These centers serve as a specialized resource
in their region for existing evaluation services available through
the education, human services and primary health care systems.
They have the multidisciplinary expertise needed to diagnose
or confirm medical conditions and develop appropriate plans for
comprehensive care for children with developmental and behavioral
disorders.
Children to be served by these Centers are children
with congenital or acquired neurodevelopmental disorders including
psychosocial disorders, organic central nervous systems disorders,
sensory disorders and communication disorders. These Centers
are especially suited to serve those children with complicated
and interconnected health, social and psychosocial and learning
problems, behavioral and environmental effects, and problems
related to family stress and parental actions and inactions.
As described by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D., these
problems require a multidisciplinary approach above and beyond
traditional nursing and physician care. (Report of the Surgeon
General's Workshop on Children with Handicaps and Their Families
- 1982).
The Child Evaluation Centers of Excellence are
a resource for primary care physicians, high risk follow-up program,
case managers, care coordinators, day training centers,, child
study teams and other community providers requiring assistance
in the diagnosis, assessment and/or management of these children.
C.H.A.T.T., located at Newark Beth Israel Medical
Center, is one of eleven centers in the statewide network.
C.H.A.T.T. services are funded in part by Special
Child and Adult Health Services, New Jersey Department of Health
and Senior Service.
Child
Evaluation Centers of Excellence are state of the
art centers for the evaluation of children with or at risk
for developmental disorders including behavioral disorders.
Their staff have the expertise necessary to provide medical
and health focused evaluations for children from birth through
adolescence.
