Article: HHSC Aims to Optimize Expertise of Specialists and Pediatric Subspecialists
The July/August 2010 Issue of In Touch - News from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission highlights how HHSC is working to bring the extensive knowledge and experience of specialists and subspecialists in specific fields of medicine to children with Medicaid.
Champions for Inclusive Communities (ChampionsInc) Star Communities
ChampionsInc, a national center designed to support communities in organizing services for families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), has created the Star Communities program to recognize exceptional communities that work to support organizing services for families of CYSHCN. To read about the Travis County, TX community selected to be recognized, click here.
AAP: Community Pediatrics Grant Database
The Community Pediatrics Grant Database archives previously funded Community Pediatrics grant projects, including those funded through the CATCH Program, the Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program, the Community Pediatrics Training Initiative and the Healthy People 2010 Chapter Grants. The database is searchable by seven major categories: target population, health topic, state/territory, project activity, AAP program, AAP district, and project year. Members of the AAP can obtain grantee contact information by searching through the Member Center. If you are not an AAP member, but have questions please contact docbi@aap.org.
Developmental Surveillance and Screening Policy Implementation Project (D-PIP)
Midland Community Healthcare Services from Midland, TX is participating in the D-PIP. The D-PIP selected 17 practices from across the United States to implement the AAP policy statement Identifying Infants and Young Children with Developmental Disorders in the Medical Home: An Algorithm for Developmental Surveillance and Screening to
- Determine if the algorithm is efficiently and effectively implemented into pediatric practice;
- Recognize strategies for implementing the algorithm; and
- Examine outcomes of implementation.
Following the project, information and outcomes will be shared with pediatric clinicians and other health care professionals who are seeking to improve the delivery of developmental surveillance and screening.
Texas Medical Home Initiative
Texas Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP)
Family-Centered Care Champions Incentive Grant - Incentive Award FAQs
Goal: To organize a Parent Group Network designed to promote family-centered care by providing information and support to parent groups at the local level. This includes the identification, production and dissemination of family-centered and practical tools/methods for families to use in order to build partnerships with health care providers that promote both family centered care and effective medical coordination within the medical home. For more information contact Laura J. Warren, Executive Director at
512/458-8600 or laura@txp2p.org.
Healthy Tomorrows Program for Children Grant 2005-2010 - Behavioral Developmental Primary Care Program
People’s Community Clinic, Austin, TX
The Behavioral Developmental Primary Care Program focuses on integrating behavioral and developmental health into a comprehensive primary care model, to include routine screening, specific expertise in evaluation and management of more complex behavioral and developmental patients and their families, and ongoing coordination of care within a medical home. The goals of this project are to provide an improved system of behavioral/mental health/developmental screening, assessment, and care coordination for school- aged (3-19) patients and to offer an improved, formalized resource to the larger Central Texas community by providing diagnostic assessments, case coordination, and a medical home to youth and families referred specifically to the program by schools, youth serving agencies, and individuals because of behavioral/developmental/mental health concerns. For more information on the Healthy Tomorrows Grant Program click here. For more information on this HTPCP project, please E-mail your name, address, telephone, and fax numbers with your specific request to healthyt@aap.org.
Project Director: Celia Neavel, MD | E-mail: ibappmd@aol.com
Contact Person: Will Rice | E-mail: willr@austinpcc.org
Consortium to Advance Medical Homes for Medicaid and CHIP Participants 
Texas is one of eight state teams brought together in 2009 by the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) to form a Consortium to Advance Medical Homes for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Participants. These states will work together during this one-year program, to develop and implement policies that increase Medicaid and CHIP program participants' access to high performing medical homes.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Chapter - Texas
Academy chapters are organized groups of pediatricians and other health care professionals working to achieve AAP goals in their communities. Chapters are the channels of representation for individual members of the Academy. Please contact your local chapter for additional state resources
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Chapter - Texas
The American Academy of Family Physicians is one of the largest national medical organizations, representing more than 94,000 family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students.
Family Voices Chapter
Family Voices aims to achieve family-centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Through a national network, they provide families tools to make informed decisions, advocate for improved public and private policies, build partnerships among professionals and families, and serve as a trusted resource on health care.
Brad Thompson
Phone: 806/352-5647 | E-mail: bthompson@southwest.org
Elaine Hime
Phone: 713/743-5435 | E-mail: ehime@mail.uh.edu
Mary Klentzman
Phone: 254/778-6412 | E-mail: mklentzman@specialchildren.org
Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs)
F2F HICs are non-profit organizations that help families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and the professionals who serve them. F2F HICs are in a unique position to help families because they are typically staffed/run by parents of CYSHCN themselves, and as parents, they have traveled through the maze of services and programs designed to help CYSHCN. Staff at F2F HICs understand the issues that families face, provide advice, offer a multitude of resources, and tap into a network of other families and professionals for support and information. Family Voices, through the National Center for Family / Professional Partnerships, provides technical assistance, training, and connections to other F2F HICs and partnering organizations.
Texas Parent-to-Parent
Address: 3710 Cedar St. Box 12, Austin, TX 78705
Phone: 512/458-8600 | Toll free in TX: 866/896-6001
Primary Contact: Laura Warren
(CMS: 10/2005-10/2008 and MCHB: 6/2007-5/2010)
Title V Block Grant to States
Title V of the Social Security Act is one of the largest Federal block grant programs. It leads the nation in ensuring the health of all mothers, infants, children, adolescents, and children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Title V is administered by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) as part of the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Maternal and Child Health Contact
Sam B. Cooper III, LMSW, State Title V Director
Address: PO Box 149347 - MC1922, Austin, TX 78714-9347
Phone: 512/458-7111 ext 2184 | Fax: 512/458-7658 | E-mail: sam.cooper@dshs.state.tx.us
Title V and Children with Special Health Care Needs
MCHB Objective: Support development and implementation of comprehensive, culturally competent, coordinated systems of care for the estimated 18 million U.S. children who have or are at risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.
Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Contact
Lesa Walker, MD, MPH, State Title V CSHCN Director
Address: PO Box 149347 - MC1938, Austin, TX 78714-9347
Phone: 512/458-7355 | Fax: 512/458-7328 | E-mail: lesa.walker@dshs.state.tx.us
Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Contact(s)
State EHDI programs promote universal newborn hearing screening, develop effective tracking and follow-up as a part of the public health system, promote appropriate and timely diagnosis of the hearing loss, prompt enrollment in appropriate Early Intervention, ensure a medical home for all newborns and strive to eliminate geographic and financial barriers to service access.
State Newborn Screening & Genetics Programs
Texas Newborn Screening Program and Contact Information
From the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center Web site
Texas Genetic Services and Contact Information
From the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center Web site
Newborn Screening and Genetics Collaborative – HRSA Region 6
Translating research into practical health care services and systems to improve the health and quality of life of individuals with heritable disorders through Collaboration and Partnership
Early Intervention/Part C Coordinator
The Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C of IDEA) is a federal grant program that assists states in operating a comprehensive statewide program of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, ages birth through age 2 years, and their families.
Kim Wedel, Assistant Commissioner, Texas Early Childhood Intervention Program, Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
Phone: 512/424-6754 | Fax: 512/424-6749 | E-mail: kim.wedel@dars.state.tx.us
Section 619/Special Education for ages 3-5 Coordinators
This program provides free appropriate public education (FAPE) for children, ages 3 through 5 years, with disabilities:
Dottie Goodman
Address: 619 Contact, Texas Education Agency
Phone: 512/463-9362 | Fax: 512/463-9560 | E-mail: dottie.goodman@tea.state.tx.us
State Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) Chairs
The ICC advises appropriate agencies on the unmet needs in early childhood special education and early intervention programs for children with disabilities, assists in the development and implementation of policies that constitute a statewide system, and assists all appropriate agencies in achieving full participation, coordination, and cooperation for implementation of statewide system.
Laura Logan Kender, ICC Chair, DEBT ECI Program
Address: 1628 19th Street, Lubbock, TX 79401-4895
Phone: 806/766-1172 | Fax: 806/766-1286 | E-mail: lkender@lubbockisd.org
Medicaid
Medicaid is Title XIX of the Social Security Act and is a federal/state entitlement program that provides medical assistance to certain individuals and families with low incomes and/or special health care needs. Medicaid is of unique importance to children; together with the Children's Health Insurance Program, Medicaid insures over 1 in 4 children in the United States, with millions more eligible but currently unenrolled. The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program is a critical component of Medicaid, which guarantees that children enrolled in Medicaid are screened for medical or developmental problems early, and that necessary treatments and services are provided.
Medicaid State Director
For the most updated contact, please refer to the National Association of State Medicaid Directors Member List.
State Waiver Information
Waivers are the result of a process that allows state Medicaid agencies to apply for and receive permission from HCFA to provide services not otherwise covered by Medicaid and/or to do so in ways not described by the Social Security Act. Most Medicaid managed care programs require Waivers. The Waivers, which can differ greatly, are known by their numbers (1115, 1119), or as home-and community-based, or as Katie Beckett Waivers.
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
CHIP is Title XXI of the Social Security Act and is a state and federal partnership that targets uninsured children and pregnant women in families with incomes too high to qualify for most state Medicaid programs, but often too low to afford private coverage. Within federal guidelines, each state determines the design of its individual CHIP program, including eligibility parameters, benefit packages, and administrative procedures. The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) reauthorized the program through FY 2013, and includes many incentives for states to find and enroll more eligible children in both Medicaid and CHIP. CHIPRA also includes a number of quality provisions that aim to monitor and improve care delivered through the Medicaid and CHIP programs. Each state does have a CHIP program, and the names of these programs differ from state to state.
Children’s Health Insurance State Program Director
For the most updated contact, please refer to the CMS listing of CHIP Directors 
.
Community Health Centers in the State
Federally-funded health centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. Health centers provide checkups when you're well, treatment when you're sick, complete care when you're pregnant, immunizations and checkups for your children, dental care and prescription drugs for your family, mental health and substance abuse care if you need it. For a listing of CHCs in Texas, please use HRSA’s ‘Find A Health Center’ search engine.
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Texas State Profile
These state profiles provide a snapshot of how the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant works in specific states. The profiles detail the Federal funds appropriated to each state, state match, specific programs funded, numbers of people receiving services and state health needs.
AAP Issue Brief: Implementing the Medical Home in Medicaid, CHIP, and Multistakeholder Demonstration Programs
(AAP Member access only)
The Medical Home Issue Brief serves to provide guidance to AAP chapters working with states to implement medical home projects in Medicaid and CHIP as well as multipayer demonstration programs. It also addresses a number of the policy questions that frequently arise in creating state supports for the medical home.
Child Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI) Medical Home Portal - Texas State Profile
These state profiles provide a state’s medical home performance level for all children or children with special health care needs, based on national survey data.
National Adolescent Health Information Center (NAHIC) Adolescent Health Database
The NAHIC database includes national and state-level profiles of key measures of the health of adolescents and young adults, based on Healthy People 2010. Known as the Data Project, the online resource contains information on recent progress in key areas of adolescent health. National-level data is available by gender and race/ethnicity and also state-by-state, with summaries and data tables. The site also features information about data collection and presentation, state and national Excel files and guidance for using this data to improve the health of adolescents and young adults.
2010 KIDS COUNT Databook
The Annie E Casey Foundation has released the 2010 Kids Count report. The annual Kids Count report is a national and state-by-state profile of the well-being of America's children that seeks to enrich discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all kids. The 2010 Kids Count report data is available as an interactive databook, a complete PDF-format report , and on request, in print. Data and rankings on 10 key indicators of child well-being are available by state, county, and city.
Texas Medical Home Toolkit for Families
Information for families on the concept of Medical Home and how to get one set up for your child or clients who have special health care needs. Includes: information to take to my child’s doctor about the help I need from him/her, and information on how to provide support to families who would like to have a medical home.
Introduction to Medical Home online module
Texas Health Steps Online provider education – The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission have collaborated to develop a FREE, online education program designed to educate health care providers about Texas Health Steps (Medicaid for children) and other health care services. The comprehensive program offers FREE continuing education credits, and its courses are accredited by the Texas Medical Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners, the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Topics include Introduction to Medical Home and many others!
The Primary Solution from the Texas Pediatric Society
Part of the Primary Care Coalition which outlines recommendations to enhance primary care, including the primary care medical home.
The Primary Care Medical Home for the Chronically Ill Child, April 2007
A powerpoint presentation delivered by Robert W. Warren, MD, PhD, MPH of the Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX and Cynthia Lopez, MD, FAAP, Su Clinica Familiar, Harlingen, TX
Emergency Preparedness for Children with Special Needs
The Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Services Program of the Texas Department of State Health Services recently published a bilingual booklet titled, “Emergency & Disaster Planning for Children with Special Health Care Needs". Click here to download the booklet. The booklet contains a bilingual Emergency Information Form for Children with Special Needs. The form was developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and adapted by DSHS.
Web-based Transitions Training for Case Managers Information 
The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Center for Health Training created a Web-based continuing education for case managers to learn more about transition to adulthood for young adults with health conditions or disabilities. Case managers will learn about:
- Why early planning for transition is important
- The stages of transition
- Who may need assistance with transition
- Health care transition and other transition issues such as education and independent living
- Resources in the state of Texas for transition
Interagency Council on Autism and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders
The Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders was established by legislation in 1987 that added Chapter 114 to the Human Resources Code. The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services provides administrative support for the Council. The council is composed of seven public members, the majority of whom are family members of a person with autism or a pervasive developmental disorder, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; and one representative from each of the following state agencies, to serve as ex officio members, appointed by the commissioner of the respective agency: Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Education Agency, Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Every two years, the Council develops a state plan that identifies and articulates the needs of individuals with autism and other PDD, and recommends mechanisms to meet those needs of those persons and their families statewide.
Texas Department of State Health CSHCN Services Program Medical Home
Project DOCC Houston - Delivery of Chronic Care Medical Home
Project DOCC is a national training program involving families of children with chronic illness/disabilities as faculty to transfer their knowledge and life experiences to first year pediatric resident physicians in over twenty medical center in the United States as well as in Australia. Created in 1994 by three parents, Project DOCC's philosophy is that, by understanding how families deal with illness and or disabilities out side the hospital setting, pediatric resident physicians become better and more compassionate physicians.
