Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) is defined very broadly. It includes youth ages 21 and younger who require above a “routine use” of medical care. This population is defined by the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau as “...those who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.” These children represent all racial and ethnic groups, ages, and family income levels. They also represent a range of abilities, from those who are rarely affected by their conditions to those who are severely impaired. The Kent County CYSHCN Planning Group was formed in 2011 to evaluate a recent needs assessment of CYSHCN in Kent County, and to develop and strengthen resources that support this target population. For more information about this group, please contact Jenny Randolph at (410) 810-2673.

Health Transportation Planning Group Transportation is an identified barrier to medical care in the five county region (Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot Counties). In 2010, the LMB was awarded a grant to form a planning group to reduce transportation as a barrier to care by bringing together transportation providers and health care providers. The group is working to identify long term solutions; in the short term, it is developing systems to share information with the public and with medical providers about existing transportation services. Visit www.mustbus.org for more information about transportation services or call (866) 330-6878. For more information about the Health Transportation Planning Group, call or email Jenny Randolph at (410) 810 2673 or jrandolph@kentgov.org.

Adolescent Substance Abuse Coalition (ASAC) ASAC supports many Kent County events in Kent County such as the Sheriff’s Rx Roundup; the Post Prom; and the Health Department’s Smoking Cessation Program. ASAC is open to all community members, young and old, who share its aim to engage the community in an inclusive partnership that guides our youth in reaching their full potential and becoming productive citizens through positive youth development.For more information about ASAC, visit www.kentasac.org or call 410 778-7918

Chesapeake HELPS! – The Kent County Local Management Board, in conjunction with Local Management Boards in Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline, and Dorchester Counties, fund  Chesapeake HELPS!   Chesapeake HELPS! is a gateway to services with resources and referral information available to all residents of the mid-shore area.  Resource specialists answer calls, assess needs, and navigate callers to appropriate resources. They also follow up to make sure callers have been connected to the resources and are satisfied with the services received. Families assessed to have a child with intensive needs will be connected to a Family Navigator, who will accompany the family as they access services and are comfortably into care management. For more information, please visit there website at: www.chesapeakehelps.org. or call (866) 722-4577

Kent County Needs Assessment – Local Management Boards are required to conduct a community needs assessment every 3 years to identify the strengths and gaps in services within the community. We are doing it this year 2012! please fill out a survey to help us understand your needs. The needs assessment is compiled using local data, key informant interviews, youth focus groups, surveys, and community forums. This “snap shot” gives us an indication as to where resources may need to be leveraged to impact certain indicators and result areas. Currently, Salisbury University is completing the needs assessment for Kent County, and will become a working document for strategic planning by the Board. If you would like to view the Kent County Needs Assessment, please click this link: Kent County Needs Assessment.