Feasibility of implementing systematic social needs assessment for children with medical complexity

Table 3 Social needs reported by CMC caregivers and program follow-up responses to those needs

Variable	Overall
N	49
Any unmet social needs
No	12 (24.5%)
Yes	37 (75.5%)
Categories of unmet social need
Gaps in access to food and/or nutrition benefits	20 (40.8%)
Food insecurity, including formula	17 (34.7%)
Gap in federal nutritional benefits	8 (16.3%)
Housing-related concerns	9 (18.4%)
Housing insecurity	3 (6.1%)
Housing environmental safety concerns	6 (12.2%)
Gap in home utility services	4 (8.2%)
Lack of medical transportation	6 (12.2%)
Concerns about school services^a (n = 35)	8 (22.9%)
Gap in supplemental security income benefits^b (n = 11)	8 (72.7%)
Gap in home and community-based services program waiver^c (n = 10)	8 (80%)
Interpersonal safety concerns	1 (2%)
Any caregiver needs	14 (28.6%)
High caregiver burden	9 (18.4%)
Caregiver social isolation	7 (14.3%)
Urgent social needs reported	5 (10.2%)
Asked for any help with unmet social needs	18 (36.7%)
Follow-up response by complex care programs to address social needs^d
N	37
Provided information, referrals, or direct assistance	20 (54.1%)
Provided information to patient/family	15 (40.5%)
Referral made to community-based partner/agency	11 (29.7%)
Direct assistance to patient/family	11 (29.7%)

Sample size varies if item was only asked of a subset of participants
^aAmong children with an IEP (individualized education program) or 504 plan
^bAmong those waiting to hear back about an SSI (supplemental security income) application or if application was recently denied
^cAmong those waiting to hear back about CAP/C (Community Alternatives Program for Children is the Medicaid Home and Community-Bsaed Services waiver program in North Carolina) application or if application was recently denied
^dAmong those with at least one unmet social need

ISSN: 2662-2211