Who Are Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs?
The technical answer is that "Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) are those who have or are at risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions that require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally" (McPherson, et al, Pediatrics, 1998).
This definition focuses on services needed rather than on diagnostic characteristics, and it includes a broadly-defined population of children with and at risk for developing special needs. It also brings our attention to the comprehensive array of needs, beyond medical needs alone. ChampionsInC is working to help communities meet the needs of CYSHCN.
The answer that is more to the point is that they are what our work is all about.