Definition of Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)

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

"those who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, development, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally”

This definition is broad and inclusive, and it emphasizes the characteristics held in common by children with a wide range of diagnoses.

Adopted by the AAP (October 1998). McPherson M, Arango P, Fox HB, A new definition of children with special health care needs. Pediatrics 1998; 102:137-140
[Extract] [Full text] [PDF]

Prevalence

• Approximately 10.2 million children in the United States, which represents 14 percent of all U.S. children, have special health care needs based on the MCHB definition;
  
  
• More than a fifth of U.S. households with children have at least one child with special needs;
  
  
• 16 percent of CSHCN are reported to not receive all the services they need;
  
  
• More than 94 percent of CSHCN have a regular source of care when they are sick. For 78 percent this is a private doctor's office; for 13 percent it is a clinic or health center; and for almost 4 percent it is another setting.
  
  
  National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, 2005-2006
  The survey screened 364,841 children for special health care needs and completed 40,840 interviews with families of CSHCN, covering a minimum of 740 CSHCN under the age of 18 in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Interviews were conducted with parents or guardians who know about the child's health. If you would like a hard copy of the chartbook, please contact the HRSA Information Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-HRSA or 703-442-9051 (or the website is http://ask.hrsa.gov/) or Steph Toomer by email at stoomer@hrsa.gov or by phone at 301-443-0766.

Who Are Children with Special Health Care Needs?
Factsheet by the Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health
November 2007
www.childhealthdata.org

Prevalence and Characteristics of Children with Special Health Care Needs. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, vol 158, September 2004. Peter C. van Dyck MD, MPH, Michael Kogan, PhD, Merle McPherson MD, Gloria R. Weissman, MA, Paul W. Newacheck, DrPH. Full Text.

Last Updated March 31, 2008