Quick Key Contacts
Families and primary health care providers don't have to identify, provide and coordinate all the services needed by a child or youth with special health care needs by themselves. Community services and systems are available to help.
Below are several key organizations or people who know about resources in your community and can help you quickly find and access needed resources. For more detailed information specific to your county, please see the section Resources by County.
Family Health Hotline - a program of WithinReach
Toll-free, statewide child and family health Information and Referral Line from WithinReach. Get connected to services in your community including free or low-cost health insurance, food resources, immunizations, breastfeeding support, family planning services, parenting support, child development screening services, and many other social and health programs, including information for children with special health care needs. Access to interpretive service for 50 languages.
Hotline (Hours: Monday to Thursday 8:00am to 5:30pm, Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm)
1-800 322-2588 or 1-800-833-6388 (tty relay)
www.withinreachwa.org/hotlines
ParentHelp123.org - a program of WithinReach
Want to look for resources yourself and apply for programs for which you are eligible? Search the ParentHelp123 website to find services available through the Family Health Hotline. The Call Center staff is the same for the Health Hotline and ParentHelp123- Call if you want help finding out if your family qualifies for programs and filling out applications on-line.
Hotline: 1-866-585-1123
www.parenthelp123.org
En Español (Spanish): www.parenthelp123.org/?language=es
Quick Pick: Who Can Help Families and Primary Care Providers Get Services for a Child with Special Needs
How to know whether to call early intervention, public health or the school district (and links to contact information)- 1 page handout
http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/word/adsa/iteip/DecisionTree%20Final%20with
%20website%20address%2011%2007.doc (temporarily unavailable)
Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Coordinator
CSHCN Coordinators are public health nurses in local health departments who can assist families who have children with special needs from birth to age 18. CSHCN Coordinators can:
- Help families access needed services for their child, such as medical care and other interventions.
- Refer families to health insurance programs and information, both private insurance and the state funded Medicaid program.
- Help families support each other through parent support organizations.
- Help with concerns such as feeding, nutrition, growth, development and behavior.
- Provide screening and assessment for your child.
- This link takes you to a guide with information on how to refer families to public health nurse CSHCN Coordinators. The guide also includes contact information by county for each CSHCN Coordinator in Washington State.
- www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/child/~/media/health/publichealth/
documents/cshcn/CSHCNCoordinators.ashx 
NOTE: To go directly to the website of your local public health department or district, see: www.doh.wa.gov/LHJMap/LHJMap.htm
Family Resources Coordinator (FRC)
FRCs help families with children age 0-36 months who are concerned about their child's development get the early intervention services a child may need. At the family's request, an FRC can help the family through screening, evaluation and assessment, the development of an Individualized Family Service Plan, receiving early intervention services and transition out of the early intervention program at age 3. More information about FRCs and early intervention services is available through the Washington Department of Early Learning, Early Support for Infant and Toddler Program.
Phone: 360-725-3500, (TTY) 360-407-1087
http://del.wa.gov/publications/esit/docs/ContactsDirectory.pdf
Washington Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors
A free service of the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner providing a statewide network of trained volunteers who educate, assist and advocate for consumers about their rights and options regarding health insurance and health care access.
- Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) HelpLine
Telephone - 24-hour, toll-free referral hot line at: 1-800-562-6900.
- Washington State Counties and SHIBA HelpLine Sponsors
For a full text listing of SHIBA HelpLine sponsors by county, click here.)
Washington State Parent Support Organizations
- Parent to Parent - Statewide parent network providing emotional support and information to parents who have children with disabilities or developmental delays. www.arcwa.org/parent_to_parent.htm 1-800-821-5927
- Fathers Network - Advocates for and provides support and resources for all men and families who have children with special needs. www.fathersnetwork.org
- PAVE (Parents Are Vital in Education) - Statewide parent training and information center providing assistance to families who children with disabilities, ages birth through adulthood. 1-800-5 PARENT www.washingtonpave.org
- National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) - WA State and Local Chapters - provide support, education, information and referral and advocacy for
consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic and other severe anxiety disorders, autism and pervasive developmental disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses that affect the brain. www.nami.org/Template.cfm?section=your_local_NAMI
Medical Librarians
There are medical libraries across Washington State that serve both health care consumers and health care providers. If a hospital near you is not on the list see if they have a library and if it is open to the public and unaffiliated health professionals. Most public librarians are also happy to answer health questions. http://nnlm.gov/members/results.html?view=main&qid=114
Foster Parents After-hours Support
Foster parents and relative caregivers can call 1-800-301-1868 to get after-hours support for their children's medical, emotional or emergency situations. The support line is a resource for foster parents licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and unlicensed relative caregivers caring for children in state custody. Social workers trained to respond to foster and relative caregivers in crisis will answer calls from 4:30 pm to 8 am weekdays and at all hours on weekends and holidays. During normal business hours, foster parents call call their social workers directly. For more info, see: http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/ca/fosterparents/index.asp
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