providers, health plans, early intervention agencies, schools, families, and other stakeholders in the community, Clark County works to ensure equitable access to high-quality services and supports. CYSHCN program offers guidance in linking children birth to 18 years old to community resources in order to address and support their unique nutritional, developmental, and behavioral needs.
Medical home and care coordination
The medical home is a model of primary care that provides comprehensive, high-quality, wraparound services. Medical homes are made up of a multidisciplinary team of primary care professionals, case managers, patient navigators, and others involved in the care and well-being of a child with complex needs. The medical home model reduces the burden of families by managing the coordination of care and services of CYSHCN.
Care coordination helps ensure your child and family is linked with services and resources that will best support your child's health and development. The medical home primary care provider has the important role of keeping track of all services a child is receiving, acting as a "central bank" for all health-related records.
Care coordination is sometimes offered by a family resource coordinator, developmental disabilities case manager, mental health provider, or a school nurse. Talk to your child's primary care provider about care coordination needs.
Parents and caregivers
As a parent or caregiver of a child with special health care needs, finding the supports and resources your family needs can be challenging. Provided below are topics of interest that may help you with:
- Basic needs such as food, housing and childcare
- Behavioral and/or mental health therapy programs
- Medical and dental coverage for your family
- Early intervention and school-based services
- Other community resources and information for you or your child
Providers and other professionals
As a provider working with children who have health complexities, knowing what is available and linking families to services is part of the care coordination. Below are common services that can help address identified needs for children and their families.
Medical and developmental resources
Family support and education services
Connecting parents and caregivers to local resources.
Support for families and individuals with different abilities.
A book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income.
Vroom TipsTM help you do more with your shared moments with over 1,000 fun, free activities any moment of the day.
Additional resources
American Academy of Pediatrics
Caring for a Relative/Kindship Care
Emergency Preparedness for Families of CYSHCN
Emergency Preparedness during school
Lightning Bug App by PPCC - to help manage day-to-day medical details for child's with medical complexities.
To contact program
If you would like to consult with the Community Health Specialist on resources and access to care call 360.907.6918.
