Children with Special Health Care Needs(CSHCN)
The Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Program serves children who have serious physical, behavioral or
emotional conditions that require health and related services beyond those required by children generally. Requests
for services are made to the CSHCN Coordinator
in the county health department where the child lives.
Eligibility - Children with Special Health Care Needs Program
The following criteria are the guidelines for Children with Special Health Care Needs eligibility:
Children who are under 18 years of age
Children who have or are at increased risk of serious chronic, physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional problems
Children who require health and related services of a type or amount beyond what is generally required
Services - Children with Special Health Care Needs Program
Public Health Nurse Consultation is offered to Snohomish County families regardless of income. Public Health Nurses:
Help assess a child's needs
Refer a child to area resources
Work with other agencies to help provide services to a child
WorkFirst CSHCN Initiative:
Parents who are receiving temporary assistance to needy families (WorkFirst) and have children with special needs have an
opportunity through the WorkFirst Children with Special Needs Initiative to have a public health nurse visit them.
Nurses do an assessment of how the child's condition impacts the parent's ability to work and determine if a return
to work is possible. A plan is developed to ensure the family is engaged in activities leading to eventual economic
self-sufficiency, while nurses work to ensure the necessary support is received to address the child's needs. WorkFirst
staff make the referral for a WorkFirst CSHCN public health nurse assessment.
Lead Program:
The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program together with the Washington State Blood Lead Reporting System, the
Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology and in cooperation with local physicians, provide intervention and follow up
of children with elevated blood lead levels. Visits are made to the child's home and interviews are conducted to determine
the source of exposure. Specific dietary information which helps excrete the lead from the body is provided. Follow-up
visits to the physician is required for regularly scheduled Blood Lead Level tests until the blood lead level is below 10 mcg/dL
Hearing Program:
Children with Special Health Care Needs Program can pay for hearing aid equipment that may be needed for a hearing impaired child.
Families must meet financial eligibility requirements to be eligible for this service based on family size and income.
Services, equipment, or supplies found to be medically necessary by the local CSHCN Coordinator and not covered by any other sources
may be eligible for funding through the CSHCN program when funding is available and the family income is within certain limits.
Screening / Evaluation
Developmental screening
Developmental screening services are provided to all children whether they have health care coverage or not. If you have concerns
about your child's development, call:
For children under 3 years of age, in Snohomish County: Birth to Three Program Infant Toddler Early Intervention
Program 425-339-1965 or 800-927-9303
For children 3 years and older, contact the School District where you live
If you need help finding a resource for a free developmental screening for your child contact the Family Health
Hotline 1-800-223-8145
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Snohomish County/Everett no longer has a FAS Diagnostic Clinic. For information and applications for the Seattle FAS Diagnostic clinic,
call 206-598-7666. The Seattle clinic provides teamtesting,evauation, and diagnosis for children exposed during pregnancy to alcohol.
For additional information on FAS: http://fasiceberg.org/newsletter.htm or
http://www.fasdwa.org or
http://www.motherisk.org/women/alcohol.jsp
National Organization of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) has a support group in Everett and a summer camp for families with a child on the FAS
Spectrum of Disorders (FASD). Contact information for NOFAS is 260-940-2832 or FASDSupport@aol.com or
http://www.NOFASWA.org
