The Maternal Child Health Bureau defines "Children with special health care needs" as those children who have, or are at an increased risk for having, 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.

Key elements of this definition include:

• A child who either has or is at risk to have a condition that affects their function and needs.
• The child's condition has lasted or is expected to last longer than one year (chronic).
• The child requires extra services because of the condition.

Currently, an estimated 169,000 children with special health care needs reside in Colorado.

The Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs (HCP) serves as a focal point at the state and local level to build a system of health care services and supports for all families of children with special needs in Colorado. The program works with other programs, agencies and organizations to develop coordinated programs and community based systems of care to meet the needs of families. The Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs serves to assess the needs of families and to report health status of this population.

Through contracts with local public health agencies, the program assists families in understanding and coordinating the resources available for care and support including:

• Medicaid
• Social Security Income (SSI)
• Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)
• Early Childhood Connections (Part C)
• Special education and developmental disabilities services
• Access to health care providers

Background Documents

• Care Coordination for Children with Special Health Care Needs and their Families in the New Millennium - August 2000
  The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs 

Recommended Strategies

Adequate Insurance

• Health Insurance Is a Family Matter - 2002
  Institute of Medicine

 Community Systems

• A Randomized, Controlled Trial of a Community-Based Support Program for Families of Children With Chronic Illness: Pediatric Outcomes
  Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine . 2002; 156:533-539

Family Partnerships

• Making It Work: Guidelines to maximize family participation in agencies and organizations that deliver services to special populations, including children with special health care needs - September 2002
  The Institute of Child Health Policy

Medical Home

• Medical Homes in Colorado Colorado Medical Home Initiative for Children with Special Health Care Needs

 Transitioning

• New Financial Guide for Parents of Children with Disabilities and Other Special Needs:
  With Open Arms: Embracing a Bright Financial Future for You and Your Child with Disabilities and Other Special Needs
  Easter Seals

 Related Colorado Programs

• Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs
• Colorado Responds to Children With Special Health Care Needs

Related Topics

• Access to Care
• Newborn Screening

 Resources

• Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee (CSEAC)
• Federal Interagency Coordinating Council (FICC)