Children & Youth

About Bullying

Resource from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides parents and caregivers with information about bullying and methods for communicating with children about the climate of fear created by bullying.

Abuse of Children with Cognitive, Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

Information on the abuse and neglect of children with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities and how to help prevent and report abuse.

Administration for Children & Families Home Page

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children and Families Home Page.

Administration for Children & Families Office of Child Support Enforcement

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHA) office that assures that assistance in obtaining support (both financial and medical) is available to children through locating parents, establishing paternity and support obligations and enforcing those obligations.

Adopting Children with Developmental Disabilities

Information for families who may be considering adopting children with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or autism.

Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality: Child & Adolescent Health

Information about research on quality health services for children.

Alzheimer's Disease & People with Mental Retardation

Fact sheet from The Arc provides an overview of Alzheimer's and how people with mental retardation (intellectual disabilities) are impacted by the disease. Document is in Word format.

Answers4Families: Children's Mental Health

Information and support to families and professionals in Nebraska who are interested in Children's Mental Health issues.

Answers4Families: Families with Special Needs Children

A project of the Center on Children, Families and the Law at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for families with children with special needs, including disabilities (such as physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities) and chronic illnesses of all types.

Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP)

National organization representing state public health leaders and others working to improve the health and well being of women, children and youth, including those with special health care needs, and families.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on ADHD with links to research and resources.

Autism & Pervasive Developmental Disorder Web Site

Resource for parents who suspect that their child may have Autism.

Autism National Committee

Advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the human rights and civil rights of all persons with autism.

Autism Resource Network

Information on the key issues associated with autism spectrum disorders.

Autism Society of America

Promotes lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the autism spectrum, and their families, to be fully participating, included members of their community.

Benefits for Children with Disabilities

Booklet written primarily for the parents and caregivers of children with disabilities (including physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities) and adults disabled since childhood which illustrates the kinds of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and health benefits a child with a disability might be eligible for and explains the evaluation of disability claims for children.

Causes & Prevention of Mental Retardation

Fact sheet from The Arc provides an overview of Mental Retardation, including causes and prevention. Document is in Word format.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Kids Page

Designed to help children understand and accept disability.

Child Health Guide to Preventive Care

Explains preventive care for children such as checkup visits, immunizations and tests and exams and provides guidance on related issues.

Children with Diabetes

Information for parents and children with diabetes.

Children with Disabilities & the State Children's Health Insurance Program

Information regarding low-income uninsured children with disabilities to assist state decision makers in their implementation of Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans.

Children's Mental Health: A National Action Agenda

Information on the 2001 National Action Agenda for Children's Mental Health, which outlines strategies to improve the services for children and adolescents with mental health problems.

Children, Adolescents & Families Mental Health Information

Information on the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Federal Center for Mental Health Services, which promotes and ensures that the mental health needs of children and their families are met within the context of community-based systems of care.

Community for All Tool Kit

A guide for volunteers, advocates, self-advocates, and professionals to promote the inclusion of people with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities into the fabric and mainstream of community life.

Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Maternal & Child Health Bureau

Contains information on various programs for families and children administered HHS, including a block grant program to help families care for children with special health needs.

Developmental Screening for Children

Learn ways to identify children who should receive more intensive assessment or diagnosis for potential developmental delays or intellectual disabilities.

Dietary Intervention for Autism & Related Disorders

Page from the Parent to Parent New Hampshire Web site offers information on dietary intervention for autism and related disorders and provides help with dietary issues, finding appropriate foods locally, recipes and monthly group meetings.

Disabilities & Chronic Illness in Girls

Information about disabilities from the 4girls.gov Web site, developed by the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services to give girls between the ages of 10 and 16 reliable, current health information.

Disability & Health Home Page

The home page to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Disability and Health Team, with information for people with disabilities and healthcare providers on maintaining health standards.

Disability Among Children

Data on children with disabilities from the 1990 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), a nationally representative survey of the civilian non-institutionalized population.

EPSDT State Agency Responsibilities

State agency reporting responsibilities under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment program. EPSDT is Medicaid's comprehensive and preventive child health program for individuals under the age of 21.

Early & Periodic Screening & Diagnostic Treatment Benefit (EPSDT)

Information about EPSDT benefits which provide for comprehensive and preventive health screening for individuals under the age of 21, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis & Treatment (EPSDT) Program Information

The EPSDT program is designed to meet the physical, mental health and developmental needs of children living in low-income families.

Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems

A report highlighting the efforts of 10 states in providing state-to-local support for developing early childhood systems.

Early Identification of Developmental Delay & Disability

Information on the importance of early detection and screening of children for mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.

Elimination of Medicaid Transportation-Related Reimbursement

Medicaid payments will no longer be available for administrative activities performed by school employees or contractors, or anyone under the control of a public or private educational institution, and for transportation from home to school. Document is in .pdf format.

Exceptional Family Members Program of the Military Assistance Program

U.S. Department of Defense's wide-ranging educational, medical and early intervention services to military family members with disabilities.

Family Guide to Systems of Care for Children with Mental Health Needs

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) bilingual guide to finding services and working with providers in local children's systems of care.

Family Village

Provides information on issues faced by children and youth with disabilities (including physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities) and their families.

Family Voices

Information on obtaining health services for children with special health needs.

First Signs

Promoting awareness regarding the most important and often overlooked aspects of development: social, emotional and communication.

Health Care Resources from HRSA

Health care resources for women, children, people living with HIV/AIDS, health professionals and others from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Healthy & Ready to Work

Information on a federally funded initiative for youth with special health care needs which helps them transition from pediatric to adult health care and to work and independence.

Hearing Loss in Children

Fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on hearing loss with answers to frequently asked questions.

How Families Can Help Children Cope with Fear & Anxiety

Publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers parents and other caregivers advice on helping children cope with the anxiety that violence, death and disasters can cause.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism

Conducts outreach training and consultations, engages in research and develops and disseminates information focused on building the capacity of local communities, organizations, agencies and families to support children and adults with Autism.

Information & Resources for Girls & Young Women with Disabilities

Includes information on becoming independent, rehabilitation therapies, as well as stories shared by young people living with a disability.

Insure Kids Now!

Information on a national campaign to link the nation's 10 million uninsured children (from birth to age 18) to free and low-cost health insurance.

Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)

IACC's primary mission is to facilitate the exchange of information on autism and to coordinate autism-related programs and initiatives. Parents or legal guardians of individuals with autism or other developmental disorders are appointed to the Committee.

Jacob's Bridge through Autism

A resource dedicated to helping families with children with Autism gain the knowledge to help themselves and bridge the gap between diagnosis and the next steps.

John Tracy Clinic

John Tracy Clinic is a private, non-profit education center that works to offer hope, guidance and encouragement to families of infants and preschool children with hearing losses by providing free, parent-centered services worldwide.

Kid Quest Page on Disability & Health

Encourages kids to think about people with disabilities and some of the issues related to participation in daily activities, health and accessibility.

Kids Health Pervasive Developmental Disorders & Autism Information

Dedicated to providing information regarding pervasive developmental disorders, such as Autism, this site provides information and links that range from emotions and behavior to nutrition and fitness.

Kids as Self Advocates (KASA)

A national, grassroots network of youth with special health needs or disabilities (including physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities) and friends who speak on their own behalf. KASA provides information about a variety of issues including living with disabilities, health care, school and work.

Lutheran Services of America (LSA)

LSA's nearly 300 health and human service member organizations provide services ranging from health care to disaster response, from services for children and families to care for the elderly.

Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Policy Research Center

Focuses on health care policy issues affecting children, including those with special health care needs and those from low-income families.

Mental Retardation Information

Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on intellectual disabilities (formerly referred to as mental retardation) with links to research and resources.

National Center of Medical Home Initiatives for Children with Special Needs

Provides support to physicians, families and other medical and non-medical providers who care for children with special needs so that they have access to a medical home.

National Center on Birth Defects & Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD)

Information on the NCBDDD, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that works to find causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities, implement prevention strategies and improve the health and wellness of people living with disabilities.

National Directory of UCEDD Contacts

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDD) work with people with disabilities, members of their families and state and local government agencies. Through training, technical assistance, research and information sharing, they build the capacity of communities to sustain all their citizens, including those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS) Learning Disabilities Information Page

Information on learning disabilities, disorders that affect the ability to understand or use spoken or written language, do mathematical calculations, coordinate movements or direct attention.

National Institute on Child Health & Development (NICHD) Autism Site

NICHD, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is one of the primary Institutes doing research into various aspects of autism, including its causes, prevalence and treatments. The goal of this site is to provide easy access to the most current information about NICHD research projects, publications, news releases and other activities related to autism and similar disorders.

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Information for Parents & Teachers

Web site developed to inform parents and teachers about the health effects and consequences of drug abuse and addiction.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Child Health & Human Development Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) Branch

The MRDD Branch sponsors research and training aimed at preventing mental retardation and related developmental disabilities.

National Women's Law Center

Answers to frequently asked questions about child and family support.

New Research to Help Youth with Mental Disorders Transition to Adulthood

As young people with mental health disorders transition from adolescence to adulthood, they frequently face new and difficult challenges. Several new grants will examine these issues, and work toward developing better ways to help young people with mental disorders successfully enter adulthood.

Opening Doors: Technology & Communication Options for Children with Hearing Loss

Publication from the U.S. Department of Education provides information and resources for parents of children with hearing loss.

PACER's National Center for Bullying Prevention

Promotes bullying awareness, teaches effective ways to respond to bullying and prevents bullying of all children, especially those with disabilities. Includes the Kids Against Bullying Web site, whichs teaches elementary school students about bullying and provides methods to deal with it whether they are targets or witnesses.

Parent Training & Information Centers & Community Parent Resource Centers

The Centers serve the families of children and young adults from birth to age 22 with all disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Parents Action for Children Network

Works with parents to advocate for the resources families need to raise healthy children, including health care, education and quality child care.

Research Efforts on Developmental Screening

Research from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on screening for developmental and intellectual disabilities (formerly referred to as mental retardation) and other health conditions in children.

Resources for People Affected by Developmental Disabilities

Information for parents and educators on children with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorders.

Services for Children with Special Health Needs

Includes a section with information on children with special health care needs.

Services for Families

Information on services available to families from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Adminstration for Children and Families, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Head Start.

Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP)

Information and workshops about parent rights and responsibilities regarding special education services for military children in the United States and overseas.

State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

Web site on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to some frequently asked questions about SCHIP.

State Disability Resources

Organizations and agencies within your state that address disability-related issues, including youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

State of the Science in Autism

Report to the National Institutes of Health on Autism research.

Supportive Health Service Needs of Children with Disabilities

Focuses on supportive services, a subset of health-related services that are used almost exclusively by children with disabilities, in order to sharpen the focus on the differential need of children with disabilities.

Teen Mental Health Problems: What Are The Warning Signs

Publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers information on the warning signs of mental health problems in teens.

Through the Looking Glass (TLG): Serving Families with Disabilities

Information on TLG, a nationally recognized center that has pioneered research, training and services for families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability (including physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities) or medical issue.

Transition Information

Information from the Family Village Web site regarding issues faced by youth with disabilities (including physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities) as they transition from school to work. Includes links to information on health-related issues.

U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Subcommittee on Children & Families

Subcommittee focuses on creating policies to increase the strength of families and the well-being of children.
  • The White House: President George W. Bush
  • USA.gov: The U.S. government's official web portal.