ChampionsInC.org News

The Results are In

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Champions Update

ChampionsInC would like to give another big “thank you” to all those who participated in our e-newsletter survey in July and August. The results were encouraging and the suggestions valuable. Our readers come from a variety of professions, including service providers, parents/youth/consumers, community-level and state-level program administrators, MCHB Family to Family Health Center Grantees, and members of leadership organizations.

We’re happy to report that 86% of you described the e-newsletter as being “useful” or “very useful.” We hope to continue to be a helpful and informative resource for you. The majority of votes also claimed that the bi-weekly nature of the newsletter works best for them. The most popular use of the e-newsletter was forwarding it on to staff/colleagues who could find pertinent information within. Other common uses were for information about grants and RFPs and for sharing with other state interagency groups.

We hop....

The David and Lucille Packard Foundation

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Organizations

The co-founder of the Hewlett Packard Company did more than make computers in his lifetime. He also created the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, which provides funding for the improvement of the lives of children and families, among other things. One of the foundation’s most ambitious goals is to promote access to health insurance for all children. They support applicants from communities that seek to sustain, improve, and expand existing public health insurance programs for children. They also support communities that maximize children’s participation in public programs.

Paper Compares Experiences of Pre- and Post-SSI Youth

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Community Resources

The results of a new study, summarized in the paper “Changing Circumstances: Experiences of Child SSI Recipients Before and After Their Age-18 Redetermination for Adult Benefits,” provide an analysis of the dynamics of the transition of child Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients into adulthood. Findings suggest that youth with mental and behavioral disorders are much less likely to receive SSI benefits after turning 19. A major concern is that these youth are not sufficiently prepared for life without SSI.

Sustaining Grassroots Community-Based Programs

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Community Resources

A Tool Kit for Community-and-Faith-Based Service Providers

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) has released a tool kit designed to help grassroots communities and faith-based organizations sustain critical services. Grassroots organizations that have meager budgets will find this resource especially useful as a tool to attract and sustain funding partners.

Workbook Helps Communities Address Social Determinants of Health

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Community Resources

Promoting Health Equity: A Resource to Help Communities Address Social Determinants of Health addresses how to put the knowledge of the relationship between social determinants of health and health outcomes into practice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in partnership with Transtria LLC and the Saint Louis University Prevention Research Center, have created a workbook that illustrates lessons learned by communities and provides tools to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that address social determinants of health inequities.

Fact Sheet Addresses Screening Issues

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Community Resources

The Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Fact Sheet (PDF), published by the National Health Law Program, presents information on why the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program was implemented as well as information about the program's success in screening and treating eligible children. The fact sheet also provides a discussion of how EPSDT addresses medical screens; vision, hearing, and dental services; interperiodic screens; scope of benefit; and medical necessity.

Webinar Explores Improvement of Children's Healthy Development

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Current News

On Wednesday, November 19, a one-hour webinar entitled "Improving Children's Healthy Development Through Federal Policy Change" will discuss federal children health initiatives under the upcoming new U.S. presidency. This event is being cosponsored by The Commonwealth Fund, Voices for America's Children, First Focus, and the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP). You may register for this event on the Commonwealth Fund’s website.

Award Recognizes Accessible Communities

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Funding Opportunity

The National Organization on Disability has issued a call for entries for its Accessible America Award. The award not only comes with a $25,000 prize, it also comes with the honor of being named one of the best places in the U.S. for people with disabilities to live, work, and play. The award competition is open to all cities and towns across the United States. The program seeks to recognize any community that facilitates the comprehensive involvement of citizens with disabilities in community life. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2008.

Funding for Family-Run Centers

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Funding Opportunity

The Family Professional Partnerships/CSHCN-Family Opportunity Act is offering funding for statewide, family-run centers that provide information, education, technical assistance, and peer support to families of CYSHCN. They will be responsible for developing partnerships with organizations that serve these children and their families. The deadline to apply for funding is December 19, 2008.

MCH DRC Offers Funding for Use of National Survey Data

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Funding Opportunity

The National MCH Data Resource Center (DRC) is seeking out a grantee who will ensure that investments made in the Bureau’s National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NSCSHCN) and the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) lead to effective use of these data. The DRC hopes to dramatically broaden the use of the survey data to assist leaders in understanding health and health system utilization and performance for children and youth with special health care needs and their families. The deadline for application is January 7, 2009.

Medical Assistance Granted to Individual Families

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Funding Opportunity

Grants from the United Healthcare Children’s Foundation hope to assist families who have children with critical healthcare treatment, services, or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents' health benefit plans. These grants can help pay for child healthcare services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, prescriptions, and medical equipment. Parents and legal guardians may apply.

Fact Sheet Examines Pediatric Support for Transition

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Community Resources

The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health (PDF) has released a new fact sheet on transition support services in pediatric practices. Creators of the fact sheet found that most pediatric practices don’t conduct essential transition planning for youth with special needs.

Newsletter: 4 November Edition

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Newsletter

Champ Update: A New "System of Services" Tool
Take Note of this Organization: “CATCH” this Medical Home Effort
Community Resources:
Article Reviews Evidence Supporting Medical Homes
Improve Children's Health Care through Federal Policy
Guide Sheds Light on Medical Home Model
Current News:
Webinar Discusses Pediatric Mental Health Care
Class Benefits Both Mentors and Students
Program Supports Students’ Transition to Adult Life
Funding Opportunities:
Nominate Someone Who Has Advocated for Youth with Disabilities
Funding Provided for Support of Technical Assistance

Article Reviews Evidence Supporting Medical Homes

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Community Resources

An article released by the official journal of the Academy of American Pediatrics takes a closer look at the evidence supporting medical homes for children with special health care needs. Following a search of the literature, the authors concluded that despite a lack of concrete research on the subject, a medical home does appear to have a positive effect. Results specifically supported better health status, timeliness of care, family centeredness, and improved family functioning.

Improve Children's Health Care through Federal Policy

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Community Resources

The Commonwealth Fund has released a new issue brief called Improving Child Health Care Through Federal Policy: An Emerging Opportunity that reviews three recent legislative proposals on child health care coverage and quality. The brief also proposes a set of provisions that would strengthen primary, preventative, and developmental health care services.

Guide Sheds Light on Medical Home Model

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Community Resources

The Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) released its Purchaser Guide to the patient-centered medical home (PCMH). The guide is a compilation of PCMH pilot and demonstration projects. It serves as a handbook for understanding the medical home model and taking action to advance its implementation.

Webinar Discusses Pediatric Mental Health Care

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Current News

The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) is conducting a webinar entitled Pediatric Mental Health Care: Strategies to Integrate Early Identification and Treatment into Primary Care. This webinar, held on December 4, 2008, will explore the current state of health care given to today’s children. This will also include a discussion of how mental health parity legislation will affect the future delivery of primary care services to children with a mental or emotional disorder. Participants will also discuss training opportunities for primary care providers, including the recently updated Bright Futures guidelines.

Class Benefits Both Mentors and Students

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Current News

High schoolers in Chicago have become mentors to students less than half their age. Two days each week are spent in a physical-education class geared towards helping young students with special needs. The class counts as an elective for the high school students, but parents and teachers say it has yielded positive results for both groups. Learn more in the Chicago Tribune.

Program Supports Students' Transition to Adult Life

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Current News

The College Living Experience (CLE) program provides support to students with varying abilities in gaining a post-secondary education and transitioning into independent adulthood, Among other things, CLE assists with college application and enrollment and partners with local colleges and universities to help with decisions concerning courses of study and degree programs.

Nominate Someone Who Has Advocated for Youth with Disabilities

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:00

Funding Opportunity

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation is accepting nominations for the MEAF Inclusion Champion Award. This award recognizes those who have worked to promote full inclusion of youth with disabilities into mainstream society. The winner will be chosen based on evidence that the inclusion has changed attitudes significantly within a community and that a measurable impact has been made on the life of a young person with disabilities. The award will be presented during the Kids Included Together annual conference in March 2009. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2008.