The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program (CYSHCNP) works with national, state, and community-based agencies to link children to appropriate services, close service gaps, reduce duplication, and develop policies to better servce families.

This program is available to children from birth through age 21 who:

• Have a chronic physical, developmental, behavorial, or emotional condition that is expected to last 12 months or longer 
  • Examples include ADHD, asthma, autism spectrum disorders, childhood cancers, cerebral palsy, deaf or blind, diabetes, Downs syndrome, heart disease, and mental conditions
• May receive services from various public and private agencies/providers for health, education, and/or social services
• May need case management to help coordinate care and services due to complex medical, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, emotional and behavorial health needs

The Public Health Nurse Coordinator for the CYSHCNP is available to assist families with:

• Establishing their child with a medical clinic
• Locating required medical equipment
• Finding financial resources to offset the costs related to the child's needs
• Making referrals to specialists and other providers and following up with the family to ensure that needs are being met
• Connecting parents/families with support groups
• Providing additional health information

To contact the CYSHCNP Nurse Coordinator, call the Public Health Services at (715) 395-1304.

• The Wisconsin First Step Hotline provides callers with free information and referrals about local, state, and national resources for children ages birth to 21 years.  This hotline is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, year round.  All calls are confidential.  The toll free number is 1 (800) 642-7837.
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services