PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE SERVICE COORDINATION PROGRAM FOR YOUNG-CHILDREN - IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIZED CONTEXT

Care coordination is an efficient mechanism for improving access to ap propriate health and human services for diverse populations. Although many models have been formulated, there are little empirical data abou t the impact of organizational context on the implementation of care c oordination. Child service coordinators (CSCs), employed by different agencies providing service coordination under a large statewide progra m for young children at risk and their families, were surveyed. Signif icant differences between service coordinators working in public healt h and those working in early intervention programs emerged in job desc ription and caseload size, communication with CSCs in other agencies, tracking completion of required reports, and training and continuing e ducation needs. We discuss the implications of these differences for p lanning service coordination systems.