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Evaluation of the Use and Impact of National Standards for Systems of Care for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Organization: Issues Research

Primary Contact: Douglas McCarthy

Grant Amount: $50,000 for 7 months

Date Awarded:

Date Completed:

Purpose

Since 2012, the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health (LPFCH) has supported the development and dissemination of National Standards for Systems of Care for CYSHCN. This qualitative process evaluation will provide an objective understanding of the progress being made and the impact of the National Standards. This evaluation will help LPFCH assess successes achieved in the dissemination and use of the National Standards, as well as the potential opportunity and need for continued support of the effort.

Outcome

A robust evaluation of the uptake and influence of the National Standards for Systems of Care for CYSHCN was conducted. This evaluation included interviews with more than 50 stakeholders and case studies on the use of the National Standards in five states. Many stakeholders stated that they see the National Standards as a foundational tool that informs their current and future work in research, policy, and practice. A journal article describing the use of the National Standards in redesigning Medicaid managed care programs in two states also was developed.

Related Resources

Issues Research, Inc. evaluated the influence of the National Standards for Systems of Care for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) on health care systems. The report synthesizes the views of 50 stakeholders to describe the uptake and influence of the National Standards as well as remaining opportunities to promote their use among key audiences.

This article describes how the National Standards for Systems of Care for CYSHCN served as a framework for the redesign of two state Medicaid managed care programs: a statewide managed care plan for children with medical complexity in Florida and a regional accountable care program serving children  in Colorado.