State Priorities in Serving Children and Youth with Chronic and Complex Needs

Fragmented systems and limited availability of services result in children and youth with chronic and complex needs often being unable to access the specialized care they require. To improve systems of care for this population, states are implementing a range of policies and utilizing various strategies, such as legislation and programmatic changes, across Medicaid, behavioral health, and other programs. This brief, produced by the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) and supported by our Foundation, summarizes states’ priorities and approaches for this population, and provides specific examples of initiatives led by states. Key themes in states’ approaches include system integration and coordination, specialty care access, transition supports, family caregiver supports, and partnership with families.