Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program (CYSHCN)

The mission of CSHCN is to promote integrated systems of care that assure children with special health care needs have the opportunity to achieve the healthiest life possible and develop to their fullest potential.

The CSHCN program serves children birth to 18 who are at increased risk of serious chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions that require health and related services beyond those generally required by children. Our community health outreach staff offers telephone consultation to families in Cowlitz County, regardless of income, to provide information and linkages to services. Click to view our CSHCN Brochure (English), or CSHCN Brochure (Español).

News/Events

Summer Camp Directory for children with special health care needs
Due to a loss of state funding, the Center for Children with Special Needs closed for its doors effective September 30, 2018. This directory lists camps that were offered summer 2018. Please note, this directory does not include individual camp information including dates for summer 2019. You will need to visit the individual camp websites for specific information

The directory lists over 95 camps for children, youth and young adults with behavioral conditions, learning and developmental disabilities, medical conditions and physical disabilities. Camps are located throughout Washington, north Oregon and west Idaho. Search for camps by camp type, diagnosis, location, and more!

Referral Process

Client referrals can be made by families, schools, medical providers, and others to the Cowlitz County Health & Human Services Departments CSHCN Referral Form Program.

CSHCN Referral Form

Referrals may be faxed to: (360) 425-7531 "Attention: CSHCN Program"

Referrals may be called to (360) 414-5599, extension 6424

Home Visiting Services

· Progress Center: (360) 425-9810
Early intervention, education, therapy and prevention to children under 3 with special developmental needs or with risk of developmental delays.

· Early Head Start: (360) 442-2800
Pregnant women, infants and toddlers under 3 are served through weekly home visits that promote healthy prenatal care, healthy attachments and development for children from earliest stages.

· Family Health Center - First Steps: 1 (888) 528-7364
Preventive health and education services to help women have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Services may begin any time during the prenatal, delivery or postpartum period.

Special Needs Information and Resources

Find out if your child is meeting the milestones for his/her age

Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving "bye bye" are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move (crawling, walking, etc.).

For children birth to age 3

  · Progress Center: (360) 425-9810

· Early Head Start: (360) 442-2800

For children birth to age 18

· Cowlitz County CSHCN: (360) 414-5599-1-6424
· Parent's Place: (360) 414-9212
· Life Works/ARC: (360) 425-5494

For children age 3 and older

· Head Start/ECEAP: (360) 442-2800
· Longview School District: (360) 575-7008
· Kelso School District: (360) 501-1900
· Castle Rock School District: (360) 501-2940
· Woodland School District: (360) 841-2700
· ESD 112 (Kalama, Toutle): (360) 750-7500
· Broadway Learning Center: (360) 575-7429

Other Resources

Apple Health - Questions about your Medicaid benefits?

Cowlitz County Community Resource List

Indian Health Services

 Lower Columbia Safe Kids

OHSU Developmental Pediatrics
OHSU Doernbecher evaluates and addresses any and all of your child's developmental needs. These may be related to or include intellectual disabilities, learning, developmental or behavioral problems, or developmental delays.

Seattle Children's Hospital Center for Children with Special Needs
The Center collaborates with a variety of healthcare organizations, state agencies, community-based programs, families and healthcare providers to plan, implement, evaluate and disseminate innovative strategies to improve care. 

Washington State DSHS
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

Washington State DSHS-Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)
Provides support and partnerships that empower people to live the lives they want.

Developmental Disabilities Ombuds
Developmental Disabilities Ombuds assist people with questions or concerns about developmental disabilities services in Washington State.