Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program

The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program seeks to improve the system of care for children and youth with special health care needs from birth and up to 21 years of age and their families. The Program helps to shape public policy so families can get the best health care for their children.

Children served by the CYSHCN Program have an illness or condition for which they need extra health care and support services. These children might have a serious or long-lasting:

  • Physical condition,
  • Intellectual or developmental disability, and/or
  • Behavioral or emotional condition.

Conditions include but not limited to ADD or ADHD, allergies, anxiety, arthritis/joint problems, asthma, autism or autism spectrum disorder, behavioral/conduct problem, blood disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, depression, developmental delay, diabetes, Down syndrome, epilepsy/seizure disorder, genetic or inherited condition, head injury, hearing problem, heart problem, intellectual disability, learning difficulty, migraines, other mental health condition, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia, speech or language disorder, substance use disorder, Tourette syndrome, and vision problem. The program is not limited to these conditions.

Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs Support Services (CYSHNSS)

The CYSHCN Program also has a financial component, the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Support Services (CYSHCNSS), formerly known as Physically Handicapped Children's Program. The CYSHCNSS assists families in paying medical bills for children with severe chronic illnesses and/or physical disabilities, between birth and up to 21 years of age, who live in New York State and meet county's medical and financial eligibility criteria.

Call us! 585-396-4546

(Updated 3/4/2022)