Community services and programs serve children with special health care needs and reflect respect for family differences. Community services, educational institutions, museums and libraries ensure accessibility for children with special health care needs. Persons who work with or serve children in the community are sensitized to the special health care needs of children with chronic illness or disability. Local employers, businesses and civic organizations develop policies that support children with special health care needs and their families and provide leadership to increase public awareness. Family support programs and parent networks are promoted and financed.
Families have access in their community to updated information and referral services.
Community Program Planning Families and providers are represented on a broad range of community planning and policy boards at the local level. Needs assessment activities occur at the community level to improve program planning for children with special health care needs. Public, private and voluntary organizations coordinate their program planning efforts to ensure integration of services. Public and private agencies collaborate in the implementation of programs for children with special health care needs to avoid duplication of services. Local school boards fully implement federal and state mandates concerning the rights of all children to a public education in the least restrictive environment.