The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50109

Jack Hillyard, MSW, Employment Policy Group, Center for Disabilities and Development, University of Iowa, 108 Third Street, Suite 350, Des Moines, IA 50309-4770, 515-283-2310, jack-hillyard@uiowa.edu

Attaining and maintaining good health for youth with special health care needs is an ongoing process that must focus on maximizing functioning and well being throughout the life course. Because the nature of the process that leads to good health is interactive and involves considerations other than biology, prevention efforts must address not only traditional health issues but also the social, educational, career, and environmental factors that ultimately determine quality of life. The only way to eliminate years of disparity for youth with special health care needs and disabilities is to recognize them as full participants in diverse, accepting, and inclusive communities. Using inclusion as a guiding principal, Iowa’s Healthy and Ready to Work initiative advanced health promotion and preventive service needs to the extent it has become a priority interest item among Iowa’s private sector employers and educators. This presentation will discuss approaches used to engage business and schools using the following specific goal statement. "Refocus the service system to include innovative models of health care practices that are responsive to the employer and education community and meet the medical, psychological, behavioral, employment, and living arrangement needs of youth with special health care needs."

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Recognize the issues that must be addressed by any consortium of private/public entities forming a "Service Delivery Coordinating Consortium."
• 2. Understand the necessity of assuring that employers, youth with special health care needs and their families are engaged in public policy formulation that affects them.
• 3. Understand the necessity of including employers, youth with special health care needs and families providers, trainers, and information disseminators.

Keywords: Adolescents, Special Needs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.