Office of Children
with Special Health Care Needs

Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)

The mission of CSHCN is to improve the health and quality of life for children with special health care needs and their families through early screening and detection, data integration, care coordination, education, intervention, and life transitions.

Utah Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) is a part of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Family Health.

Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the state Maternal Child Health (Title V) agency for Utah. CSHCN's programs and work are supported, in large part, by Federal Title V funds to help address the needs of the children and youth with special health care needs and their families

We oversee many programs for children with special health care needs. Each is unique in its services for children with special health care needs.

What do we do?

CSHCN provides and promotes family-centered, coordinated care and facilitates the development of community-based systems for these children and their families.

CSHCN activities focus on reduction of preventable death, disability and illness in children due to chronic and disabling conditions.

Our goals include:

All children with special health care needs will receive coordinated ongoing comprehensive care within a medical home.
All families of children with special health care needs will have adequate private and/or public insurance to pay for the services they need.
All children will be screened early and continuously for special health care needs.
Services for children with special health care needs and their families will be organized in ways that families can use them easily.
Families of children with special health care needs will partner in decision making at all levels.
All youth with special health care needs will receive the services necessary to make appropriate transitions to adult health care, work, and independence.

Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) programs

January is Birth Defects Awareness Month

Birth defects are structural changes present at birth that can affect almost any part of the body. Advancements in medicine and surgery have led to better survival, and thankfully more children born with birth defects grow up to lead full lives. Awareness of birth defects across the lifespan helps provide individuals, parents, and families affected by birth defects the information they need to seek proper care. It also gives healthcare professionals the evidence they need to deliver the best care for patients across all stages of life: before and during pregnancy, and in infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. For more information:

birth defects prevention before and during pregnancy
Survival and health of infants with birth defects
Educational needs and special healthcare needs for children with birth defects
Transition from pediatric to adult medical care for adolescents
Planning for pregnancy, recurrence prevention, and genetics and family history for adults with birth defects

For more information.

Contact us

Address:

Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Family Health
Office of Children with Special Health Care Needs
195 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116

Office director:

Amy Nance
email aenance@utah.gov

Phone and email:

Monday thru Friday - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
email cshcn@utah.gov
phone (801) 273-2800
phone (800) 829-8200