Building community-based service systems for children with special needs: the Michigan Locally Based Services program

The philosophy of the Michigan Department of Public Health, Division of Children's Special Health Care Services (DCSHCS) program holds that children with special health care needs have a right to every opportunity for self-support and self-fulfillment. To assist families, the program historically has provided support with medical care and treatment payments. Likewise, local health departments have shared in the process of supporting families of children with special health care needs. A growing awareness that these families experience a variety of other needs not directly attended to by these mechanisms led the Division to respond further to those needs. The response was aimed toward increasing the capacity to locate clients and provide family assessments, and, where necessary, case management services at the local community level. The implementation, on-going program development, stabilization, and future trends of the Locally Based Services program are described from the varying perspectives of the state and a local health department.