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Katherine Velasquez, R.N., Ph.D.
Specialized Healthcare and Social Work Services
7430 Louis Pasteur Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229
210-949-2157
Purpose
The Region 8 Department of Specialized Health and Social Work Services headquarters is located in San Antonio, TX. Region 8 social workers are also located in the Del Rio, Uvalde, Eagle Pass and Victoria sub-offices.
Specialized Health and Social Work Services oversees the following programs:
Children with Special Health Care Needs(CSHCN)
Case Management to Children receiving SSI
Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women (CPW)
Assessments for Personal Care Services (PCS)
Texas Health Steps
For additional Information on the following programs, please click on the corresponding link below:
Children with Special Health Care Needs Program
Purpose
The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program helps families with health care benefits and case management services. The mission of the CSHCN program is to support family-centered, community-based strategies for improving the quality of life for children with special health care needs and their families.
History
The CSHCN Program just completed its 75th year of service to children with special health care needs and their families! It began as the Crippled Children’s Services Program in 1933. In 1987, the name changed to the Chronically Ill and Disabled Children (CIDC) Program. Program services later expanded and the Program’s name was changed to the Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) in 1999.
Eligibility Requirements:
Child must live in Texas
Child must be ages 0 – 21 years (no age limit for cystic fibrosis)
Meet financial criteria (200% of poverty level)
Child must have a physical health condition that is expected to last more than 1 year
CSHCN Health Care Benefits & Case Management Services
The CSHCN Program offers extensive services to children with special health care needs. Services include:
Medical, dental and mental health care
Case management
Family support services
Medical transportation
Medicines
Equipment and medical supplies
Assistance with medical insurance premiums
Go to: www.dshs.state.tx.us/cshcn/benefits.shtm or call the CSHCN Program at 1-800-252-8023 to learn more.
Children with Special Health Care Needs Providers
A current listing of participating CSHCN medical and dental providers is available online. Go to: www.dshs.state.tx.us/cshcn/ to obtain a current listing.
The CSHCN Program encourages medical, dental and other providers to become CSHCN providers. Go to: www.tmhp.com to download an application to become a provider.
Health Service Region 8 Service Area
The Regional Department of Social Work Services headquarters is located in San Antonio. Region 8 social workers are also located in the Del Rio, Uvalde, Eagle Pass and Victoria. Social workers travel to all 28 counties in Health Service Region 8 to provide comprehensive case management services to children with special health care needs and their families.
Links
Children with Special Health Care Needs: www.dshs.state.tx.us/cshcn/
Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership: www.tmhp.com
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Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women (CPW) Program
Purpose
Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women provides services to children with a health condition or health risk, birth through 20 years of age and to high-risk pregnant women of all ages, in order to encourage the use of cost-effective health and health-related care. Together, the case manager and family assess the medical, social, educational and other medically necessary service needs.
To request case management services, please call the Texas Health Steps Outreach and Informing Hotline at 1-877-THSTEPS (1-877-847-8377).
Children and Pregnant Women Providers
A current list of participating CPW providers is available online. Go to: www.dshs.state.tx.us/caseman/default.shtm.
The Children and Pregnant Women Program encourages social workers and registered nurses to become CPW providers.
Free Online Education – CEUs and Certificates of Completion Available:
Texas Health Steps Online Provider Education offers a range of high-quality training opportunities to CPW providers and other interested individuals. This FREE training is designed to improve participant’s ability to deliver comprehensive preventive health, mental health, dental, and case management services to Medicaid-eligible children from birth through 20 years of age.
Texas Health Steps Online Provider Education consists of a number of self-paced, web-based training modules. Each module is divided into sections, with an evaluation component following each section. These evaluations enable trainees to assess their knowledge as they complete each module. An online certificate of completion will be issued after a trainee successfully completes an entire module. Continuing Education (CE) credits can be awarded to eligible participants after the successful completion of each module. Go to: http://www.txhealthsteps.com for a listing of the modules available.
Children and Pregnant Women Program Provider Relations staff is available to conduct the training modules in person.
Link
Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women
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Texas Health Steps Program
Purpose
Texas Health Steps (THSteps) Program is the Texas name given to the federally mandated program known as EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment). It is a benefit of the Texas Medicaid Program. THSteps provides preventive health care services at regular and periodic intervals to Medicaid clients who are from birth through 20 years of age.
The mission of Texas Health Steps Program is to expand client awareness of existing health services, to recruit and retain a qualified provider pool, and to assure comprehensive services are available through public and private providers so that eligible young people in the Texas Health Steps Client Population can receive medical and dental care before health problems become chronic and irreversible.
Texas Health Steps Providers
A current list of participating Texas Health Steps medical and dental providers is available online. Go to: www.tmhp.com.
Health Service Region 8 Service Area
The Region 8 Texas Health Steps Program is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Texas Health Steps Provider Relations staff travel to and work in all 28 counties in Region 8, providing technical assistance, policy clarifications and training to providers and contractors.
Free Online Education – CEUs and Certificates of Completion Available
Texas Health Steps Online Provider Education offers a range of high-quality training opportunities to THSteps providers and other interested individuals. This free training is designed to improve participant’s ability to deliver comprehensive preventive health, mental health, dental, and case management services to Medicaid-eligible children from birth through 20 years of age.
THSteps Online Provider Education consists of a number of self-paced, web-based training modules. Each module is divided into sections, with an evaluation component following each section. These evaluations enable trainees to assess their knowledge as they complete each module. An online certificate of completion will be issued after a trainee successfully completes an entire module. Continuing Education (CE) credits can be awarded to eligible participants after the successful completion of each module. Go to: http://www.txhealthsteps.com for a listing of the modules available.
Extra Help!
The THSteps toll-free lines allow individuals to obtain information on Medicaid services and how to access them. By calling the toll-free number 1-877-THSTEPS (1-877-847-8377), a client can receive:
Texas health Steps Services Include:
Medical screening
Dental checkups
ImmunizationsVision exams and services
Hearing exams and aids
Comprehensive care services
Case management
Laboratory Screenings
Sensory Screenings and aids
Links
Personal Care Services (PCS)
What is Personal Care Services?
PCS is a Medicaid benefit that assists eligible clients who require assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) because of a physical, cognitive or behavioral limitation related to their disability, physical or mental illness, or chronic condition.
Who can receive PCS?
Individuals who are:
- Younger than 21 years of age
- Enrolled with:
- Texas Medicaid Fee-for-Service (FSS),
- Primary Care Case Management (PCCM),
- STAR
- Have physical, cognitive, or behavioral limitations related to a disability, or chronic health condition that inhibits ability to accomplish ADLs and IADLs
How are Referral’s made?
- Contact the toll-free PCS Client line at 1-888-276-0702
- Client line: available 7:00 am-7:00 pm, Monday through Friday
- PCS client line will refer clients to Texas Department of State Health Services
- Referrals can also be made directly to DSHS regional staff
Helpful Resources:
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