Zip Code vs. Genetic Code: The Social Determinants of Caring for Children and Families with Special Needs

This year the conference theme “Social Determinants of Health” has been chosen in alignment with American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy and priorities. The AAP recognizes the importance of promoting children’s health and well-being in the context of their families and communities and the crucial importance of interdisciplinary communication and coordination to successfully address all factors that contribute to a child’s health and well-being.

At the conclusion of the conference, participants will be better able to:
1. Recognize that social determinants of health of children and families with special health care needs inform the context of working with a wide array of providers.
2. Apply a social determinants-informed and interprofessional approach when serving children and families with special health care needs.
3. Integrate care coordination protocols when serving children and adolescents with special health care needs that are specific to a community’s economic and social conditions.


*The following sessions only have been approved for IL EI Credits:

8:15–9:15am: Keynote Address: Healthy Chicago 2.0: Partnering to Improve Health-1 WWF
9:30–10:30am Breakout Session 1:
A: Using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Across Multiple Settings-1 INT
B: Systems of Care: A Backdrop for Collaboration Between Pediatricians and Child Psychiatrists-1 WWF
C: Almost Home Kids: An Innovative Family-Centered Model for Hospital-to-Home Trans Care-1WWF
10:45–11:45am Breakout Session 2:
A: Advances in Genetics and Autism Spectrum Disorders-1 ATY
B: You Don’t Have to be a Therapist to be Therapeutic: Effective Responses When You Recognize Trauma in Children with Special Needs-0.5 INT, 0.5 ATY
C: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care Among Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities-1 WWF
12:30–1:45pm Film Screening & Panel Discussion: Raising of America “DNA is not Destiny”-1.25 WWF
2:00–3:00pm Breakout Session 3:
A: Navigating the Disability Service Delivery System-1 WWF
B: Challenging Behaviors and Oral Health-0.5 ATY, 0.5 TYP
C: Almost Home Kids: An Innovative Family-Centered Model for Hospital-to-Home Trans Care1 WWF
3:15–4:15pm: Keynote Address- Supporting the Health of Children and Families with Special Needs Through Civic Engagement-1 WWF