Care Coordination

Supporting families who are raising children and youth with special healthcare needs with services and care they need to play, learn, and grow

Managing the needs of children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYCSHN) can be challenging, especially in a rural state with limited resources. Many of Montana’s families are tackling the management of doctor’s visits, therapies, insurance, paperwork, and more on their own, all while being their child’s biggest champion. Regardless of diagnosis, geographic location, or size and scale of a care team, we are building a family-centered complex care management program that is designed to truly meet the needs of families and children in Montana…but we can’t do it alone.

We are currently seeking 100 families to join our program and together redefine support for children and youth with special healthcare needs.

If you are a caregiver of a child aged 0-18 with long-term medical needs and are open to sharing your everyday experiences, comfortable with regular check-ins with our multidisciplinary team, and are passionate about making Montana a better place for kids with medical complexity, please apply to the program by completing our interest form. Melissa Eastlick, our CMC Program Manager/Patient and Family Advocate, will reach out via your preferred contact method within a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in this program?

Families in Montana with children aged 0-18 who have long-term medical issues, and may need help managing care.

What does it cost to be part of this program?

This program is grant-funded until 2027, which means there is no cost to participants for at least the first year. For future years, we will work with all types of health insurance and there will be a sliding scale for fees as well as no-cost options. Whether you have insurance or not, we encourage you to reach out about participation!

What kind of support will this program provide for my family?

The support each family receives will look different! One family might utilize one thing from this list while another utilizes all of the resources. If your family needs something that’s not on this list, please complete the interest form and let us know!

Medical Support

Appointment scheduling
Lab/test result dissemination
Establishment of care with new providers
Centralized communication with a shared plan of care for all members of your existing care team
Support in moving from pediatric to adult care

Non-Medical Support

Navigation of Medicaid, Healthy Montana Kids and private insurance
Connections with resources like food, housing, and transportation assistance
Communication with education partners

What is the application process?

It’s important to us to have a wide variety of families with different needs and experiences by our side in order to build a program that truly works to support all Montana families of children and youth with special healthcare needs. To apply to be part of the 100 families building this program, the first step is to complete the interest form. Then, Melissa Eastlick from our team will reach out to you via your preferred contact method and set up a time to speak with you to learn more about your child, your family, and your needs. We will be adding families into our program through May 2025.

Who is on the care team?

First and foremost, this program is not intended to replace the care your child already receives.

Our team consists of Jill Pate, registered nurse, Melissa Eastlick, medical social worker, and Alison Curfman, medical doctor who will work closely with you and your child’s existing care team.

Can I contact someone with questions?

Yes! If you’re not sure if your family is a fit for the program, we still encourage you to complete our interest form. However, if you’d like to connect with someone first, Melissa Eastlick can be reached here or at (406) 200-8242.

Take the first step to getting the support you deserve and learn more about the waitlist and program from one of our team members.

Click here to fill out an interest form