How We Help
How we help you and your child depends on your specific preferences and needs, but care coordination is always at the heart of how we help.
We will assign your family a Care Coordinator. Our Care Coordinators draw on the knowledge and expertise of our entire network and 85-year history to serve your family. Our Care Coordinators and support teams’ backgrounds include:
- Registered nurses
- Social workers
- Speech-language pathologists
- Audiologists
- Respiratory therapists
- Health insurance specialists
- Other human service-related professionals
Your Care Coordinator, along with a Program Coordinator Assistant, will be based in the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) office that covers your geographic region.
Your Care Coordinator is your main point of contact at DSCC, answering your questions and leading the team that’s dedicated to meeting your child’s medical, social, behavioral, educational and financial needs. Your Care Coordinator will partner with your child’s doctors and teachers as needed to ensure everyone is working together.
You can use our DSCC Family Portal to easily communicate and share information with your care coordination team.
Our vision is to put you and your family at the center of a seamless support system that improves the quality of your lives.
How care coordination can help your child
- Access to diagnostic tests can help you find out if your child has an eligible medical condition.
- Specialized care providers are available from our pool of experts, according to your child’s medical needs and where your family lives.
- Answers to your insurance questions are available as our experts help you navigate and get the most out of your specific plan.
- Resources and information are shared with you whenever you need help finding a service we don’t directly provide.
- Care coordination plans are person-centered and focus on your needs, strengths, dreams and desires for your child and family.
- Communication with your child’s providers, school and others involved in your child’s care keeps you at the center of decisions.
- Transition support helps you prepare for and manage the changes your child will go through as they age.
- Financial support is available to families who qualify for a variety of needs, from care-related travel expenses to medical equipment.
How to get started and other common questions
- Does it cost money?– Our help will never cost you money.
- Is my child eligible? – We help children and young adults who are Illinois residents with certain chronic conditions or who need in-home shift nursing.
- What care coordination programs are available? – We serve families through four key programs.
- How do I apply? – Access our application online and contact our Enrollment Team.
- How do I refer a family? – Fill out this online form to tell us about a family who could use our help.
- How do I submit a grievance? – This online form is for DSCC participant families with concerns about a specific situation.