Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (CYSHN)
Programs
- Birth Defects Monitoring and Analysis
- Early Hearing Detection and Intervention
- Follow Along Program
- Longitudinal Follow-up for Newborn Screening Conditions
Related Sites
Contact Info
Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
651-201-3650
1-800-728-5420 (toll-free)
Contact Info
Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
651-201-3650
1-800-728-5420 (toll-free)
Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
Information and Resources
Local public health and early intervention
- A Kid Again
- The program provides year-round, fun-filled, cost-free events, they call adventures, for the families who have a medically complex child, to participate in. They serve kids from birth to age 20. They offer a variety of adventures such as theme parks, zoos, sporting events, holiday party, Adventure in a Box which the families can do in the safety of their own home and much more.
- The Arc of Minnesota
- The Arc provides information, assistance, education, and public policy leadership.
- Disability Hub MN
- Disability Hub MN is a free statewide resource network providing options and tools for managing your health, your benefits, your work, your housing and more.
- Emergency kit checklist for families of CYSHN (CDC)
- If a child with special healthcare needs is part of your family it is very important to be prepared for an emergency in which you may have to stay inside for longer than usual or in the event the electricity goes out. An emergency kit is necessary for all families, and especially important for families of children with special healthcare needs.
- Family Voices of Minnesota
- Family Voices of Minnesota began in 1994 as a grass roots network of families of children and youth with special health care needs for the purpose of sharing health program and policy information.
- PACER Center
- PACER’s Health Information Center (HIC) provides a central source for families of children and young adults with special health care needs and disabilities to obtain support, advocacy, and information about the health care system. 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.
- Child development (CDC)
- Information on healthy development, effective parenting practices, positive parenting tips, developmental milestones, and links for more information.
- Developmental milestones (CDC)
- Developmental milestone information sheets available in 11 languages.
- Learn the Signs. Act Early. (CDC)
- Free milestone checklists to help parents and professionals track children’s milestones, support development, share concerns, and take action to support developmental delays. Free materials available.
- Positive parenting tips (CDC)
- Tip sheets with information on developmental milestones, positive parenting tips, child safety first, and healthy bodies.
- ZERO to THREE
- Free resources to support parents in developing their own ways to promote their children’s growth and development. Can browse resources by ages and stages or filter resources by issue areas and languages.
- Center for Inclusive Child Care
- Provides free relationship-based professional development including support, training, modeling and resources to child care programs throughout Minnesota.
- Parent Aware: children with special needs
- Offering free tools and resources to help families find the quality child care and early education programs their children need to succeed in school and life.
- Think Small
- Tools and tips for searching, selecting, and paying for child care.
- Bridge to Benefits Minnesota
- Bridge to Benefits is a project by Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota to improve the well-being of families and individuals by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits.
- Child Disability Starter Kit (SSA)
- Preparation materials for people applying for Social Security disability benefits.
- Compassionate Allowances (SSA)
- Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security's standards for disability benefits including rare disorders that affect children.
- MNBenefits (DHS)
- SNAP (food stamps), cash assistance programs like MFIP and general assistance, emergency assistance, Child Care Assistance program, and housing support (GRH) can all be applied for on this website.
- MNsure
- MNsure is Minnesota's health insurance marketplace where individuals and families can shop, compare and choose health insurance coverage that meets their needs.
- Medical Assistance under the TEFRA option for children with disabilities (DHS)
- Medical Assistance (MA) under the TEFRA option allows MA eligibility for children with disabilities in families with incomes too high to qualify for MA. TEFRA is short for the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, the federal law that set the rules for this option.
- Medical Assistance (MA) under the TEFRA option allows MA eligibility for children with disabilities in families with incomes too high to qualify for MA. TEFRA is short for the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, the federal law that set the rules for this option.
- Genetic Alliance Advocacy ATLAS
- The online Advocacy ATLAS is a toolkit created by Genetic Alliance, Parent to Parent USA, and Family Voices that provides individuals with special healthcare needs and their families with tools and strategies to advocate for whatever they may need.
- Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- GARD maintains a list of rare diseases and related terms to help people find reliable information.
- National Organization for Rare Disorders
- NORD is a patient advocacy organization dedicated to individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them. NORD, along with its more than 300 patient organization members, is committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and patient services.
- Fast-Tracker
- Fast Tracker is a virtual community and health care connection resource. They connect individuals, families, mental health and substance use disorder providers, physicians, care coordinators, and others with a real-time, searchable directory of mental health and substance use disorder resources and their availability within Minnesota.
- Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health
- Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH) provides education and resources to professionals, families and youth throughout Minnesota and beyond. Founded in 1989, MACMH is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to promote positive mental health for all infants, children, adolescents and their families
- PrairieCare Mental Health Resources
- PrairieCare offers a full continuum of care for children. Admission Diagnostic Assessments, Inpatient Hospital, Partial Hospital Program, After School Intensive Outpatient Program, Behavior Development Program, & Outpatient Clinic Services.
- Baby's First Test
- Many parents are unaware of the conditions included in screening, or that it varies from state to state. Baby’s First Test brings together resources to help guide parents and health professionals alike.
- Newborn Screening Information Center (HRSA)
- Up-to-date information and resources about newborn screening. All newborn babies in the United States are screened for rare but serious health conditions. Screening helps identify babies with these conditions before they become sick.
- Newborn Screening in Minnesota (MDH)
- The Newborn Screening Program, together with hospitals, laboratories, and medical professionals across the state, screens newborns for more than 60 disorders that affect metabolism, hormones, the immune system, blood, breathing, digestion, hearing, or the heart.
- Healthy Eating Research
- Feeding and beverage recommendations by age. Also provides tip sheets for promoting healthy eating.
- Special dietary needs (MDE)
- The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides resources for school food authorities to help meet the special dietary needs of infants and children and maintain records to document compliance with meal requirements. Several federal regulations and state statutes apply to accommodate students with special dietary needs.
- MothertoBaby maternal exposure fact sheets
- Answers to frequently asked questions about common exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, including medications, recreational substances, cosmetic treatments, health conditions, infections, vaccines, and more.
- Planning for pregnancy (CDC)
- Your health before pregnancy is very important and can affect the health of your future baby. By making a plan before getting pregnant, you can take steps to a healthier you and baby-to-be.
Last Updated: 04/29/2025