For parents, like many of your employees, accessing health care resources can be stressful and time-consuming, especially when it comes to their children. It can be especially true for parents with children who have special health care needs.

It is important for these families to feel connected when searching for health and community-care resources. Mesa County Public Health aims to take the strain off of these families through a program called HCP Care Coordination.

This free program is geared toward families who have a child with special health care needs. HCP Care Coordination pairs a registered nurse with a family that needs support. These nurses then connect families with the information and resources they need to manage their child’s health care.

“As a registered nurse, I know how hard it is to navigate the healthcare system, which can be isolating for families. As a parent, you want to do everything you can do to help your child. We want to take some of that burden, so that you have access to all of the resources available to you,” HCP Care Coordinator Kelly Geyer said.

The HCP Care Coordination program is available for children and youths from birth up to 21 years of age.

There are no restrictions or eligibility requirements based on income or diagnosis to receive HCP services.

Special health care needs can be physical, emotional or behavioral and may be easy to see in a child or invisible. These needs might be diagnosed or undiagnosed, and they can involve conditions that last a lifetime or are expected to end with treatment.

HCP Care Coordination offers a range of free services to families, including assistance finding screenings, clinics and specialty-care providers. Additionally, they can connect families with financial resources, such as insurance assistance, as well as medical care, community services and support groups.

These care coordination services are available at no cost to any family with a child or youth.

This program’s services are extremely broad and are tailored to family-specific needs.

HCP Care Coordination also aims to educate families by helping them understand what is going on with their child and prioritizing the family’s needs. Sharing resources and reaching out to families aids in fostering a sense of community and connection, which can make a significant difference in their healthcare and overall well being.

To learn more about HCP, visit our website at www.mesacounty.us/public-health, or call 970-683-6683, or email hcp@mesacounty.us.

Providers can download a referral form on our website and fax the completed form to 970-255-3649. Parents can also review a list of possible medical conditions to help them get started.

By sharing this information with your employees, we can all work together to provide Mesa County families with the health resources they need.

Ryan Pomeroy is a Multimedia Communication Intern with Mesa County Public Health. For additional information, call 970-248-6900 or visit mesacounty.us/public-health.