Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Program Overview: 

Maine CDC’s Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program (CYSHCN) sits at the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention and is part of the Title V: Maternal and Child Health Block Grant. 

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs is defined by the National Standards of Care for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs as: 

• Children birth to age 21 who have or are at risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition AND who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally. 

Mission: Improve the health and quality of life for children with special health care needs and their families. 

Goal: Assist families and providers in finding services that will help the child or youth acquire optimal health, development, wellbeing, and the best quality of life.

We envision a state where all children and youth will: 

• Enjoy a full life, from childhood through adulthood.
• Experience systems that support their social, emotional, physical health and wellbeing.
• Have dignity, autonomy, independence, and active participation in their communities.
• Engage in a system that supports families as partners in care and shared decision making.

Our team thrives to provide and promote family-centered, coordinated care and facilitate the development of community-based systems for the children and families of Maine. 

Health Care Coordination:

Our goal is to assist families and providers in finding services that will help the child or youth acquire optimal health, development, well-being, and the best quality of life.

Our Health Care Coordinator can assist with insurance appeals, application processes, advocacy, navigation of healthcare systems, referrals, finding resources, connecting families to other support systems and services, and training case managers/ care managers on best practices and guidelines. 

If you would like someone from our team to contact you regarding your child or family's special health care needs or navigating systems please click on General Contact Request Form and fill it out. One of our team members will get in contact with you, within two (2) business days.

Monthly Learning Series:

The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Monthly Learning Series schedule and recordings can be found on our training page. 

National Survey of Children’s Health:

Please visit the National Survey of Children’s Health page to see the national data as well as Maine’s data.