Programs, Training, and Outreach Activities
1st Five is an
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) program to support primary care providers in the early detection of social-emotional delays, developmental delays, and family risk-related factors in Iowa children 0-5 years old. 1st Five is a public-private partnership bridging primary care and public health. CHSC is working with Iowa HHS to provide assistance to primary care providers in Iowa's 88 1st Five counties. CHSC medical consultants offer peer coaching...
Early ACCESS is Iowa's system of early intervention for infants and toddlers with a developmental delay or diagnosed condition that could lead to a developmental delay. CHSC provides service coordination, nutrition services, and health assessments for children 0-3 years old enrolled in Early ACCESS. More information can be found on the
Iowa Family Support Network website. For information about CHSC Early ACCESS services contact CHSC Early ACCESS Liaison,
Tonya...
CHSC Family Navigators are staff members who are also the parent or primary caregiver of a child with special health care needs. They work with families to provide emotional support, systems navigation, and connections to community resources. What We Do Offer Emotional Support Listen to concerns, frustrations, and fears Celebrate successes Help families build upon their strengths Support the development of advocacy skills Recognize and strengthen natural supports Navigate Health, Educational, and Social Service Systems Appointment and referral assistance Attend meetings and appointments at...
In the medical world, the word "transition" refers to preparing youth for the experience of becoming consumers of adult heath care. Child Health Specialty Clinics has developed resources for parents/caregivers and youth/young adults to prepare them for the process of transitioning from pediatric to adult health care. Transition to Adult Health Care Handbooks
Transition to Adult Care - Complete Handbook...
Are you raising a child who needs more health care, therapies, or educational assistance than most other children? Do you wish you had more skills and resources to be able to talk to your child's health care providers and teachers? Do you want to find ways to help more families in similar circumstances? Parents and primary caregivers of children ages 3 to 19 with special health care needs are invited to participate in a special leadership training. The goals of this training are to: Understand how to work with partners Become aware of one's own path to leadership Discover strategies for...
The Iowa Family Story Project illustrates the daily joys and struggles of caring for children, youth, and young adults with special health care needs or disabilities. Photographer Thomas Langdon shadowed eight of these Iowa families. They reflect Iowa's diversity and include those living on rural farms, in small towns, and in bustling cities. The children, youth, and young adults range in age from one year to 28 years and have a wide range of diagnoses, including autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and genetic conditions. Although the families are different in many ways, they share a set...
The goal of the Iowa Pediatric Mental Health Collaborative is to increase access to pediatric mental health services through workforce development, access to resources, and telehealth-based behavioral health integration into pediatric primary care in Iowa.
Webinars for Providers At least six webinars are held each year for primary care and community-based providers on topics related to children's mental health. CMEs and CEUs are available. Click...
CHSC's Registered Dietitians provide families a nutrition assessment at a provider's request with follow-up care coordination as needed. CHSC also facilitates nutrition-focused system building activities including training and education on topics specific to children and youth with special health care needs. CHSC has developed a series of handouts with nutrition and feeding guidelines for children and families. Click
here for a full list. Food Insecurity Food insecurity can impact all families, especially those of children and...
The Iowa Regional Autism Assistance Program (RAP) provides community-based clinical consultation, multidisciplinary care planning recommendations, and family to family support for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Click
here to download the RAP Referral Form. RAP team members who work with families include advanced registered nurse practitioners, registered nurses and family navigators. They use standardized tools to identify children...
Storytelling for Family Leaders is a virtual training developed in consultation with the Iowa Department of Education based on the Parents as Presenters program. The training includes an in-person orientation, online modules, and Zoom sessions for peer coaching to help families develop a 10 minute story to be used as part of their advocacy efforts. Check back here for information about upcoming sessions. Digital Storytelling is an in-person training based on The StoryCenter model which helps families produce a three minute video with a voiceover, visual images, and effects. Next Session...
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