Collaborative For Children and Families Designated as a Health Home

Accredited to serve children by the New York State Department of Health, the Collaborative for Children and Families announced on June 17 that it has been designated as a health home.

Health homes, which are actually healthcare programs, work to better coordinate care among doctors and other providers for Medicaid patients. Joining a health home is free, but in order to qualify, patients must possess two chronic conditions—like substance abuse, heart disease or asthma—possess one chronic condition and live in peril of developing a second, or suffer from a serious mental health condition.

To provide seamless care while serving as a health home, the Collaborative for Children and Families plans to set-up and administer cross-agency taskforces and learning forums in addition to expanding its agency network.

Founded in 2014 in anticipation of the changing landscape of New York state’s Medicaid program, the collaborative is comprised of 33 agencies in New York, Westchester and Long Island, including Abbott House, Heartshare St. Vincent’s Services and Lutheran Social Services.

“The evolving and diverse health needs of children in New York requires an inclusive and harmonized approach,” said Alan Mucatel in a press release. Mucatel is the chair of the Collaborative for Children and Families and Executive Director of Leake & Watts Services, Inc., which is a member agency of the collaborative.

“We are looking forward to leveraging the vast knowledge and expertise of CCF’s member agencies to improve access to quality health care and ultimately improve outcomes for children across the state,” added Mucatel.