Georgia’s Title V Needs Assessment: Prioritizing Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
Abstract
Background The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), in collaboration with Emory University conducted the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant Five-Year Needs Assessment. This assessment examined unmet needs of children and youth with special health care needs and the challenges experienced by their caregivers,
Methods Using a concurrent mixed methods design, electronic surveys and virtual focus groups were completed during August and September 2024. A total of 312 individuals completed surveys, and 30 individuals participated in six focus groups. Descriptive analysis was conducted of survey data. Textual survey data was summarized using MAXQDA AI Assist. Focus group data analysis used standard thematic analysis with MAXQDA.
Results Surveys and focus groups assessed issues for caregivers of CYSHCN , including access to care, health equity, child and family well-being, and health care financing. Focused analysis on access to care will be discussed in this presentation. Caregivers reported frequent challenges accessing needed health care for their child, including difficulty scheduling appointments (n =124, 50.2%), services being unavailable in their area (n =122, 49.4%), and challenges related to acceptance of health insurance (n=106, 42.9%).Survey respondents provided recommendations for addressing these challenges, including providing information about health insurance (n = 114, 36.5%), connecting with resources in the community (n = 114, 36.5%), help completing applications (such as SSI Katie Becket) (n = 87, 27.9%), and improving access to pediatric specialty providers (n=73, 24.7%). Focus group findings described similar challenges and highlighted the need for increased knowledge among providers of how to care for these populations.
Conclusion Caregivers identified barriers to accessing needed quality health care. Recommendations to address barriers include increasing availability of providers, increasing knowledge among providers on how to care for CYSHCN and supporting caregivers with connection to resources and information.
Keywords
Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Maternal and Child Health Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Community Needs Assessment Data Collection Methods
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Georgia’s Title V Needs Assessment: Prioritizing Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
Background The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), in collaboration with Emory University conducted the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant Five-Year Needs Assessment. This assessment examined unmet needs of children and youth with special health care needs and the challenges experienced by their caregivers,
Methods Using a concurrent mixed methods design, electronic surveys and virtual focus groups were completed during August and September 2024. A total of 312 individuals completed surveys, and 30 individuals participated in six focus groups. Descriptive analysis was conducted of survey data. Textual survey data was summarized using MAXQDA AI Assist. Focus group data analysis used standard thematic analysis with MAXQDA.
Results Surveys and focus groups assessed issues for caregivers of CYSHCN , including access to care, health equity, child and family well-being, and health care financing. Focused analysis on access to care will be discussed in this presentation. Caregivers reported frequent challenges accessing needed health care for their child, including difficulty scheduling appointments (n =124, 50.2%), services being unavailable in their area (n =122, 49.4%), and challenges related to acceptance of health insurance (n=106, 42.9%).Survey respondents provided recommendations for addressing these challenges, including providing information about health insurance (n = 114, 36.5%), connecting with resources in the community (n = 114, 36.5%), help completing applications (such as SSI Katie Becket) (n = 87, 27.9%), and improving access to pediatric specialty providers (n=73, 24.7%). Focus group findings described similar challenges and highlighted the need for increased knowledge among providers of how to care for these populations.
Conclusion Caregivers identified barriers to accessing needed quality health care. Recommendations to address barriers include increasing availability of providers, increasing knowledge among providers on how to care for CYSHCN and supporting caregivers with connection to resources and information.
