Children's Special Health Care Services (CSHCS)

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   Recognizes that children with special health care needs and their families often want help in pulling together a number of services from many providers who work within different agencies.

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   To qualify for services, an individual must have a medically eligible condition and be under 21 years of age.  Persons over 21 with cystic fibrosis or certain coagulation defects (e.g., hemophilia) also may be eligible for services.

              Common medically eligible conditions include, but are not limited to:

Disabled children below age 16 receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are automatically eligible to receive a family assessment and service coordination assistance.  They may also be eligible to enroll in the CSHCS program.  Medically eligible persons may enroll in the CSHCS program at their Local Health Department.

   The CSHCS program pays for appropriate specialized medical treatment, equipment and supplies for anyone enrolled in the program.  Additionally, service coordination assistance is offered to families wanting help with problem solving, obtaining needed services from other agencies or developing self advocacy skill for maximum independence.

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   In addition to medical care and treatment assistance, the CSHCS program offers comprehensive assessment and coordination of services to meet identified needs of the child and family.  These services include hospital inpatient and outpatient care, specialty clinics, home nursing care, purchase of durable and non-durable medical equipment and supplies, respite care and payment for transportation and lodging related to the provision of services.

Additionally, the program maintains a prevention focus and includes the following services:

   Families of all income levels are eligible to enroll in the CSHCS program.  While many are not charged anything, some are required to share in the cost of their child's care through a client payment agreement.

   Local health departments are the primary CSHCS entry point for families.  They also serve as a community-based resource to help families obtain needed services, both from CSHCS and other agencies.  This is done through program representation, family assessment and service coordination assistance.

Program representation refers to activities which promote and publicize the services provided by CSHCS so that persons in need become aware of them.

Family assessment is preformed by the local health department in recognition that a child's disability affects parents, brothers, sisters and other family members.  During family assessment, local health department professionals help to identify how they may be of assistance to all family members.

Service coordination assistance can be provided if the family decides it wants further help in developing self advocacy and problem solving skills and obtaining needed services.  The local health department can identify and make referral for appropriate services and it can represent the family in making application for services to other providers.

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   The CSHCS Specialized Home Care Program helps families by providing publicly funded, coordinated home care for children with long term illnesses which place exceptional demands on the family.  Medical equipment and supplies and hourly skilled nursing care are some of the major service provided.  Specialized care management is also a major part of the program.  Registered nurses, serving as specialized care managers, help the family to make arrangements for any supportive services which are needed to assure that home care will be successful.

   The CSHCS Parent Participation Program coordinates the Family Support Network of Michigan, a statewide family information and support network of parents who have children with all kinds of disabilities.  This program is designed to assist parents in managing the demands placed on them as a result of their child's special health care needs.  The Parent Participation Project also involves parents as partners in the development of CSHCS program and policies.

   The CSHCS Genetic and Newborn Screening Services Program provides diagnostic and counseling for families and the more than 6,000 Michigan infants born every year with serious birth defects or other genetic disorders.  This is done through a network of genetic centers and outreach clinics.  Additionally, newborn screening each year identifies approximately 170 infants with one of the seven treatable genetic disorders.

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For more information contact you local health department or physician.

Shiawassee County Health Department

110 East Mack Street

Corunna, Michigan 48817

(989) 743-2355

1-800-859-4229

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