Prevalence of Positive Childhood Experiences Among Adults - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Four States, 2015-2021.

Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) promote optimal health and mitigate the effects of adverse childhood experiences, but PCE prevalence in the United States is not well-known. Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, this study describes the prevalence of individual and cumulative PCEs among adults residing in four states: Kansas (2020), Montana (2019), South Carolina (2020), and Wisconsin (2015). Cumulative PCE scores were calculated by summing affirmative responses to seven questions. Subscores were created for family-related (three questions) and community-related (four questions) PCEs. The prevalence of individual PCEs varied from 59.5% (enjoyed participating in community traditions) to 90.5% (adult in respondents' household made them feel safe), and differed significantly by race and ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation. Fewer non-Hispanic Black or African American (49.2%), non-Hispanic Alaska Native or American Indian (37.7%), and Hispanic or Latino respondents (38.9%) reported 6-7 PCEs than did non-Hispanic White respondents (55.2%). Gay or lesbian, and bisexual respondents were less likely than were straight respondents to report 6-7 PCEs (38.1% and 27.4% versus 54.7%, respectively). A PCE score of 6-7 was more frequent among persons with higher income and education. Improved understanding of the relationship of PCEs to adult health and well-being and variation among population subgroups might help reduce health inequities.

Scaling Family Voices and Engagement to Measure and Improve Systems Performance and Whole Child Health: Progress and Lessons from the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative.

BACKGROUND: The 1997 legislation authorizing the United States Child Health Insurance Program sparked progress to measure and publicly report on children's healthcare services quality and system performance. To meet the moment, the national Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI) public-private collaboration was launched to put families at the center of defining, measuring and using healthcare performance information to drive improved services quality and outcomes. METHODS: Since 1996 the CAHMI followed an intentional path of collaborative action to (1) articulate shared goals for child health and advance a comprehensive, life-course and outcomes-based healthcare performance measurement and reporting framework; (2) collaborate with families, providers, payers and government agencies to specify, validate and support national, state and local use of dozens of framework aligned measures; (3) create novel public-facing digital data query, collection and reporting tools that liberate data findings for use by families, providers, advocates, policymakers, the media and researchers (Data Resource Center, Well Visit Planner); and (4) generate field building research and systems change agendas and frameworks (Prioritizing Possibilities, Engagement In Action) to catalyze prevention, flourishing and healing centered, trauma-informed, whole child and family engaged approaches, integrated systems and supportive financing and policies. CONCLUSIONS: Lessons call for a restored, sustainable family and community engaged measurement infrastructure, public activation campaigns, and undeterred federal, state and systems leadership that implement policies to incentivize, resource, measure and remove barriers to integrated systems of care that scale family engagement to equitably promote whole child, youth and family well-being. Population health requires effective family engagement.

Physical Distancing With Social Connectedness.

In light of concerns over the potential detrimental effects of declining care continuity, and the need for connection between patients and health care providers, our multidisciplinary group considered the possible ways that relationships might be developed in different kinds of health care encounters.We were surprised to discover many avenues to invest in relationships, even in non-continuity consultations, and how meaningful human connections might be developed even in telehealth visits. Opportunities range from the quality of attention or the structure of the time during the visit, to supporting relationship development in how care is organized at the local or system level and in the use of digital encounters. These ways of investing in relationships can exhibit different manifestations and emphases during different kinds of visits, but most are available during all kinds of encounters.Recognizing and supporting the many ways of investing in relationships has great potential to create a positive sea change in a health care system that currently feels fragmented and depersonalized to both patients and health care clinicians.The current COVID-19 pandemic is full of opportunity to use remote communication to develop healing human relationships. What we need in a pandemic is not social distancing, but physical distancing with social connectedness.

The Design and Implementation of the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health.

Introduction Since 2001, the Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA MCHB) has funded and directed the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN), unique sources of national and state-level data on child health and health care. Between 2012 and 2015, HRSA MCHB redesigned the surveys, combining content into a single survey, and shifting from a periodic interviewer-assisted telephone survey to an annual self-administered web/paper-based survey utilizing an address-based sampling frame. Methods The U.S. Census Bureau fielded the redesigned NSCH using a random sample of addresses drawn from the Census Master Address File, supplemented with a unique administrative flag to identify households most likely to include children. Data were collected June 2016-February 2017 using a multi-mode design, encouraging web-based responses while allowing for paper mail-in responses. A parent/caregiver knowledgeable about the child's health completed an age-appropriate questionnaire. Experiments on incentives, branding, and contact strategies were conducted. Results Data were released in September 2017. The final sample size was 50,212 children; the overall weighted response rate was 40.7%. Comparison of 2016 estimates to those from previous survey iterations are not appropriate due to sampling and mode changes. Discussion The NSCH remains an invaluable data source for key measures of child health and attendant health care system, family, and community factors. The redesigned survey extended the utility of this resource while seeking a balance between previous strengths and innovations now possible.

Disparities in Access to Easy-to-Use Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs.

OBJECTIVES: Families, clinicians and policymakers desire improved delivery of health and related services for children with special health care needs (CSHCN). We analyzed factors associated with ease of use in obtaining such services. We also explored what were specific difficulties or delays in receiving services. By examining data from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN 2009-2010) and using the revised criteria for "ease of use," we were able to assess the percentage of parents who reported that their experiences seeking services for their children met those criteria. METHODS: We performed Chi square tests to examine associations between the independent variables and their relationship to the difficulties or delays assessed in the survey; including: eligibility, availability of services, waiting lists, cost, and access to information. We used logistic regression to determine the association of meeting the "ease of use" criteria with socio-demographic, complexity of need, and access variables. RESULTS: Overall, a third of families of CSHCN (35.3 %) encounter difficulties, delays, or frustrations in obtaining health and related services. The lack of access to health and community services in this study fell most heavily on children from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds, those in poverty, and those with complex emotional/behavioral or developmental needs and functional limitations. CONCLUSIONS: for Practice CSHCN require services from a broad array of providers across multiple systems. Unfortunately, there are certain difficulties that hamper the accessibility of these systems. These findings underscore the need for both practice-level response and systems-level reform to ensure equitable distribution of health and community resources.

Assessing systems quality in a changing health care environment: the 2009-10 national survey of children with special health care needs.

To provide a national, population-based assessment of the quality of the health care system for children and youth with special health care needs using a framework of six health care system quality indicators. 49,242 interviews with parents of children with special health care needs from the 2009-10 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) were examined to determine the extent to which CSHCN had access to six quality indicators of a well-functioning system of services. Criteria for determining access to each indicator were established and applied to the survey data to estimate the proportion of CSHCN meeting each quality indicator by socio-demographic status and functional limitations. 17.6% of CSHCN received care consistent with all six quality indicators. Results for each component of the system quality framework ranged from a high of 70.3% of parents reporting that they shared decision-making with healthcare providers to a low of 40% of parents reporting receipt of services needed for transition to adult health care. Attainment rates were lower for CSHCN of minority racial and ethnic groups, those residing in households where English was not the primary language, those in lower income households, and those most impacted by their health condition. Only a small proportion of CSHCN receive all identified attributes of a high-quality system of services. Moreover, significant disparities exist whereby those most impacted by their conditions and those in traditionally disadvantaged groups are served least well by the current system. A small proportion of CSHCN appear to remain essentially outside of the system, having met few if any of the elements studied.

A new performance measurement system for maternal and child health in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant is the linchpin for US MCH services. The first national performance measures (NPMs) for MCH were instituted in 1997. Changing trends in MCH risk factors, outcomes, health services, data sources, and advances in scientific knowledge, in conjunction with budgetary constraints led the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to design a new performance measurement system. METHODS: A workgroup was formed to develop a new system. The following guiding principles were used: (1) Afford States more flexibility and reduce the overall reporting burden; (2) Improve accountability to better document Title V's impact; (3) Develop NPMs that encompass measures in: maternal and women's health, perinatal health, child health, children with special health care needs, adolescent health, and cross-cutting areas. RESULTS: A three-tiered performance measurement system was proposed with national outcome measures (NOMs), NPMs and evidence-based/informed strategy measures (ESMs). NOMs are the ultimate goals that MCHB and States are attempting to achieve. NPMs are measures, generally associated with processes or programs, shown to affect NOMs. ESMs are evidence-based or informed measures that each State Title V program develops to affect the NPMs. There are 15 NPMs from which States select eight, with at least one from each population area. MCHB will provide the data for the NOMs and NPMs, when possible. CONCLUSIONS: The new performance measurement system increases the flexibility and reduces the reporting burden for States by allowing them to choose 8 NPMs to target, and increases accountability by having States develop actionable ESMs. SIGNIFICANCE: The new national performance measure framework for maternal and child health will allow States more flexibility to address their areas of greatest need, reduce their data reporting burden by having the Maternal and Child Health Bureau provide data for the National Outcome and Performance Measures, yet afford States the opportunity to develop measurable strategies to address their selected performance measures.

Optimizing health and health care systems for children with special health care needs using the life course perspective.

To date, life course research in maternal and child health has largely focused on elucidating fetal and early life influences on adult health and less on promoting the health of children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Consideration of life course theory (LCT) for CSHCN is especially important given their increasing prevalence and comorbidity, their disproportionate vulnerability to weaknesses or instability in the health care system, and the growing evidence linking child and adult health and quality of life. In this commentary we seek to advance the consideration of LCT for CSHCN. We (1) briefly summarize key issues and the importance of a life course approach for CSHCN; (2) present illustrative findings from population-based cross-sectional data that serve to generate hypotheses that can be more rigorously examined when population-based longitudinal data become available; and (3) discuss the application of life course principles as a driving force in the continued implementation and improvement of integrated systems of care for CSHCN.

An Expanded Approach to the Ascertainment of Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence, characteristics, and health-related outcomes of children with diagnosed health conditions and functional difficulties who do not meet criteria for having a special health care need based on the traditional scoring of the Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Screener. METHODS: Data come from the 2016 to 2021 National Survey of Children's Health (n = 225 443). Child characteristics and health-related outcomes were compared among 4 mutually exclusive groups defined by CSHCN Screener criteria and the presence of both conditions and difficulties. RESULTS: Among children who do not qualify as children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) on the CSHCN Screener, 6.8% had ≥1 condition and ≥1 difficulty. These children were more likely than CYSHCN to be younger, female, Hispanic, uninsured, privately insured, living in a household with low educational attainment, have families with more children and a primary household language other than English. After adjustment, non-CYSHCN with ≥1 conditions and ≥1 difficulty were less likely than CYSHCN, but significantly more likely than other non-CYSHCN, to have ≥2 emergency department visits, have unmet health care needs, not meet flourishing criteria, live in families that experienced child health-related employment impacts and frustration accessing services. Including these children in the calculation of CYSHCN prevalence increases the national estimate from 19.1% to 24.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 4 million children have both a diagnosed health condition and functional difficulties but are not identified as CYSHCN. An expanded approach to identify CYSHCN may better align program and policy with population needs.

Development of the adult and child complementary medicine questionnaires fielded on the National Health Interview Survey.

The 2002, 2007, and 2012 complementary medicine questionnaires fielded on the National Health Interview Survey provide the most comprehensive data on complementary medicine available for the United States. They filled the void for large-scale, nationally representative, publicly available datasets on the out-of-pocket costs, prevalence, and reasons for use of complementary medicine in the U.S. Despite their wide use, this is the first article describing the multi-faceted and largely qualitative processes undertaken to develop the surveys. We hope this in-depth description enables policy makers and researchers to better judge the content validity and utility of the questionnaires and their resultant publications.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Medical Home for Children Born Premature in the National Survey of Children's Health.

OBJECTIVE: Children born premature are more likely to be from minoritized racial and ethnic groups and face chronic health and developmental problems. The medical home aims to comprehensively address health and social needs of all families. This study evaluates racial and ethnic disparities in the prevalence of a medical home among children born premature compared to children born full-term. METHODS: A 2017-18 National Survey of Children's Health data set was used to calculate the medical home performance measure and subcomponents for children aged 0 to 17 born premature (n = 5633) or full-term (n = 45,819). Chi square and logistic regression assessed magnitude and significance of variations by race and ethnicity and prematurity status. RESULTS: Prematurity prevalence differed by race and ethnicity (12.0% non-Hispanic Black [NHB], 12.8% Hispanic, 11.1% Multiracial/Other, 11.0% non-Hispanic White [NHW]). Minoritized children born premature had lower adjusted odds of receiving care in a medical home compared to NHW peers (eg, NHB adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.54 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.38-0.76] and Hispanic aOR 0.56 [95% CI: 0.40-0.79]). Differences were greater in magnitude among children born premature compared to full-term peers (eg, NHB premature aOR 0.54 [95% CI: 0.38-0.76] vs NHB full-term aOR 0.67 [95% CI: 0.58-0.78]), with similar results for "personal doctor/nurse" and "usual sick care." CONCLUSIONS: Racial and ethnic disparities exist in the medical home among children born premature, some more pronounced than full-term peers. To deliver equitable care for all children, efforts are needed to expand access to and improve the medical home, including reliable routine and sick care and stronger family-provider relationships.

Factors promoting or potentially impeding school success: disparities and state variations for children with special health care needs.

School success predicts many pathways for health and well-being across the life span. Factors promoting or potentially impeding school success are critical to understand for all children and for children with special health care needs (CSHCN), whose life course trajectories are already impacted by their chronic health problems. The 2007 National Survey of Children's Health was used (1) to estimate national and state prevalence and within and across states disparities in factors promoting school success (engagement, participation, safety) or potentially impeding success (missing school, grade repetition, school identified problems) for all children and CSHCN and (2) to evaluate associations with CSHCN service need complexity and presence of emotional, behavioral or developmental problems (EBD) as well as with school case management policies in states. Among school age children, 60 % experienced all three factors promoting school success (49.3-73.8 % across states), dropping to 51.3 % for CSHCN (39.4-64.7 % across states) and to 36.2 % for the 40 % of all CSHCN who have both more complex service needs and EBD. CSHCN were more likely to experience factors potentially impeding school success. After accounting for child factors, CSHCN living in states requiring case management in schools for children with disabilities were less likely to experience grade repetition (OR 0.65). Within-state disparities between non-CSHCN and CSHCN varied across states. Threats to school success for US children are pervasive and are especially pronounced for CSHCN with more complex needs and EBD. Findings support broad, non-condition specific efforts to promote school success for CSHCN and consideration of state school policies, such as case management.

Toward Measurement for a Whole Child Health Policy: Validity and National and State Prevalence of the Integrated Child Risk Index.

OBJECTIVE: To develop, validate and estimate national and across state prevalence on a multidimensional index that assesses the complex medical, social, and relational health risks experienced by United States children. METHODS: Data from the National Survey of Children's Health were used to construct the Integrated Child Risk Index (ICRI) which includes medical health risk (MHR), social health risk (SHR) and relational health risk (RHR) domains. Confirmatory factor analysis and logistic regression analyses were employed to assess construct and predictive validity. Validity outcomes were child flourishing, school engagement/readiness, emergency room utilization and forgone care. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the ICRI 3-domain structure and greater correlation between MHR and RHR than MHR and SHR. Logistic regressions confirmed strong predictive validity of the ICRI for all study outcomes and ICRI scoring approaches. Nearly two-thirds of children (64.3%) with MHR also experienced SHR and/or RHR. Nearly one-third of United States children experienced risks on 2 or more ICRI domains and 15% of publicly insured children had risks on all domains (16.2%; 9.0%-25.7% across states). Significant variations were observed across states and by age, race/ethnicity, health insurance and household income. CONCLUSIONS: The ICRI is a valid national and state level index associated with children's flourishing and educational preparedness and emergency and forgone care. National child health policies and Medicaid risk stratification and payment models should consider children's RHR in addition to SHR and MHR. Results call for integrated systems of care with the capacity to address medical, social and relational health risks and promote well-being. Substate and clinical applications require research.

Social and Relational Health Risks and Common Mental Health Problems Among US Children: The Mitigating Role of Family Resilience and Connection to Promote Positive Socioemotional and School-Related Outcomes.

Nearly 70% (67.6%) of US children with mental, emotional, and behavioral problems (MEB) experienced significant social health risks (SHR) and/or relational health risks (RHR). Shifts are needed in child mental health promotion, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to address both RHR and SHR. Public health approaches are needed that engage families, youth, and the range of child-serving professionals in collaborative efforts to prevent and mitigate RHR and SHR and promote positive mental health at a community level. Building strong family resilience and connection may improve SR and, in turn, academic and social outcomes among all US children with or without MEB.

Assessing and ensuring a comprehensive system of services for children with special health care needs: a public health approach.

The US Department of Health and Human Services called for comprehensive systems of services for children with special health care needs in its Healthy People 2000 and 2010 health care objectives for the nation. We report on the proportion of children with special health care needs receiving care in high-quality systems of services measured by attainment of 6 essential system elements, or quality indicators, generated from a survey of 40,723 families of children with special health care needs in 2005 to 2006. Only 17.7% of children with special health care needs received services in a high-quality service system that met all 6 quality indicators in 2005-2006. Therefore, much more work lies ahead to meet the national Healthy People objective for these children.

Positive Childhood Experiences and Adult Mental and Relational Health in a Statewide Sample: Associations Across Adverse Childhood Experiences Levels.

IMPORTANCE: Associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and risks for adult depression, poor mental health, and insufficient social and emotional support have been documented. Less is known about how positive childhood experiences (PCEs) co-occur with and may modulate the effect of ACEs on adult mental and relational health. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between adult-reported PCEs and (1) adult depression and/or poor mental health (D/PMH) and (2) adult-reported social and emotional support (ARSES) across ACEs exposure levels. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data were from the cross-sectional 2015 Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, a random digit-dial telephone survey of noninstitutionalized Wisconsin adults 18 years and older (n = 6188). Data were weighted to be representative of the entire population of Wisconsin adults in 2015. Data were analyzed between September 2016 and January 2019. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The definition of D/PMH includes adults with a depression diagnosis (ever) and/or 14 or more poor mental health days in the past month. The definition of PCEs includes 7 positive interpersonal experiences with family, friends, and in school/the community. Standard Behavioral Risk Factor Survey ACEs and ARSES variables were used. RESULTS: In the 2015 Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Survey sample of adults (50.7% women; 84.9% white), the adjusted odds of D/PMH were 72% lower (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.21-0.39) for adults reporting 6 to 7 vs 0 to 2 PCEs (12.6% vs 48.2%). Odds were 50% lower (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.36-0.69) for those reporting 3 to 5 vs 0 to 2 PCEs (25.1% vs 48.2%). Associations were similar in magnitude for adults reporting 1, 2 to 3, or 4 to 8 ACEs. The adjusted odds that adults reported "always" on the ARSES variable were 3.53 times (95% CI, 2.60-4.80) greater for adults with 6 to 7 vs 0 to 2 PCEs. Associations for 3 to 5 PCEs were not significant. The PCE associations with D/PMH remained stable across each ACEs exposure level when controlling for ARSES. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Positive childhood experiences show dose-response associations with D/PMH and ARSES after accounting for exposure to ACEs. The proactive promotion of PCEs for children may reduce risk for adult D/PMH and promote adult relational health. Joint assessment of PCEs and ACEs may better target needs and interventions and enable a focus on building strengths to promote well-being. Findings support prioritizing possibilities to foster safe, stable nurturing relationships for children that consider the health outcomes of positive experiences.

Family Resilience And Connection Promote Flourishing Among US Children, Even Amid Adversity.

The outcome of flourishing and its predictors have not been well documented among US children, especially those who face adversity. Using data for 2016 and 2017 from the National Survey of Children's Health, we determined the prevalence and predictors of flourishing among US children ages 6-17. A three-item index included indicators of flourishing: children's interest and curiosity in learning new things, persistence in completing tasks, and capacity to regulate emotions. The national prevalence of flourishing was 40.3 percent (29.9-45.0 percent across states). At each level of adverse childhood experiences, household income, and special health care needs, the prevalence of flourishing increased in a graded fashion with increasing levels of family resilience and connection. Across the sectors of health care, education, and human services, evidence-based programs and policies to increase family resilience and connection could increase flourishing in US children, even as society addresses remediable causes of childhood adversity.

Prevalence and Variation of Developmental Screening and Surveillance in Early Childhood.

Importance: Since 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended universal developmental screening and surveillance to promote early diagnosis and intervention and to improve the outcomes of children with developmental delays and disabilities. Objective: To examine the current prevalence and variation of developmental screening and surveillance of children by various sociodemographic, enabling, and health characteristics. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional analysis of the Health Resources and Services Administration's 2016 National Survey of Children's Health-a nationally representative survey of US children completed between June 2016 and February 2017-examined 5668 randomly selected children 9 through 35 months of age whose parent or caregiver responded to the address-based survey by mail or via a website. All analyses were weighted to account for the probability of selection and nonresponse and to reflect population counts of all noninstitutionalized US children residing in housing units. Main Outcomes and Measures: Developmental screening was measured through a validated set of 3 items indicating receipt in the past year of parent-completed screening from a health care professional with age-appropriate content regarding language development and social behavior. Surveillance was determined by an item capturing verbal elicitation of developmental concerns by a health care professional. Results: Of the estimated 9.0 million children aged 9 through 35 months, an estimated 30.4% (95% CI, 28.0%-33.0%) were reported by their parent or guardian to have received a parent-completed developmental screening and 37.1% (95% CI, 34.4%-39.8%) were reported to have received developmental surveillance from a health care professional in the past year. Characteristics associated with screening and/or surveillance that remained significant after adjustment included primary household language, family structure, household education, income, medical home, past-year preventive visit, child health status, and special health care needs. Having health care that meets medical home criteria was significantly associated with both developmental screening (adjusted rate ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.13-1.57) and surveillance (adjusted rate ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.08-1.42), representing an 8 to 9 absolute percentage point increase. State-level differences spanned 40 percentage points for screening (17.2% in Mississippi and 58.8% in Oregon) and surveillance (19.1% in Mississippi and 60.8% in Oregon), with approximately 90% of variation not explained by child and family characteristics. Conclusions and Relevance: Despite more than a decade of initiatives, rates of developmental screening and surveillance remain low. However, state-level variation indicates continued potential for improvement. Systems-level quality improvement efforts, building on the medical home, will be necessary to achieve recommended screening and surveillance goals.

Introducing the Adults with Chronic Healthcare Needs (ACHCN) definition and screening instrument: Rationale, supporting evidence and testing.

BACKGROUND: Among working age adults in the United States, there is a large, heterogeneous population that requires ongoing and elevated levels of healthcare and related services. At present, there are conflicting approaches to the definition and measurement of this population in health services research. OBJECTIVE: An expert panel was convened by the National Institutes of Health with the objective of developing a population-level definition of Adults with Chronic Healthcare Needs (ACHCN). In addition, the panel developed a screening instrument and methods for its use in health surveys to identify and stratify the population consistently. METHODS: The panel employed multiple methods over the course of the project, including scoping literature reviews, quantitative analyses from national data sources and cognitive testing. RESULTS: The panel defined the ACHCN population as "Adults (age 18-65) with [1] ongoing physical, cognitive, or mental health conditions or difficulties functioning who [2] need health or related support services of a type or amount beyond that needed by adults of the same sex and similar age." The screener collects information on chronic health conditions, functional difficulties, and elevated use of or unmet need for healthcare services. CONCLUSIONS: Adapted from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau definition that identifies Children with Special Healthcare Needs, aligned with the ACS-6 disability measure, and consistent with the HHS Multiple Chronic Condition Framework, this definition and screener provide the research community with a common denominator for the identification of ACHCN.