To support children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families, WIHD has worked with their community partners to develop the materials and resources below for accessing appropriate services and supports, improving community integration and social participation, and engaging in local activities.

• Resource Directory: This directory contains resources for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) in New York.
• Systems Navigation Guide
• Transition Planning Timelines: These timelines provide knowledge of different resources and supports to help parents/caregivers plan for transitions throughout their child’s life experience from pre-school to adulthood. There are four timelines separated by school age:
  • Pre-School
  • Elementary School
  • Middle School
  • High School
• CYSHCN information sheets: These information sheets reflect the voices of CYSHCN families and offer resources in the following topics: Accessing Services and Supports, Navigating the Educational System, Accessing the Community, Impact on the Family Unit, COVID-19 and the Impact on Families. Two versions are offered, one set of information sheets are generic and are ready to distribute. Another is fillable and customizable – with space for LHDs to add their contact info, QR code and/or local resources.
  • CYSHCN Infosheets – Generic
  • CYSHCN Infosheets – Fillable
• Recruitment Toolkit: This toolkit is designed to help new LHD staff become familiar with the CYSHCN program and incentivize unanimity among long-time established teams promoting the CYSHCN program in their counties. The toolkit is packed with essential materials and strategies to serve as a guide to raise awareness about the CYSHCN program effectively. It empowers outreach efforts with the community, other professionals, providers, and community organizations to engage and maximize impact. As more recruitment materials become available we will continue to add them in this toolkit.
  • Health Conditions Guide – This guide is intended to provide an overview of the different health conditions most commonly experienced by the CYSHCN population. This guide provides technical assistance and resources to serve families of CYSHCN. To learn about health conditions in Spanish, Mandarin and other languages please visit the following resource: https://www.medicalhomeportal.org/living-with-child/diagnoses-and-conditions—faqs
  • Draft Letter to Schools
  • Elevator Pitch Guide
  • Elevator Pitch Template
  • Dear Provider CYSHCN Letter
  • The Child Profile (available in English and Spanish) is an essential tool designed to assist parents and caregivers in providing a concise yet comprehensive summary of their child’s medical requirements, capabilities, and unique needs to professionals who will be working with the child. Whether it be summer camps, community centers, rehab workers, or respite care providers, the Child Profile aims to streamline communication and ensure that every individual involved in the child’s care is well-informed and equipped to provide the best possible support.
  • Promotional Materials approved by DOH
    1. 27 Health Conditions Flyer Template– available in English & Spanish This flyer aims to promote the CYSHCN program LHD including but not limited to the 27 health conditions listed. Through a Canva.com account, the following spaces/items should be customized to each LHD’s information: Logo placement, Facebook @username, QR Code placement, website urlcounty.org, and contact info.
    2. LHD Flyer Template– available in English & Spanish: This tear-off aims to promote the LHD services available for children and youth with special needs. Through a Canva.com account, the services enlisted should be edited to match each LHD’s capacity. The following spaces should also be customized: logo placement, NAME county, phone number
    3. 27 Health Conditions List Flyer– available in English & Spanish: This is an informational flyer that highlights the 27 health conditions included but not limited to the CYSHCN program.
• The Social Media Digital Communications Guide provides guidance to Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs programs on the use of social media for promotion, engagement, and communication with families. It covers topics such as formatting messages, developing appropriate content, utilizing hashtags, leveraging credible health information sources, promoting local events and resources, and evaluating the impact of social media efforts. The guide also includes examples of effective social media posts and templates and a list of valuable resources and tools related to social media management and health-based information.
• The “School Toolkit for Parents and Caregivers of CYSHCN: Navigating Educational Transitions” is a comprehensive resource designed to support parents and caregivers as they guide their children through the various stages of their education. This toolkit provides essential information, tips, and resources tailored to each transitional stage, empowering parents/caregivers with the knowledge and tools to advocate effectively for their child’s education and well-being.
• HI Doc – The Health Information Document is a pre-folded pocket card for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs. It helps in communicating vital life-saving information during an emergency and also relays information about emergency contact. The document is also available in the following languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, Yiddish. To access different languages and for information on ordering copies please visit https://www.health.ny.gov/community/special_needs/(scroll down to “Publications” and find the information on the HI Doc in the second bullet from the bottom)