Partnership for Children
Community-Based Care Coordination for Children with Life-Threatening Conditions and Their Families Serving Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties
A Community Caring for Children
The Partnership for Children is a program of Children’s Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition. The center, located in Watsonville and serving Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, offers care coordination services which specifically address the unique needs of children with life-threatening conditions and their families. It is a communication and care coordination hub for its collaborating partners, which include local hospitals, hospices, home health and community-based agencies, and UCSF Children’s Hospital and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.
Who can be referred?
Any child under the age of 21 diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, residing in Santa Cruz or Monterey County.
How can a referral be made?
Referrals can be made by the family, hospital staff, CCS office or community home-health or hospice agencies at any time by calling (831) 763-3073 X 203. The Partnership for Children staff will contact the child’s county CCS office and/or hospital staff and the family.
What services are available?
An individualized Care Plan will be developed to facilitate communication between families, community based resources, hospital staff, home-health and/or hospice teams and the CCS county office.
Bilingual Care Coordinators with expertise in community-based pediatric palliative care will facilitate and communicate timely and appropriate community-based referrals for:
➢ Community services, agencies or organizations
➢ Emotional and spiritual support
➢ Home-health and/or hospice
➢ Transportation to and from medical treatment
➢ Grief support before and after death
➢ Funeral guidance and assistance
A Social Worker will also make home visits and telephone calls for ongoing support and assessment, and may accompany families to medical appointments as needed.
Care Coordination Services provided by bilingual Social Worker
Ruth Emerson, MSW
Hours of operation 8-4 Tuesday to Thursday
Phone: 831.763.3073 X 203
Fax: 831.786.9105
Why is care coordination important?
When a child is diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, their life and the lives of their family are turned upside down. Fear, abandonment, and isolation, especially during a child’s long illness are major concerns. Coordinated care ensures that families are able to remain functional and intact throughout the course of treatment by creating a stronger, more cohesive network of support for the family. It also solidifies and simplifies communication and referrals between the specialty hospitals and the community health care providers. By placing “one call” to Partnership for Children, the family can establish a contact who will be present throughout the course of treatment and will help the family navigate their way through the nightmare of treatment, complex world of insurance and the dramatic changes in their day to day lives.
What will the Partnership for Children do?
As a model of care for the State of California, the Partnership for Children is an opportunity to demonstrate how care coordination will improve the quality of life for children undergoing intensive medical treatment.
Our Goals
- Provide pediatric specific information and training to local agencies,
- Empower traditionally adult focused providers to care for children,
- Better align reimbursement with actual costs of care,
- Provide a seamless continuum of care through the course of treatment,
- Integrate community based clinical, emotional, social, and practical support,
- Coordinate local care with the care provided by the Children’s Hospitals – which are often located hundreds of miles away from the family’s home,
- Reduce unnecessary emergency room visits – the emergency room is an incredibly dangerous place for a child whose immunities are down,
- Alleviate unnecessary stress on the child, family and providers.
Generous Foundation Support
California HealthCare Foundation
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County
Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund
Hospice Foundation of the Central Coast
Nicholson Family Foundation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Members
Silvia Austerlic
Latino Community Liaison
Hospice Caring Project, Mensajeros de Confianza
Scotts Valley, CA
sausterlic@hospicesantacruz.orgLori Butterworth
Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder
Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition / Partnering for Children
Watsonville, CA
lori@childrenshospice.orgErin Champion
Manager
Care-A-Van for Kids, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
Palo Alto, CA
echampion@lpch.orgJessica Corona
Transportation Coordinator / Database Management
American Red Cross, Santa Cruz County Chapter
Santa Cruz, CA
jcorona@scredcross.orgAnne Marie Cheney, RN
Admissions Nurse
Heartland Hospice Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, CA
amcheney@earthlink.netDevon Dabbs
Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder
Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition / Partnering for Children
devon@childrenshospice.orgTree Dunbar
Director of Children’s Services
Hospice Caring Project
Scotts Valley, CA
tree@hospicesantacruz.orgBarbara Flynn, RN
Health Services Director
Central Coast Alliance For Health
Scotts Valley, CA
bflynn@ccah-alliance.orgLorry Frankel, MD, MBA
Director of Critical Care
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford
Palo Alto, California
lrf@stanford.eduSusie Garcia
Bilingual Family Services Coordinator
Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Association
Watsonville, CA
susie@jacobsheart.orgNancy Hinds, RN
Founder
Hinds Hospice
Fresno, CA
www.hindshospice.orgKendra Howell
Director
Children’s Miracle Network
Salinas, CA
khowell@svmh.comDebra Houston
Family Services Director
Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Association
Watsonville, CA
debra@jacobsheart.orgDonna Jones, ED
CEO
American Red Cross, Santa Cruz County Chapter
Santa Cruz, CA
djones@scredcross.orgBella Hughes, RN, MS
Executive Director
Visiting Nurses Association of Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz, CA
hughesb@sutterhealth.orgRobin Kramer, RN, NP
Nurse Practitioner
UCSF Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Palliative Care Program
San Francisco, CA
robin.kramer@ucsfmedctr.orgDiane Kurtz, RN
Director of Pediatric Home Health
Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association
Salinas, CA
dekurtz@ccvna.comCharlene Martin, RN, BSN
Case Manager
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital
Salinas, CA
831-757-4333, ext. 1439Margy Mayfield
Executive Director
Coastal Kids Home Care
Salinas, CA
margy@coastalkidshomecare.orgStephanie O’Mara, RN
Palliative Care Coordinator
Dominican Hospital
Santa Cruz, CA
somara@chw.eduAnn Pomper
Executive Director
Hospice of Santa Cruz
Scotts Valley, CA
apomper@hospicesantacruz.orgJudi Rasmussen
Director of Perinatal Services
Natividad Medical Center
Salinas, CA
rasmussenj@co.monterey.ca.usMaria Runciman
Director of Clinical Programs
Catholic Charities
Seaside, CA
mrunciman@dioceseofmonterey.orgElsa Quezada
Executive Director
Central Coast Center for Independent Living
Salinas, CA
cccil@cccil.orgCarrie Rose, MSW
Social Worker
San Andreas Regional Center
Campbell, CA
sacrose@sarc.orgJoyce Shefren, BSN, CHPN
Case Manager
Pathways Kids
Sunnyvale, CA
jshefren@pathwayshealth.orgSandy Sentivany-Collins, RN, MS
Pediatric Pain Management
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford
Palo Alto, CA
ssentivanycollins@lpch.orgGwynn B. Sullivan, RN, MSN
Director, Partner Programs and Services
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization / Caring Connections
gsullivan@nhpco.orgSally Thomas
Administrator Manager
Jordan House
Scotts Valley, CA
administrator@jordanhouse.orgChristy Torklidson, RN, PHN, MSN
Program Director
George Mark Children’s House
San Leandro, CA
ctorkildson@georgemark.orgOscar Torres
District Manager
San Andreas Regional Center
Watsonville, CA
saotorres@sarc.orgPamela Troia
Chapter Leader
Compassionate Friends of Monterey County
Monterey, CA
ptroia@sbcglobal.netAnalisa Velasquez, MSW
Social Worker
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford
Palo Alto, CA
avelasquez@lpch.orgSusan Willoughby, RN
Director of Palliative Care
Children’s Hospital Central California
Madera, CA
swilloughby@childrenscentralcal.orgJanet Windt, RN
OB Perinatal
Watsonville Community Hospital
Watsonville, CA
janet_windt@chs.netRita Winings
Volunteer Coordinator
Jordan House
Scotts Valley, CADeborah Wright, RN, PHN
Nurse Case Manager
California Children’s Services
Santa Cruz, CA
deborah.wright@health.co.santa-cruz.ca.usPaupu Yep
Resource Specialist
San Andreas Regional Center
Salinas, CA
sapaupu@sarc.orgJane Zimmerman, MSW
Social Worker
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford
Palo Alto, CA
jzimmerman@lpch.orgCommunity Partner Highlights
Angels of Light Reiki
Serving all Central CA CountiesOffering alternative health care that works well with and may enhance
traditional medical treatments. Reiki is a gentle, safe and natural method that works on an energy level to reduce pain, relieve stress and anxiety allowing the immune system to work at optimal levels. Treatments consist of a gentle laying-on of hands and
can be provided at my studio, in the hospital, or in the privacy of your own
home.We also offer Family Reiki Life Threatening Conditions classes (LTC). A well-being program where a parent/caregiver and the child learn Reiki and other fun-filled, simple, self-care techniques as a team. The use of these techniques helps to make hospital and doctors visits more relaxed. Private or group training is available at home or hospital.
Please visit the website for more information regarding treatments or training.
Contact:
Barbara J. Igoe
Reiki Master/Teacher
831-588-7713
mbdigoe@comcast.netCabrillo College Allied Health Program
Serving Santa Cruz County, CA
Cabrillo College’s Allied Health programs include Nursing, Radiology Technology, Dental Hygiene, and Medical Assisting. Cabrillo College also has an active simulation program that provides opportunities for students from Nursing to practice a broad range of patient care skills.Contact:
Thomas McKay
Director of Allied Health and Nursing
831-479-6455
tomckay@cabrillo.edu
Inner Light Ministries
Inner Light Ministries is an Omnifaith outreach ministry dedicated to spiritual transformation. We provide “Tools for Living”™ that encourage the practical application of Universal Spiritual Principles to all of life’s circumstances. Our aim is healing through the energy of love and the revealing of our own Inner Light. As an Omnifaith ministry, we embody Spiritual Oneness, appreciate individualized expressions, and honor all paths that lead to Truth.
Inner Light Ministries is a nondenominational religious nonprofit organization founded in January, 1997 by Rev. Deborah Johnson. It was conceived as an outreach ministry dedicated to healing, transformation, and teaching the practical application of Universal Spiritual Principles. It has quickly grown into a dynamic umbrella ministry with five active ministries within it.
Contact:
Valerie Hayes
Minister of Operations831-465-9090 x203
vhayes@innerlightministries.comLet’s Collaborate!
Lets Collaborate! grew out of discussions at Rallying Points meetings where community end-of-life coalitions were requesting a simple way to create a meaningful online resource for caregivers and a networking tool for outreach to professionals.
Contact:
Tasha Beauchamp
tasha@letscollaborate.us