Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program

The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program seeks to improve the system of care for children with special health care needs from birth to 21 years of age and their families. The Program helps to shape public policy so families can get the best health care for their children.

Children served by the CYSHCN Program have an illness or condition for which they need extra health care and support services. These children might have a serious or long-lasting:

• Physical condition,
• Intellectual or developmental disability, and/or
• Behavioral or emotional condition.

A few examples of such conditions include cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, asthma, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, heart conditions, depression, conduct disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

New York State also supports programs in most counties in the state that help families of CYSHCN by giving them information on health insurance and connecting them with health care providers. These programs will also work with families to help them meet the medical and non-medical needs of their children.

Community Resources

• Developmental Disability
• Family Support
• Mental Health
• Transition from Adolescence to Independence

Information about Resources, Agencies, Acronyms, Transitions, and Much More

Growing Up Healthy Hotline

You can call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline to learn about resources for health care, immunizations, nutrition and other health and human services. The hotline provides information and referrals 24 hours/day, seven days a week in English, Spanish and other languages. Call 1-800-522-5006, or through TTY 1-800-655-1789.

New York State Multiple Systems Navigator (MSN)

Multiple Systems Navigator is a user-friendly website with health, education, human service and disability information. The information is provided for youths, parents, family members and caregivers that rely on services and supports from child and family service systems. This website was developed by the Council on Children and Families and funded by the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC).

• Website

New York State Parent Guide

NYS Parent Guide. This is your Guide, the story of the first five years of your parenting journey. Whether you are the mother or father (through birth, adoption, or foster care), a grandparent, partner, family friend, aunt or uncle with parenting responsibilities, what you say and do in your role as a parent matters.

• https://www.nysparenting.org/

Publications

• New York State Profile of Children with Special Health Care Needs, 2017-2018 (PDF)
• New York State Profile of Children with Special Health Care Needs, 2016-2017 (PDF)
• New York State Profile of Children with Special Health Care Needs 2016 (PDF)
• Individualized Seizure Action Plan (PDF)
  This form can be used by a child's physician specialist to describe an emergency treatment plan to be followed at school (created by Epilepsy Foundation of Metropolitan New York).
• Publications Order Form (PDF)
• Resource Directory for Children and Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs - descriptions of state programs and services and eligibility criteria
• Caring for Students with Life-Threatening Allergies - New York State Resource Guide (PDF)
• Health Summary for Your Child with Special Health Care Needs - Binder Version (PDF)
• H.I. Doc. (Health Information Document) - Pocket Card for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs" (PDF)
  (You can order the HI Doc card using the publication order form. The card from the Department of Health will work better than the PDF version found here. The card you can get using the order form has special paper that has been pre-folded to fit in your pocket and includes hard protective covers.)
• How Can I Get the Best Health Care for My Child?

For questions, contact the Bureau of Child Health at (518) 474-1961.