An Imperative for Practice in the 21st Century will soon be completed. PFC has continued to conduct qualitative research with families with children with special health care needs in order to describe the relationship between what they want and need for their children and the services that agencies and professionals provide. Preliminary findings suggest that care coordination is not a reality for many families, who continue to experience their systems of services as fragmented and confusing. In addition, even when there are many skilled professionals involved, families priorities are often unaddressed.
Professionals tend to do what they are trained to do and to offer what their agencies offer.
Meeting the needs that families identify requires professionals to view their roles and agency functions flexibly, and to develop additional resources in the community. This paper will summarize PFC s learning about practice in communities. PFC s Project Director, Kathleen Kirk Bishop, DSW has continued to actively consult with several national groups. With Dean Corrigan, EdD, Dr. Bishop presented a paper and a multi-media program at the 2nd International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health in Melbourne, Australia. Merle McPherson, MD, also a co-presenter, was unable to attend the meeting.