Multidisciplinary Teams

What is Community Connections Network (CCN)?

CCN is a community team process that seeks to improve local care and services for children and young adults, birth to 21, with chronic conditions or disabilities. There are several CCN Teams throughout Oregon that are sponsored by the Oregon Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs, which is located at the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) on the Oregon Health and Science University campus.

The team is made up of the family and local health care, education and social service providers, and on some teams, family liasons* who are or may be involved in supporting the needs of the child and family. The teams and families work together, respecting the family’s expert knowledge of their child’s needs, family culture, values and beliefs.

Children can be referred to the Community Connections Network team by families, the school, the family doctor, therapists, counselors or public health nurses.

 

Who may be referred to CCN?

  • Children whose health issues or physical/behavioral functioning may
    need adaptation or additional support
  • Children with multiple providers in which service coordination would make services more efficient for all involved
  • Children whose health or development is not progressing as expected for their condition
  • Children who have been evaluated by a specialist and require service coordination to ensure that recommendations can be followed up
  • Children who have received recommendation for services that are limited or unavailable in the community
  • Youth aged 15 – 21 with needs for support in coordinated transition planning for adulthood

 

Family Liaisons*

Family liaisons are local families of a child with special health needs who participate as members of some CCN teams. They bring a family perspective to team meetings by assisting in planning and evaluation activities. They also create a more comfortable and effective experience by supporting families as they meet with teams by helping them formulate questions and access resources.

 

Which health care concerns does CCN frequently work with?

Many of the children seen in the team meetings have multiple diagnoses and complex conditions requiring service coordination. Some of the common health care concerns are listed here. Specific questions can be answered upon request.

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental delay
• Seizure disorders
• Genetic disorders
• Intellectual disability
• Learning disability
• Muscular dystrophy
• Orthopedic impairment
• Speech and language delays
• Spina bifida
• Traumatic brain injury
• Visual impairment
• Behavior or emotional challenges
• Chronic health conditions

 

What services does CCN provide?

Some or all of the following services may be provided:

  • Reviewing the child’s medical and educational history
  • Informing all providers of the child’s special routines or care requirements
  • Conducting a community team assessment
  • Creating a care/service plan with the family
  • Referring for additional care or resources (including care coordinator for accessing services)
  • Determining how to address unavailable services within the community
  • Following up to be sure the care plan is meeting the needs of the family

 

CCN Toolbox - For our community partners