One Healthy People 2010 goal is to promote the health of people with disabilities, prevent secondary conditions, and eliminate disparities between people with and without disabilities. This 1999-2000 graduate public health nursing project examined the critical needs of families providing in home care for their "special needs" disabled children. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania residents participated in a focus group or telephone interview conducted by the graduate student. Twelve parents representing sixteen special needs children participated. The participants shared their experiences and perceptions about 1) availability of county wide health care resources to children with chronic, disabling disease or injury; 2) how parents learned about these resources or lack of; 3) existing barriers to coordinated care; 4) health insurance coverage; 5) what personal and community resources are needed. The findings framed the graduate student's contributions to the Montgomery County Year 2000 Title V proposal regarding children's health status; current needs and targeted preventive health interventions. This paper briefly describes significant findings from the project and incorporates the participants' recommendations to 1) transition acute care provider perspectives to a comprehensive public health approach; 2) "make known" local health care providers who are informed, caring and willing to assume the "extra care and paperwork" required for special needs children; 3) improve the adequacy of health insurance coverage for supplies and in home nursing services; 4) provide ongoing parental support regarding caregiver issues as their children mature into adulthood but continue to require the 24 hour coverage to stay at home and as healthy as possible.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1) List 3 concerns of families with "special needs" children. 2) List 3 ways that parents of "special needs" children learn about Monthomery County resources. 3) Describe one dissatisfaction that families with "special needs" children experience with health insurance providers
Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Community Planning
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Montgomery County Pennsylvania Health Department
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.