Specialized Health & Social Services - Public Health Region 6/5 South
We support the whole health of children who have special health care needs, and high-risk women, infants, and children in our region:
Our services
- Case management
- Outreach, education, and client support
- Community building
Our programs
- Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)
- Case Management to Children Receiving SSI
- Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women (CPW)
- Assessments for Personal Care Services (PCS)
- Texas Health Steps
We have offices in Houston, Beaumont and Conroe, and our Social Workers can travel to all 16 counties in Region 6/5 South to share comprehensive case management services.
Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Program
The Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Program helps families with healthcare benefits and case management services. We are proud to have helped children with special healthcare needs and their families since 1933.
Eligibility requirements
- Child must live in Texas
- Child must be ages 0-21 years (no age limit for cystic fibrosis)
- Meet financial criteria (200% of poverty level)
- Child must have a physical health condition that is expected to last more than 1 year
Benefits and services
- Medical, dental, and mental health care
- Case Management
- Family support services
- Medical transportation
- Medicines
- Equipment and medical supplies
- Help with medical insurance premiums
Visit the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program website or call 1-800-252-8023 to learn more.
We encourage medical, dental, and other providers to become CSHCN providers. Learn more about the program from Texas Medicaid & Health Care Partnership.
Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women (CPW) Program
The Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women (CPW) Program provides services to children with a health condition or health risk up to age 20. The program also supports high-risk pregnant women of all ages to encourage the use of cost-effective health and health-related care. Together, the case manager and family decide on the medical, social, educational, and other medically necessary service needs.
Call the Texas Health Steps Outreach and Information Hotline at 1-877-THSTEPS (1-877-847-8377) to request case management services.
Children and Pregnant Women Providers
A current list of participating CPW providers is available on Case Management Providers for Children & Pregnant Women.
We encourage social workers and registered nurses to become CPW providers. Learn more about training in the Texas Health Steps program below.
Texas Health Steps (THSteps) Program
The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program, known in Texas as Texas Health Steps (THSteps) is the largest and most comprehensive medical and dental prevention and treatment program for children of low-income families. The program provides a comprehensive and periodic evaluation of a child's health, development, and nutritional status, as well as vision, dental, and hearing care. Texas Health Steps is the gateway for comprehensive health care for Medicaid-enrolled children from birth to age 21 in Texas.
The mission of the Texas Health Steps Program is to expand client awareness of existing health services, to recruit and retain a qualified provider pool, and to assure comprehensive services are available through public and private providers so that recipients can obtain medical and dental care before health problems become chronic and irreversible.
A current list of participating Texas Health Steps medical and dental providers is available from the Texas Health and Humans Services Commission.
Call Texas Health Steps toll-free at 1-877-THSTEPS (1-877-847-8377) for help with:
- Scheduling appointments
- Case management referrals
- Other needs as requested
Services
- Medical screening
- Dental checkups
- Immunizations
- Vision exams and services
- Hearing exams and aids
- Comprehensive care services
- Case management
- Laboratory Services
Free Online Education for Providers – CEUs and Certificates of Completion Available
Texas Health Steps Online Provider Education offers a range of high-quality training opportunities to THSteps providers and other interested individuals. This free training improves your ability to deliver comprehensive preventive health, mental health, dental, and case management services to Medicaid-eligible children from birth through 20 years of age.
THSteps Online Provider Education offers self-paced, web-based training modules. Modules have sections with an evaluation component following each section. These evaluations enable trainees to assess their knowledge as they complete each module. An online certificate of completion is available after a trainee completes an entire module. Eligible participants can earn Continuing Education (CE) credits after the successful completion of each module. Visit Texas Health Steps to access training.
Texas Health Steps Provider Relations staff are also available to conduct training modules in person.