About OCCYSHN
OCCYSHN is Oregon's public health agency for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). We do not provide direct clinical care. We support systems of care so they are better equipped to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. With that focus, we do the following:
- Train, support, and consult with health care providers across the state, to improve their capacity to serve CYSHCN.
- Help communities develop and sustain care coordination efforts for CYSHCN.
- Provide family members of CYSHCN with information, resources, and opportunities to effect systemic change.
- Partner with local public health authorities across Oregon to support care coordination for CYSHCN.
- Pursue ongoing, population-based assessment and evaluation to identify and address the needs of Oregon CYSHCN.
- Support informed policy and administrative decision-making on behalf of CYSHCN with current data and analysis.
OCCYSHN is Oregon's "Title V" (Title Five) public health agency for children and youth with special health care needs. The U.S. Social Security Act of 1935 established Title V grants. These federal grants are designed to help states support the health, safety, and well-being of mothers and children. Read more about Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Program.
The Oregon Health Authority implements Oregon’s Title V block grant. A portion of every state’s Title V money is designated for serving children and youth with special health care needs. In Oregon that portion funds OCCYSHN's work. OCCYSHN also secures smaller federal and state grants for various projects that address the needs of our target population.
OCCYSHN reports activities, accomplishments, and plans annually as part of Oregon’s Title V Block Grant Report to the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau. View our block grant guidance from the Maternal Child and Health Services division of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.
We track and report our progress on the following state and federal public health priorities. (Performance measures in italics.):
Medical home: A medical home is "a cultivated partnership between the patient, family, and primary provider in cooperation with specialists and with support from the community." (U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration). Medical homes provide coordinated, comprehensive, culturally appropriate care. OCCYSHN works to 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: Youth with special health needs grow up to be adults with special health needs. There are legal, logistical, financial, and medical considerations to plan for optimal adult health care. OCCSYHN works to 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: Care and services must be responsive to each child's family language and culture to be effective. OCCSYHN works to increase the number of CYSHCN and their families who receive culturally and linguistically appropriate care and services.
The Standards for Systems of Care for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs are integral to OCCYSHN's work. These standards were established by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs in partnership with the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. A work group of national experts was convened to review literature, gather input from key informants, and assess standards currently in use. The consensus standards they developed provide a comprehensive framework for public health efforts on behalf of CYSHCN. OCCYSHN works diligently to promote the integration of these standards into Oregon healthcare policy, administration, and practice.