Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Project
Project Overview
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) contracted with the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing (TXICFW) for a 3-year project to develop and implement a best practices model for case managers serving families caring for children with special health care needs and/or medically complex health care needs.
Background of CSHCN Program
Every state is federally-required to allocate a portion of funds from the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant to provide services specifically for the population of children with special health care needs. While there may be other programs that also serve this population, Title V is the only funding source specific for this population. In Texas, DSHS implements case management programming for children with special health care needs through regional state staff as well as community contractors. Case management and care coordination is a huge component of this program and enables families to gain access to services and supports needed to enhance their wellbeing and quality of life.
Project Purpose & Design
Currently, every region in Texas is providing case management differently and there is a need to identify best practices and consistently implement case management services to ensure high quality of services across communities. In collaboration with DSHS, TXICFW will implement this project in three phases:
- Needs Assessment
- Curriculum Development
- Training & Guidance