About Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

To enable children and youth with special healthcare needs to receive high quality, family-centered, integrated health services by providing resources about access to care, medical and dental homes, care coordination, and healthcare transition.

Definition of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) encompasses a diverse group of children with health conditions. This can include:

  • chronic health conditions (ex. diabetes)
  • medically complex health issues (ex. cystic fibrosis)
  • developmental disabilities (ex. autism spectrum disorder)
  • behavioral or emotional conditions (ex. bipolar disorder)
  • require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally
Happy girl with Downs Syndrome standing in a field
Funding Opportunity

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program is offering funding for new applicants to provide information, education, technical assistance, and peer support to Idaho families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and the professionals who serve them with the goal of promoting optimal health for CYSHCN.

Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. M.T., Friday, February 7, 2025. Applications to apply for the subgrant or requests for additional information may be obtained from Melissa.Roa@dhw.idaho.gov.


Submit the application in electronic copy to Melissa.Roa@dhw.idaho.gov or by post or delivery to the following address:

Idaho Maternal and Child Health Section
450 W. State St. – 4th Floor
P.O. Box 83720
Boise ID 83702-0036
(208) 334-4976

Find the application here.

CYSHCN Statistics
14.2
Million children and youth in the US who have special healthcare needs
19.2%
of Idaho's children and youth who have special healthcare needs

Six focus areas of CYSHCN

3. Dental home: Oral healthcare that is delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated, and family-centered way
4. Care coordination: A family-centered, assessment-driven, multidisciplinary activity that is focused on meeting the complex health care needs of children and youth
6. Training and resource organizations: Find resources and upcoming trainings here

Upcoming events and trainings  

Down Syndrome Booklet

PANDAS/PANS FAQ Sheet

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