Who Are Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) are those individuals (0-21 yrs of age) who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.

The National Survey of Children With Special Health Care Needs reports that the prevalence of children with special health care needs is 12.8%.