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Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs (CYSHCN)

About the CYSHCN Program 

CYSHCN pronounced "shin"  

The Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs (CYSHCN) Program seeks to improve the coordination of care for children and youth who have special health care needs.

How CYSHCN Can Help?

  • Matching families with community resources and referring to community programs
  • Advocacy with health care providers and school districts
  • Linkage to medical providers and specialists
  • Support and play groups
  • Transition to adult services
  • And more!

Who is Eligible for Support?

A diagnosis is NOT required.

  • Infants, children and youth up to 21 years old who live in Erie County
  • Infants, children and youth who have a serious or chronic medical, physical, behavioral, emotional or developmental condition

Who Can Apply for CYSHCN?

  • Parents and caregivers
  • Friends and family members of infants, children and youth up to 21 years old
  • Personnel from local schools
  • Medical providers
  • Youth 18-21 years old can apply on their own

Printable Program Pamphlets

Content on this page is also available as a printable PDF in 9 languages (you may download using the links below). For accessibility, please use the web version of this content.

CYSHCN Services for Infancy, Children and Youth Up to 21 Years Old

Click on the links below to download a printable PDF pamphlet in the language(s) of choice.

CYSHCN Child Pamphlet

CYSHCN Services for Youth Ages 18-21 Years Old

Click on the links below to download a printable PDF pamphlet in the language(s) of choice.

CYSHCN Services for Youth Ages 18-21 Years Old

CYSHCN Program Allies in Erie County

The Erie County Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program is a free resource and referral program that seeks to improve the coordination of care for children/youth from birth to 21 years old who live in Erie County and their families. A diagnosis is not required in order to participate in the CYSHCN program. For more information, submit a contact form, email healthequity@erie.gov or call 716-858-1920.

Medical Emergencies: Dial 911

Suicide Prevention & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988

Emergency Shelters: Dial 211

Poison Control Help: 1-888-222-1222

Crisis Services: 716-834-3131

Spectrum Cares: 716-882-HELP (4357)

Child Protective Services (CPS): 1-800-342-3720

Erie County Departments

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program: 716-858-1920

Day Care Unit: 716-858-8953

Early Intervention: 716-858-6161

Harm Reduction: 716-858-7695

Immunization Action Plan: 716-858-2373

LEADSAFE Erie County: 716-961-6800

People with Disabilities: 716-858-6215

Social Services: 716-858-8000 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):  716-858-7239 

For Your Wireless Device

Erie Path is Erie County's smartphone app that helps parents and caregivers address mental and behavioral health challenges faced by children and adolescents.

Need More Support?

Dial 211! 211 WNY is a 24-hour free and confidential link to health and human services. Connect to services and assistance related to food and nutrition, health and wellness, housing, legal aid, mental health, substance use, support groups, domestic abuse, tax preparation, and more.

Baby Care Support

Cribs for Kids: 1-888-721-CRIB (2742)

Every Bottom Covered: 716-896-7021

Family Help Center: 716-892-2172

Harvest House Children and Baby Ministry: 716-824-7818

Hope Project of WNY, Inc.: 716-810-9156

St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center: 716-842-2229

Trading Post Community Care Center: 716-592-4455

Childcare

Erie County Day Care Unit: 716-858-8953

Child Care Resource Network: 716-877-6666

Office of Children and Family Services: 518-473-7793

Health Insurance

Child Health Plus: 1-800-698-4543 

NYS Marketplace (NY State of Health): 1-855-355-5777

Housing

Belmont Housing Resources: 716-884-7791

Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA): 716-855-6774

Catholic Charities: 716-856-4494

Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME): 716-854-1400 

Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo: 716-882-0063

Immigrant & Refugee Services

Access of WNY: 716-332-5901

Catholic Charities Immigrant & Refugee Assistance Program:  716-842-0270 

Hope Refugee Drop-In Center: 716-881-0539 

Immigration Legal Services Program at Journey’s End Refugee Services: 716-882-4963 ext. 203

Jewish Family Services: 716-883-1914

Lead Poisoning and Prevention

LEAD716: 716-874-7200 ext. 1150

LEADSAFE Erie County: 716-961-6800

Legal Assistance

Family Justice Center: 716-558-SAFE (7233)

Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo: 716-853-9555

Neighborhood Legal Services: 716-847-0650

Volunteer Lawyer’s Project: 716-847-0662

Center for Elder Law & Justice: 716-853-3087

LGBTQIA+ Support

GLYS WNY Inc.: 716-855-0221

Pride Center of WNY:  716-852-7743

Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 or text 678-678

Mental Health Support

Please also see Mental Health Allies in Erie County for more resources.

Best Self Behavioral Health: 716- 884-0888

Horizon Health: 716-831-1977

Kids’ Helpline: 716-834-1144

Mental Health Advocates of WNY: 716-886-1242

National Alliance on Mental Wellness (NAMI) of Buffalo & Erie County: 716-226-6264

Spectrum CARES: 716-882-HELP (716-882-4357)

Teen to Teen Peer Counseling Hopeline: 1-877-968-8491

Nutrition Assistance

Buffalo Community Fridges: Multiple locations throughout Buffalo  

Feed More WNY: 716-822-2002

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):  716-858-7239 

WNY 211: Dial 2-1-1

Women, Infants & Children (WIC): 716-218-1484

Pregnancy Support

Please also see Let's Talk About Pregnancy.

Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network: 716-884-6711

Durham’s Maternal Stress Zone: 716-427-0566

Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center (AHEC): 716-835-9358 ext 102

Jericho Road Community Health Center: Priscilla Project: 716-886-0771

Postpartum Resource Center of NY: 1-855-631-0001

Schools

Please contact your local school district.

Transportation Services

Medicaid Transportation: 1-800-651-7040

First Student, Inc.: 716-897-5798

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA): 716-855-7672

Western New York Independent Living Inc. (WNYIL) Independence Express: 716-836-0822

NFTA-Metro Paratransit Access Line (PAL):  716-855-7268

Translation and Interpretation Services

Deaf Access Services: 716-833-1637 

International Institute of Buffalo: 716-883-1900 ext. 308 or 334

Journey’s End Refugee Services: 716-882-4963

To Enroll or Ask Questions About CYSHCN

Visit our webpage, call 716-858-1920 or healthequity@erie.gov.

CYSHCN is funded by the New York State Department of Health using federal Health Resources and Services Administration Title V funding. The opinions, results, findings and/or interpretations of content contained therein are the responsibility of the Contractor and do not necessarily represent the opinions, interpretations, or policy of the State or Federal funding agency.

The CYSHCN Program Allies content on this page is also available as a printable PDF in 9 languages (you may download using the links below). For accessibility, please use the web version of this content.

CYSHCN in the Media

Related Programs and Information

Contact Us

Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) 
Erie County Department of Health 
95 Franklin Street 
Buffalo, NY 14202 
Phone: (716) 858-1920 
Fax: (716) 858-7425 
Email: healthequity@erie.gov

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