Dear Colleague:
The Health Resources and Services Administration is pleased to present this chartbook highlighting the major findings of The 2005–2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. This represents the second time the survey has been administered, providing updated information on the prevalence of special health care needs among children, both nationally and within each State, and on access to and satisfaction with health care among children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and their families.
The survey continues to produce encouraging findings. A total of 10.2 million children, or 13.9 percent of the Nation’s children, have special health care needs. Of these children, 38 percent are never affected in their daily activities by their conditions, as reported by their parents. This finding, which is consistent with the results of the 2001 survey, may reflect their access to the services that CSHCN and their families need: 84 percent of CSHCN are reported to receive all of the services they need, and the parents of 95 percent report receiving all of the family support services they require.
The 2005–2006 survey also provides information about the six Core Outcomes used to measure progress toward the Healthy People 2010 objective to increase the proportion of States that have service systems for CSHCN. This analysis shows that while the care received by a majority of CSHCN reflects most of the core outcomes, work remains to be done to assure that all CSHCN receive comprehensive care through a medical home, and that youth with special health care needs receive the services necessary to make transitions to adult life and health care.
We at HRSA hope that these findings continue to be useful to you in your efforts to monitor and improve systems of care for CSHCN.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth M. Duke, Administrator
