Families must have a way to pay for services. Infants and children with high risk health conditions must be identified early in order to help assure that they and their families receive the care and assistance to prevent future morbidity and promote optimal development. Advances in brain research, the Human Genome Project, and increased effectiveness of early intervention have expanded our capacity to identify children with special health care needs and offer an opportunity for early intervention. Organization of Services. Thus, effective organization of services is a key indicator of systems development.
Families are the constants in the child's life and are pivotal in making any system work.
Family members, including those representative of the culturally diverse communities served, must have a meaningful, enduring, and leading role in the development of systems at all levels of policy, programs, and practice. Family voices must be heard and families should be at each table in which decision making occurs. Thus, the involvement of families is a key indicator of systems development. Transition to Adulthood. Youth with special health care needs, as adults, must be able to expect good health care, employment with benefits, and independence.