Links 4 Health is an initiative supported by HealthMatters of Central Oregon. This collaborative includes Central Oregon's regional hospital system, safety net clinics, private practitioners, school districts, local health departments, social service providers and consumer advocacy organizations.

The first phase of this project: Links 4 Health: Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (L4H:C&Y) will target children and youth with special health care needs living in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. The initiative adapts best practice models and criteria standards that are based on the work of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The goals of the project are to provide children with special health care needs and their families with:

• coordinated, ongoing complete care
• enough private and/or public insurance to pay for the services they need
• early and regular screening to identify potential needs
• assistance with decision making at all levels to make sure families are satisfied with the services they receive
• services for children and their families organized in ways that families can use them easily

This program helps assure that children and youth with special health care needs are: identified early, receive high quality coordinated care, and their families receive the support they need. Utilizing the Pathways model, the primary goal is to reduce or eliminate barriers to receiving health and human services.

A Community Links Specialist works with the family to determine their needs. Examples are:

• a primary care provider
• insurance coverage
• development screenings
• mental health and County services
• any other necessary social service

The Community Link Specialist will then help the family connect to the services they need and the community resources that may be available.

Eligible participants are children and youth, ages 0-18, who have or are at increased risk for a chronic, physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition that requires increased levels of care. Anyone may make a referral to the program by filling out a referral for or by calling the Program Manager at (541) 647-1765. Participants must live in Crook, Deschutes or Jefferson County.

There is no cost to the client for the services of the Community Links Specialist or Links 4 Health. Some insurance companies may reimburse for our services, but there is no co-pay or charge to you.

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