HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau has awarded first-year funds of $1.1 million to Utah State University to improve community-based care for the estimated 18 million U.S. children and youth with special health care needs (CSHCN).
 
The university will administer a three-year cooperative agreement to help organizations that receive funds under the Maternal and Child Health (Title V) block grant, CSHCN leaders, families and community groups:

• coordinate activities to improve services for CSHCN;
• develop “integrated” systems of health care by which CSHCN can receive services from providers with different specialties; and
• evaluate these systems and provide an annual progress report.

The agreement, which will be administered by the Early Intervention Research Institute at USU’s Center for Persons with Disabilities, also will create online and other resources to improve family participation and satisfaction in CSHCN programs; expand access to “medical homes,” where children go for regular health care and referrals; and make available affordable health insurance, early and ongoing screening, easy-to-access services, and services to help teens make the transition to adulthood. 
 
Title V funds may be used to provide “family-centered,” community-based care for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) who “have, or are at increased risk for, chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions and … require health and related services … beyond that required by children generally.” 
 
The HRSA-Utah State agreement aims to fulfill the goals of President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative (www.hhs.gov/newfreedom) for individuals with disabilities by helping them achieve independence and become active participants in their communities.