Helping Children and Families Navigate the Health Care System

First published May 2016
Updated September 2026

Dealing with the health care system can be frustrating no matter who you are. Now imagine trying to coordinate care for a child who depends on multiple providers, frequent appointments, or ongoing treatment.

A child with asthma may struggle to stay healthy without the right medication plan. A teenager experiencing depression may need help finding behavioral health services. A child with a complex condition may rely on specialists, home medical equipment, and regular hospital care.

For many families, keeping all those pieces connected can feel like a full-time job.

That is why Partners For Kids (PFK) continues to invest in care coordination programs that help children and families get the care and support they need.

When Care Navigation was launched in 2013, the focus was on helping children with the most complex health conditions. Over the past decade, that effort has grown into a broader system designed to support families facing a wide range of challenges.

Today, PFK offers several programs that help families meet wherever they are in their health care journey.

• The process often starts with a Health Risk Assessment. These screenings help identify concerns that might make it harder for a child to stay healthy, whether that means trouble accessing transportation, difficulty finding a primary care provider, or challenges meeting basic needs at home. Families who need additional help can then be connected to the most appropriate level of support.
• Some families benefit from the Care Guide program, which provides short-term assistance focused on removing barriers to care. Care Guides help families schedule appointments, connect with community resources, apply for benefits, and address issues that can interfere with a child's health and well-being. The goal is to resolve problems quickly and help families regain stability
• Other children need more ongoing support. The Disease Management program works with families whose children have chronic conditions such as asthma, depression, migraines, or constipation. Team members provide education, reinforce treatment plans, and help families develop the skills needed to manage these conditions successfully at home.
• For children facing the greatest challenges, Care Navigation offers a more intensive level of support. Nurses, social workers, and care coordination professionals work alongside families to create individualized care plans and help coordinate services across the health care system. They may attend appointments, conduct home visits, connect families with community resources, or work directly with providers to ensure that everyone is moving toward the same goals.

The purpose of all these programs is straightforward: make the health care system easier to navigate so families can spend less time managing logistics and more time caring for their children.

The growth of these services reflects the growing needs of the children and families we serve. What began with a few hundred children enrolled in Care Navigation has evolved into a coordinated system serving more than 12,600 children across Central and West Ohio. As of July 2026, more than 7,400 children were enrolled in Care Navigation. Another 4,300 children were receiving Disease Management services, while more than 700 families were being supported through Care Guide.

Much has changed over the years, but the mission remains the same. Partners For Kids is committed to helping children achieve their best possible health outcomes by connecting families with the care, resources, and support they need to thrive.

Health care is complicated. Families should not have to navigate it alone.