Minnesota Children with Special Health Needs (MCSHN)

By Sarah Thorson, BSW
Minnesota Department of Health

Sometimes infants come into the world with difficult health problems or develop illnesses and health challenges shortly after birth. If this happens with your baby, it can be scary and you might feel unsure about how to get help. It is important that you know there is a state program that exists just to help you get the best for your baby.

Minnesota Children with Special Health Needs (MCSHN) is a state health department program that works on behalf of children and youth with special health needs, their families and communities. Children with special health care needs are those who have (or who 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 which is required by children generally(1).

MCSHN activities that can help your family:

• Providing you with guidance on becoming a partner with professionals in meeting your child's needs
• Access to primary care within a medical home
• Access to adequate funding for health care
• Early and continuous screening to detect and address health and developmental conditions as early as possible
• Developing well organized, community-based systems
• Transition to adult health care, work and independence

(1) McPherson M, Arango P, Fox H, et al. A new definition of children with special health care needs. Pediatrics.1998; 102(suppl) :137 -142