Children with Special
Health Care Needs in
Illinois
University of Illinois Medical Center
Division of Specialized Care for
Children (DSCC)
Established in 1937
The Division of Specialized Care for
Children is the Illinois Title V agency for
specialized treatment and rehabilitation of
children with chronic physical disabilities
and health impairments.
Division of Specialized Care for
Children
1937
Agency created and placed under the
Department of Welfare
1941
Funding transferred to the University of
Illinois as part of the College of Medicine
1957
Officially transferred by the General
Assembly to the University of Illinois
University of Illinois Medical Center
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Stronger voice for CSHCN and their families
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Greater credibility with providers and consumers
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Ability to be more responsive to the needs of
CSHCN
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Learning opportunities through DSCC for
students in the School of Public Health and
Medical School
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DSCC’s statewide program is an essential
element of UIC’s community service initiatives
DSCC’s Mission Statement
DSCC’s mission focuses on public
service, education, and research as a
basis to provide, promote and
coordinate family-centered, communitybased, culturally competent care for
eligible children with special health care
needs (CSHCN) in Illinois.
A Tradition of Excellence
DSCC has provided care
coordination services to over
1 million Illinois families
of
children with special health care
needs
in all 102 counties
13 DSCC Regional Offices
Rockford
Rock Island
North Cook County
Chicago North & South
DuPage
South Cook
Peoria
Champaign
Springfield
St. Clair
Olney
Marion
DSCC also has 40 satellite locations
DSCC Clinics
Rockford
Rock Island
Peoria
Kane County Clinic
North Cook County
Chicago North & South
DuPage
South Cook
Kankakee Clinic
Champaign Clinic
Champaign
Springfield
St. Clair
Carbondale Clinic
Olney
Marion
Mattoon Clinic
Salem Clinic
DSCC Programs
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Core
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SSI Disabled Children’s Program
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Children’s Habilitation Clinic

Home and Community Based Waiver
DSCC Core
Program
DSCC Core Program Eligibility
Defined by Administrative Rules
 General Eligibility
 Age
 Residency
 Citizenship
 Medical Eligibility
 Specific impairment
categories
 Financial Eligibility
 285% FPL
89 Illinois Administrative Code CH X, SEC. 1200.
DSCC Core Program
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Any Illinois child from birth to age 21
Medical condition which can be improved through
medical treatment
 Eligible diagnosed condition (care coordination)
 Suspected eligible condition (no-cost diagnostic
services)
Financial assistance for those families who meet
financial eligibility criteria.
DSCC Serves Approximately 23,000 children and families annually
Medically Eligible Conditions
A child must have a treatable chronic condition in one
of the following categories:
Orthopedic (bone, muscle, joints)
Heart defects
Neurological condition (nerve, brain, spinal cord)
Hearing loss
Cystic Fibrosis
Disfiguring defects – external body
Medically Eligible Conditions
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Speech conditions requiring medical/dental treatment
Certain inborn errors of metabolism
Eye impairments including cataract, glaucoma,
strabismus, and certain retinal conditions (excludes
refractive errors)
Urinary impairments (kidney, ureter, bladder)
Hemophilia
Care Coordination Services

Development of an
Individualized Service Plan
(ISP)
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Assists family in accessing
needed services
Provides benefits
management
Collaborates with a managing
physician
Provides transition planning
from adolescence to
adulthood
All Eligible Families Receive Care Coordination Services at No Cost
DSCC Approved Providers

Physicians
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Board certified
Primary Care
Pediatric specialists
Therapists (OT, PT,
Speech etc.)
DME
Supplies/Equipment
Hospitals
Specialty Centers
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Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate
Craniofacial
Cochlear Implant
Cardiac Centers
Ambulatory Surgical
Centers
Epilepsy Surgical Centers
DSCC has more than 10,000 enrolled providers
DSCC SSI-Disabled
Children’s Program
Congress Established SSI-DCP
In 1978, Governor James Thompson
designated DSCC as the state
agency to administer the SSIDisabled Children’s Program
Approximately 200 - 250 newly eligible children for SSI receive information and referral services
each month.
DSCC Assistance for families in the
SSI-DCP
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Referral information to community and state
resources
Referrals to Early Intervention Program …birth
to 3 years
Referrals to Pre-school Educational Programs
ages 3 to 5 years
Transition follow-up for youth ages 14-15 years
Children’s Habilitation
Clinic
Children’s Habilitation Clinic


Multidisciplinary
CSHCN clinic with
950 visits annually
Training
opportunity for UIC
medical staff,
nurses, therapists,
and social workers
Home and Community
Based Waiver Program
Home and Community Based Waiver
Program
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Predominantly care coordination service
More than 500 children in the program
Considered a model program by other
states
Cost neutral program for DSCC
Operated by DSCC; Administered by HFS
In 1980, the first ventilator dependent child was discharged in collaboration
between DHFS and DSCC.
Home and Community Based
Waiver Services

Environmental
modifications

Training of nurses, vent
dependent children only.

Placement maintenance

Respite Care - up to
336 hours a year

Skilled shift nursing care

Special medical
equipment and supplies
DSCC Advisory
Groups
Family Advisory Council

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Chairperson
DSCC Family Liaison Specialist
Represented by 13 family members
Activities:
 Family Newsletter (Special Addition)
 Family Handbook
 Block Grant Review
 Technical assistance with agency
procedures/documents
Medical Advisory Board

15 members

Minimum of 12 physicians
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Up to 3 other professionals

Ex-Officio parent representative from Family
Advisory Council
The Medical Advisory Board usually meets three times a year
University of Illinois
Medical Center’s
Division of Specialized Care for
Children
Future Opportunities
What Families Say About DSCC

“Excellent medical care
received”… from well qualified
DSCC-approved medical
specialists”
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“Caring, dedicated, committed
DSCC care coordinators” …
just doing their job”
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“….no comparison to other
agencies”
DSCC Family Survey
For More
Information
Visit our website . . .
Website
Address - http://www.uic.edu/hsc/dscc/
A Tradition of Excellence
. . . partnering with Illinois
families to build better lives for
children with special health care
needs
“My child is my life.”
A Parent
2005 DSCC Survey
Division of Specialized Care for Children
(DSCC)
3135 Old Jacksonville Road
Springfield, IL 62704-6488
1-800-322-3722