Our Work

OCCYSHN's programs and projects advance Oregon's three Title V public health priorities for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSCHN):

  • Medical Home:  Improve cross-systems care coordination (between patient, family, health care providers, and other service providers) to support medical homes for CYSHCN.
  • Transition from Pediatric to Adult Health Care:  Increase the number of youth with special health care needs who receive services necessary to transition from pediatric to adult health care.
  • Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services:  Increase the number of CYSHCN and their families who receive culturally and linguistically appropriate care and services.

Programs and projects

  • Advocacy: OCCSYHN participates on committees, workgroups, and collaborations that impact children and youth with special health needs. We also provide data and expertise to inform administrators and policy-makers.
  • Assessment and Evaluation collects, assesses, and disseminates data about the issues and interventions for Oregon's children with special health care needs.
  • CaCoon is a home-visiting public health nursing program. Nurses across the state work with families to coordinate care for children and youth with special health care needs.
  • Community-Based Autism ID Teams use local medical-educational teams to establish a single, valid, and timely evaluations for autism spectrum disorders. Teams determine both educational eligibility for autism services and a medical diagnosis for children up to age five, and refer families to appropriate services.
  • Community Health Worker Project educates Community Health Workers on serving children with special health care needs and their families. The project promotes and supports the use of Community Health Workers in public health home visiting, and in pediatric primary care.
  • Family Involvement is a partnership between families and professionals. The Family Involvement Program empowers families of children and youth with special health needs, and increases opportunities for those families to inform health care practice and policy.
  • HERO Kids Registry is a voluntary, no-cost registry where families can provide vital information about their child to emergency responders and emergency departments.
  • Learning Communities use video conferencing technology to discuss practice situations involving caring for children and youth with special health needs. Participants teach and learn from each other.
  • Medical Complexity Project is aimed at improving the quality of life for children with medical complexity, the wellbeing of their families, and the cost-effectiveness of their care, through innovative care and payment models.
  • Shared Care Planning is a process for coordinating care. OCCYSHN contracts with partners around Oregon to implement shared care planning for children and youth with special health needs in their communities.