The Early Childhood Comprehensive System grant supports State Maternal and Child Health Programs (MCH) and their partners in work to strengthen the State's early childhood system of services for young children and their families. The goal is to develop a comprehensive early childhood system that promotes the health and well-being of young children, enabling them to enter school ready and able to learn. Assuring access to health insurance and that all children have a medical home where their health care needs are coordinated is a key objective for maternal and child health programs.

What is a Medical Home?
A "great" medical home declares itself to be a medical home, and

• knows its patients and patient populations;
  
• partners with and learns from youth and families;
  
• uses a proactive team approach to chronic care management, including planned visits, coordination of complex services, co-management with specialists, and assistance with transitions - especially to adult services;
• connects with other community-based organizations, and;
  
• offers safe, efficient care while preventing unnecessary or duplicative services, thus reducing health care costs. (Taken from Medical Home Talking Points, Center for Medical Home Improvement, http://www.medicalhomeimprovement.org/)

The American Academy of Pediatrics describes care from a medical home as a model of delivering primary care that is accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective care.

Children with special health care needs have a particular need for a medical home where they can receive comprehensive physical and child development services. Access to medical homes provides assessment, intervention, and referral of children with developmental, behavioral, or psycho-social problems.