DPH Care Coordination

The Department of Public Health offers experienced staff members who are located in regional health offices and selected local pediatric practices in each part of the state. These “Care Coordinators” provide:

• Information and referral to community services;
• Case-specific consultation to parents, educators, and medical and social service providers in home and agency settings.
• Training in public benefits to parents’ groups and agency staff.

Services for Parents: If a child has a special health care need — for example, a chronic illness, a disabling condition, or a frequent need for medical technology — it can be difficult and frustrating to get the information, care, and services needed. Care coordinators can help parents to:

• Identify the needs of their child and family;
• Understand the full range of available public benefits;
• Identify community resources to assist them;
• Gain access to specific programs and services;
• Become more effective advocates;
• Connect with other families who face similar challenges

Services for Providers: Medical, social service, and educational providers may be unfamiliar with or confused about benefits and community-based services available to children with special health care needs. Care coordinators can help these providers to:

• Understand existing entitlements and how to gain access to them;
• Obtain services and benefits for families;
• Identify appropriate community-based resources;
• Become better advocates for the families they serve

Target Population: Any family whose child has special health care needs and is experiencing difficulty in obtaining or maintaining services; any service provider or other interested party requiring information or technical assistance about services for children and adolescents with special health care needs.

Two Ways to Locate a DPH Care Coordinator

Method 1: DPH Care Coordinators are placed in certain high-volume pediatrics practices and are available to assist their patients. Contact the practice directly at the number shown and ask for the DPH Care Coordinator for Children with Special Health Care Needs:

 

Pediatric Practice	Address	Telephone	Care Coordinator
Baystate Ambulatory Pediatrics	140 High Street Springfield , MA 01199	(413) 794-2445	Marianne Beach Carlos Santiago
Baystate Pediatric Associates	3300 Main St. Springfield , Ma 01107	(413) 794-0555	Marianne Beach
Children’s Hospital, CHPCC	300 Longwood Avenue Boston , MA 02115	(617) 355-2375	Liza Hirsch
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center	700 Essex Street Lawrence , MA 01841	(978) 689-2400	Maribel Goglas
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Plaza 114	73 Winthrop Ave. (Rt. 114) Lawrence , MA 01843	(978) 686-3017	Maribel Goglas
Martha Elliot Health Center	75 Bickford Street Jamaica Plain , MA 02130	(617) 971-2100	José Baez
MGH Chelsea Health Center	151 Everett Ave. Chelsea , MA 02150	(617) 887-3775	Mary Ellen Delaney José Baez
UMass Memorial Health Care - Dept. of Outpatient Pediatrics	55 Lake Ave North Worcester, MA 01655	(508) 334-7764	Christine Rivera Katerina Roussos

 

Method 2: If the patient receives care other than at one of those high-volume practices, contact the  Community Support Line  for Children with Special Health Care Needs at 1-800-882-1435 or

Sandra Broughton, Director
Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition
250 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108
Telephone: (617) 994-9819
Fax: (617) 624-5990

 

Revised 5/17