Framework for Integrating Special Health Services (FISHs)

This Community Integration Project supported four (4) major activities:

  1. At the state level,  we formed a team of leaders from the state health department that represents many health related services, department of education, families, our own services of CaCoon, Community Connections and supports for physicians to create a universal application program (UAP) that will   decrease the amount of paperwork for families as well as provide them with information about multiple agencies.   We are modeling the UAP from a successful system that is being used in Utah and working carefully to make sure that the system meets the needs of families within our state. In March of 2006, a pilot UAP went to selected families for feedback.
  2. This project supports the continued formation of a network of families of children and youth with special needs across the state.  The OCCYSHN Family Involvement Network is recruiting families statewide and developing a curriculum that will offer leadership training for families and will promote the involvement of families in decision-making roles.
  3. We worked with five (5) communities where there is presence of OCCYSHN services to promote the collaboration of families and all service that will improve access and involvement of families.  Our desire is to develop a model that can be adopted by other communities.   The communities include: Coos County, Curry County, Union County, Hood River County and Lincoln County.
  4. We have learned that service integration and agency collaboration is most needed in the transition of youth to adulthood. The number of young adults with special needs who are successfully included in their communities with work and connected with health, recreation and housing is at the 11% level compare to 81% of non-disabled young adults.  Our research has found that there are effective strategies and processes that can promote successful transition. Communities do often not know them or our bureaucracies often limit them from happening.

We have organized a learning collaborative that brings teams of families and professionals together to learn about the issues and promising practices, study the assets and needs of their communities and together decide on improvements that will move toward more success for youth and families. The Learning Collaborative started January 25, 2005 and will formally end months later.   Professionals from Curry, Coos, Lincoln, Hood River, Union, and Jackson counties were chosen to participate in this activity.