title: Care Coordination with Schools: The Role of Family-Centered Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs.
abstract: Objectives Family-centered care has been associated with positive outcomes for children with special health care needs. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship of family-centered care as associated with care coordination with schools and school absences (e.g., missed days) as reported by parents of children with special health care needs. Methods The current study utilized data from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs 2009-201 (N = 40,242) to achieve this purpose. The National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs may be considered a nationally-representative and community-based sample of parent responses for children with special health care needs across the United States. Results Results from the current study indicate that family-centered care is associated with fewer absences and improved care coordination with schools when applicable. The variables of functional difficulties, poverty level, and the number of conditions were statistically controlled. Conclusions We suggest that the positive influence of family-centered care when practiced extends beyond the family and interacts with educational outcomes. We also suggest that the role of schools appears to be under-studied given the role that schools can play in family-centered care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 41071, Lubbock, TX, 79410, USA. lucy.barnard-brak@ttu.edu.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barnard-Brak
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 41071, Lubbock, TX, 79410, USA.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 41071, Lubbock, TX, 79410, USA.
authors.forename: Julianna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Care coordination; Children with special healthcare needs; Family centered care