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Measures that Matter: The status of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) are those who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally. Children with a variety of conditions fall within this broad definition.

Measures that Matter is a joint effort of the Minnesota departments of Human Services and Health that aims to answer the questions:

• How are children and youth with special health care needs in Minnesota faring in comparison to their healthy peers in Minnesota?

• How are they doing compared to CYSHCN in other states?

• How are the various subgroups within Minnesota’s CYSHCN population doing in comparison to each other?

The project will develop an ongoing measurement system using a variety of data sources to allow policy makers to review the status of CYSHCN in Minnesota over time. More detailed information is in the Measures that Matter project overview (PDF). (All Measures that Matter materials are also available through eDocs as part of a series numbered DHS-6536.)

Measure that Matter Compendium

This compendium is a collection of concise but detailed data relevant to children and youth with special health care needs and their families. The data is gathered from a variety of sources. It is a resource that readers with personal or professional expertise can use to design a future that benefits CYSHCN in Minnesota and their families.

• NEW Measures that Matter Compendium, February 2013 (PDF)