Findings from the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs
Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Eastern Time

Overview | Presenter Information | Agenda | Resources | Archive

Overview

Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) are defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Maternal and Child Health Bureau as:

“...those who have or are at increased 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.”¹

This definition of CSHCN is broad and inclusive, and it emphasizes the characteristics held in common by children with a wide range of diagnoses. The National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN), designed and sponsored by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and carried out by the National Center for Health Statistics, provides detailed information on the prevalence of CSHCN in the nation and in each state, the demographic characteristics of these children, the types of health and support services that they and their families need, and their access to and satisfaction with the care that they receive.

This DataSpeak conference coincides with the data release of the 2005–2006 NS-CSHCN. The Director of the Office of Data and Program Development at the Maternal and Child Health Bureau will provide an overview of the purpose and uses of the NS-CSHCN. He also will be highlighting key findings from the survey. A Senior Scientist at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics will describe the data collection methods of the 2005–2006 survey as well as the similarities and differences between the 2005–2006 survey questions and the survey conducted in 2001. Finally, the Director of the National Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health will walk participants through an online tool for analyzing state and national NS-CSHCN data. She also will discuss how the data can be used by maternal and child health officials and program partners to serve the needs of CSHCN and their families.

¹ McPherson M, Arango P, Fox H, Lauver C, McManus M, Newacheck P, Perrin J, Shonkoff J, Strickland B. A new definition of children with special health care needs. Pediatrics. 1998;102(1):137–140.