HRSA has announced seven awards totaling more than $2.2 million to promote medical homes for children with special health care needs (CSHCN).  Medical homes include family members in decisions on treatment and seek to coordinate comprehensive, culturally competent care for CSHCN, who have health and behavioral needs beyond those of most other children.
 
“These awards will strengthen community-based pediatric care for the children who need it most,” Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said.  “They also support the President's New Freedom Initiative to help Americans with disabilities, including children, develop as healthy and active members of their communities.”
 
The major award being announced, a cooperative agreement worth more than $1 million with the national chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, will establish a national resource center on Medical Homes for CSHCNs.
 
“This new center will help government officials, health professionals and community organizations collect relevant data and evaluate policy to improve CSHCN’s access to primary care and specialty services,” said Elizabeth M. Duke, administrator of HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  The Medical Home for CSHCN grant program is overseen by HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (http://mchb.hrsa.gov/).
 
A grant to the University of Florida will build partnerships among State Title V agencies, subspecialty networks and medical homes to improve CSHCN’s access to health services, and the University of Wisconsin signed a cooperative agreement to improve early identification and interventions for children with autism. 
 
The remaining four grants support community-based primary care practices or networks in implementing medical homes and improving links to early intervention, child care, Head Start, schools and other community programs for CSHCN. 
 

Medical Home for Children with Special Health Care Needs Grants, FY 2004
Organization	City	State	Award
University of Florida	Gainesville	Fla.	$198,574
American Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois Chapter	Chicago	Ill.	$248,832
American Academy of Pediatrics	Elk Grove Village	Ill.	$1,023,522
Crotched Mountain Foundation	Greenfield	N.H.	$250,000
St. Charles Hospital and Rehabilitation Center	Port Jefferson	N.Y.	$250,000
PrimeCare of Southeastern Ohio Inc.	Zanesville	Ohio	$46,940
Board of Regents, U. of Wisconsin System	Madison	Wis.	$200,000
TOTAL:			$2,217,868