Social Connectedness in Family Social Support Networks: Strengthening Systems of Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs.

Danielle M Varda,Ayelet Talmi

doi:10.5334/egems.232

Abstract

Current approaches to addressing the problems families face when navigating complex service systems on behalf of their children rely largely on state or nationally driven efforts around the development of systems of care (SOCs). However, operationalizing meaningful family involvement within SOCs remains a challenge, with little attention paid to the role of personal social support networks (PSSNs). Specifically, risk factors related to the variations in the social connectedness of family social support networks are difficult to identify, assess, and track over time. This paper summarizes families’ descriptions of their PSSNs and describes the development of a social network analysis tool, the Person-Centered Network App (PCNA), used to measure and monitor the social connectedness of families of children with special health care and developmental needs. Twenty-nine families participated in the project and completed social network surveys, identifying a total of 38 unique types of support partners and 230 partnerships (dyadic relationships). Families identified a range of formal and informal members including primary care providers, medical specialists, family, friends, faith-based organizations, insurance providers, nurses, community organizations, early interventionists, school resources, other families, online support groups, and public resources, rating 61 percent of them as “very important.” Informal network members (e.g., family, friends) provided emotional and day-to-day support. Primary care providers, medical specialists, and public resources provided health care services while early intervention and medical specialists provided therapies. PSSNs were characterized by high levels of trust but low levels of coordination. These findings inform providers and case workers that families can readily describe their social connectedness in ways that may affect health care access and utilization. Understanding how PSSNs function in the lives of families of children with complex health care needs provides opportunities for improving systems of care (e.g., medical homes) and ultimately, enhancing health and developmental outcomes.

Highlights

In the United States, more than 12 million children are identified as having special health care needs [1]
We describe how SOCs can be characterized using a method known as social network analysis and how this type of information can be used within clinical and community-based settings to assess the strengths and gaps in a family’s social support network and integrate those resources into the formal system of care to create a care plan for families that can impact health and mental/behavioral health outcomes
To explore how families, describe their personal social support system networks, we collected social network data from families to characterize the way they articulate their social connectedness related to navigating complex systems of care

Summary

Introduction

In the United States, more than 12 million children are identified as having special health care needs [1]. Current approaches to addressing the problems families face when navigating complex service systems on behalf of their children rely largely on efforts to fund state or nationally driven systems of care (SOCs). Such efforts, often implemented at the local level, are often designed as network interventions, coordinating services and creating an integrated, connected system spanning independent sectors [4]. Since Stroul and Friedman’s [5] original monograph defining SOCs, considerable investment has been made in creating systems of care to effectively address the complex needs of children with serious mental health challenges.

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Conclusion