Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
TDH's Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program promotes coordinated, comprehensive, family-centered systems of services for children who have or are at increased risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions, and require health and related services beyond those required by children generally.New link
About Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
The program serves children who have or are at increased risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions. They also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.
According to our National Survey of Children’s Health, in our country:
- About 14 million children under 18 years old (19%) have a special healthcare need
- 25% of homes had one or more children with a special healthcare need
- Children and youth with special health care needs are more likely to live in poverty, be non-Hispanic Black, and have public insurance
The program promotes these six indicators of a coordinated, comprehensive, family-centered systems of services including:
- Children and youth are screened early and continuously
- Program participants receive a medical home model of care that is patient-centered, coordinated, comprehensive, and ongoing
- Community-based services are organized so families can use them easily
- Program participants receive services necessary to make transitions to adult life, including healthcare
- Families have adequate insurance and funding to pay for services they need
- Families of children and youth with special health care needs are partners in decision-making at all levels of care, from direct care to the organizations that serve them.
Our Companion Tennessee Department of Health Programs
Down Syndrome Information
The following links are to a third-party website for additional information. The Tennessee Department of Health is not responsible for the website's content, accessibility, or privacy practices.
Important Links
The following links are to third-party websites. The Tennessee Department of Health is not responsible for their content, accessibility, or privacy practices.
Medical Home Toolkit
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a medical home is not a building, house, or hospital, but rather an approach to providing comprehensive primary care. The primary care team develops a trusting relationship with the family and works as a partner to assure that all of the child’s needs are met.
This is a dynamic process driven by the health status and developmental progress of the child, the specific needs of the child and family, the primary care physician's expertise with children with special health care needs, and the ability of the family and/or other professionals to participate in care coordination.
For additional information on the Medical Home Approach click on the links below:
Transition Planning
Transition planning is a process that is personal, individualized, deliberate, coordinated, developmentally appropriate, age appropriate and culturally competent.
Children, young adults, and their families experience many transitions, large and small, over the years. Transition for children and youth with special health care needs is a continuum of changes. Each transition is an opportunity to help the child, young adult, and family gain the skills to optimize success and manage future transitions. As young adults reach adulthood, they need information to help make their transitions smooth and effective.
Transition planning assures that your child receives services necessary to make appropriate transition to adult health care, work, and independence.
Your child’s Transition Plan would include services necessary to assure transition to all aspects of adult life which include:
- Medical
- Independent living
- Financial
- Legal (conservatorship/guardianship)
- Educational / Vocational
- Employment
- Social/Recreation
Healthcare Financing
Health care financing is an important part of meeting the needs of CYSHCN. Un-insured children are less likely to receive care in a medical home that addresses their comprehensive needs. While most CYSHCN are insured, many are under-insured. Their coverage may be inadequate, leading to high out-of-pocket expenses. The financing of care is one of the most challenging but important aspects of meeting the needs of CYSHCN.
For more information about health Care Financing visit the National Center for Health Insurance and Financing for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (Catalyst Center).
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) addresses some of the needs of families of CYSHCN: children will be able to remain on their parents’ health insurance until age 26 and cannot be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. The ACA provides financial relief to un-insured or under-insured families who struggle with healthcare costs.
Click for for more information about the Affordable Care Act.
TennCare
TennCare is the state of Tennessee’s managed Medicaid agency. The program serves more than 1.7 million Tennesseans including low-income individuals such as pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives of young children and older adults and adults with disabilities. TennCare’s mission is to improve lives through high-quality, cost-effective care to support the vision of a healthier Tennessee.
Click to apply for TennCare or call 855-259-0701.
Katie Beckett Program
The Katie Beckett Program is for Tennessee residents, under the age of 18, with disabilities and/or complex medical needs who would not usually qualify for TennCare. This program helps to fill gaps between the child’s needs and what private insurance will cover.
This Page Last Updated: March 25, 2026 at 10:05 PM