Center for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs

Comprehensive Care for Children with Complex Healthcare Needs

We offer complete care and coordination assistance for conditions that require complex, team-based care, including:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Breathing or feeding problems
• Conditions that require medical equipment such as oxygen, feeding pumps and tubes, ostomy supplies, and more
• Conditions that required treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), such as congenital heart disease or prematurity
• Developmental disorders and intellectual or learning disabilities
• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
• Genetic disorders, including Down syndrome
• Neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida

Our services are designed around the needs of kids and families, from birth up to age 21. We offer:

Expertise in Autism and other Behavioral Health Conditions

Our multidisciplinary team of clinicians closely watch the development of kids at risk for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental delays, offering screenings along the way. We discover problems at the earliest stages so that your child gets any necessary care and support right away. We provide ongoing support and expert guidance as you navigate the educational and community behavioral health systems.

Comprehensive Care for Down Syndrome

Our Down Syndrome Center ensures kids get personal attention that supports their independence, dignity, and well-being. We bring together specialists in hearing, vision, heart care, orthopedics, dental, and genetics to address all areas of their health.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Care

Our specialized team includes a pediatrician, psychology experts, rehab therapists, a care coordinator, and a social worker to develop a personalized healthcare and education plan for kids with FASD — we’re the only program in the state. We provide ongoing follow-up care to support their growth and development and connect families with community agencies.

Pediatric Primary Care Services

We care for all routine and wellness needs of children with special needs. We also offer primary care to their siblings — even those that don’t need complex care. We offer you a single, convenient place for your family's healthcare.  

Next Steps Program

If your child was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), we teach you how to care for them with training, education, and ongoing support for up to two and a half years — including helping you transition to pediatric care. We serve as your child’s medical home to fulfill all their health needs, from screenings and immunizations to well-baby visits and coordination of all necessary health equipment and services.

Spina Bifida Care

As one of only a few spina bifida programs in the tri-state area, we offer comprehensive care and support to children and families. Because children often need to see many different specialists, we bring them to you — at a single appointment.  Your child sees specialists from neurosurgery, urology, orthopedics, nutrition, rehabilitation, child development, and more. Our centralized approach makes it convenient to get comprehensive, quality care from a trusted team.

Transition to Adult Services

As your child grows up, we help you find adult-oriented care to make it a seamless transition. We know your child and understand their needs. Our team ensures your child and family are well-supported — from medical and nursing care to education and legal guidance for guardianship and more. We take the worry out of finding quality, reliable home- and community-based services.

Why Choose Us for Your Child’s Care

We offer a full range of services to support children and their families. Families count on us for our:

• Medical home approach. This lets us provide comprehensive primary care as a partnership among patients, families, doctors, and other providers — within St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and your community. We help you access all the ongoing care and services for your child’s optimal well-being.
• Care coordination. We take the burden off families for coordinating all aspects of your child’s health and well-being. We make the appointments and connect you with specialists who can help. That includes help with school-related issues, insurance matters, nursing services, daycare, legal concerns related to care, and much more.
• Team-based care. We bring together all the specialists and services your child needs for complete care. You don't have to make appointments and coordinate services — we handle the details. We save you time so that you can focus on your family.
• Research. Through our partnership with Drexel University, our team is continually seeking better ways to support kids with complex needs and their families. We receive grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other organizations to discover new ways to care for and support the families we serve.