March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to highlight individuals with developmental disabilities and raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of our community. The national theme this year is, “A World of Opportunities” – we’re celebrating people and how working together with partners can remove obstacles.

One program at SRHD that consistently strives to give people with developmental disabilities the support to improve their health and well-being is Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN). It serves children from birth to 18 years old who have or are at risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or mental health conditions and require health services beyond what is usually required by children. Examples would be children with cerebral palsy, autism, developmental and cognitive delays, hearing and vision impairments, or behavioral health conditions.

The goal of the program is that all families with special health care needs will have what they need to thrive. However, we know this isn’t always happening. There are shortages of all types of providers leading to waitlists for services. Also, no insurance covers all needed services so there are still cost barriers. We also know that some agencies providing services to these children can be incredibly challenging to navigate and are unable to meet all the needs these children have. That’s why the CYSHCN program helps families navigate resources like childcare, medical providers, therapists, insurance information, and other resources.

Sometimes being directed to the right services helps, but there isn’t enough funding to support the need. That’s why system and care improvements can still make a big difference in accessing the services. Currently, CYSHCN is part of an effort to improve systems for children with special health care needs. One goal is to make autism services more cohesive in Spokane County through a Spokane Autism Collaborative. Another project is ensuring resource information is more robust on websites, including our own, and resource databases such as 211 and Help Me Grow. Some families don’t know what’s available, some are overwhelmed, and some just need to know somebody is there to help. The CYSHCN program is here to support families wherever they may be in their journey.