Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs

The goal of the Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs is to promote good health and quality of life for all children and youth with special health care needs and their families. The Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health works with families, providers, and others to support children and youth with special health needs ages birth to 22 and their families. This includes children and youth with chronic medical, physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions. As defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau: “Children with special health care needs are those 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.” (McPherson M, Arango P, Fox HB, A new definition of children with special health care needs. Pediatrics 1998; 102:137-140)