Stephanie Picon-Arroyo & Patricia Loza — Care Coordination Technical Assistance Specialists
(gentle music) My name is Stephanie Picon-Arroyo, and I'm a Care Coordination, Training, and Technical Assistance Specialist. Professionally, I'm a nurse, and understand, with a background in pediatrics, the medical care system. I've had the opportunity to see them in school health, I've seen them transition from Early Intervention into school-based services, and so my hope is that this will offer the opportunity to ensure great outcomes for children and youth with special health needs.
My name is Patricia Loza, also known as Patty, and I'm a Care Coordination, Training, and Technical Assistance Specialist. Prior to becoming a Care Coordination, Training, and Technical Assistance Specialist, I was a Care Coordinator for the Department of Public Health for nine years, and I'm a trained social worker, and prior to my role as a Care Coordinator under the Department of Public Health, I worked for Early Intervention, and I was within the regional consultation program. So my work within the field was working with youth with special healthcare needs for quite a long time.
StephanieT
echnical Assistance will provide CARES for Kids providers the opportunity to tailor training in technical assistance based on their interests. What are their needs going deeper into the curriculum, or even beyond? It's taking their understanding from the curriculum into practice, and allowing them to target the ways in which they support children and youth with special health needs.
Patricia
It's more of a holistic approach. We don't just look at, oh, the child has a specialized diagnosis, so we look at everything that's uniquely attached to that individual, and how do those strings spread out.
Stephanie
It's really about ensuring that there's intentional work happening across all systems for that individual and for their family. It's something we desperately need to ensure that systems are working together to bridge any gaps that may exist.
Patricia
There's many families out here in Massachusetts who are not getting that care that they need, that specialized, holistic approach, and we want to reach those families. We want them to get that care and that support that they're not getting. (gentle music)