Special Projects

Strengthening Oregon's Community Services (SOCS) grant 

We received grant funding for this new initiative beginning in May of 2005 and lasting for three years.

Vision:  Families, youth and children with special health needs involved in decision making to create better access and integration of services.

Purpose:  To find a community-based model that gives voice to families of youth and children with special health needs, provides a forum in which health care providers can hear family concerns, and promotes a partnership that creates effective community change.

Learn more about this grant.

Framework for Integrating Special Health Services (FISHS)

Community Integration Project

Everyone knows that families of children and youth with special health needs often have complex needs and require services from multiple agencies.   Although Oregon, like other states, has a network of services and programs that work to provide education, health, and vocational services to children and families, families continue to report that access to services is difficult and confusing.  There is too much duplication and the services themselves are often fragmented and not focused on real needs (2003 Focus Group Report).  This special project that is part of OCCYSHN is dedicated improving service integration and collaboration among agencies and families at the state and local levels.  It is the purpose of the project that this work to build on existing strengths and services and foster families and providers working together to find better solutions.  To find out more visit our FISHs webpage.

Youth Transition Learning Collaborative

For our Youth Transition Learning Collaborative, we have communicated with system leaders at the state level and formed a faculty of national and local leaders,  provided written and verbal information about promising practices and instructed teams in a improvement model tested by Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). We have recruited teams of providers most interested in successful transition and families who want to see a difference.    For more information about the Youth Transition Learning Collaborative,  contact Barb Dworschak, , 503-494-6208 and visit our Youth Transition Learning Collaborative webpage.

Genetics

OCCYSHN is also working with Oregon's Department of Health Services to implement Oregon's Strategic Plan for Genetics and Public Health. Current activities focus on increasing public awareness of genetic services and resources in Oregon, increasing health care provider understanding of genetic concepts and how they relate to health and health care, increasing insurance coverage and reimbursement for genetic services and supports, increasing availability of genetic services outside of the Portland metro area, and decreasing cultural barriers to genetic services.

A new grant called the Western States Genetic Services Collaborative is addressing Genetics Services in Oregon.  To find out more about this grant click on the above link.

CaCoon Self-Directed Modules for Professionals

Nursing Care of Children with Special Health Needs in the Community:
These modules have been developed for public health nurses working with children with special health needs, but might be useful to other community nurses and professionals providing care coordination to these children and their families (school nurses, nurses in pediatric primary care offices). The modules emphasize the potential health, developmental, psychological and educational needs of children and promotes intervening early to prevent detrimental sequelae. They have been developed and published by the CaCoon Program in collaboration with the MCHB-funded LEND Program and made possible through grants from Ford Family Foundation, Northwest Health Foundation, Hoover Family Foundation, and Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust.
Completed Modules, Module order form