| **National      Center for       Health Statistics               Division of Data       Services               6525 Belcrest Road       Hyattsville, MD       20782-2003       (301)458-4636 **

**The National Immunization SurveyHome | English Overview | Spanish Overview | Household FAQProvider FAQ | Children with    Special Health Care Needs FAQSurvey of Families with Young Children FAQ | ConfidentialityAbt Associates Inc. | MMWR | Search NCHS | Contact    us****Frequently Asked    Questions about    The Survey of Children with    Special Health Care Needs

**What is the purpose of this    survey?**    Children with special health care needs are "children who have or are at increased    risk for 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." The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 required States to    "provide and promote family-centered, coordinated care for children with special    health care needs and to facilitate the development of community-based systems for such    children and their families."

This survey is designed to produce    estimates of the number of children with special health care needs in each State, to    describe the types of services that they need and use, assess shortcomings in the system    of care, and to provide estimates of health care coverage for all children. Accurate    measurement of children’s use of health care and of their problems getting needed    care are critical to improving the health of children.

**Who is sponsoring this survey?**    The study is being sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.    The specific agencies involved are the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the Health    Resources and Services Administration, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS),    and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

**Who uses this information?**    Maternal and child health agencies in each State will use this information to improve    medical care for children with special needs. The Federal Government may also use this    information to determine how much money States need for children’s health care    services.

**How are telephone numbers    selected?**    A computer randomly generates and selects telephone numbers that are called for this    survey. No person or organization provides the study with any telephone numbers. Because    they are randomly generated, telephone numbers selected may be unlisted in telephone    directories. All unlisted telephone numbers remain unlisted.

**How is confidentiality of    information assured?**    Confidentiality is mandated by law. Findings will be issued only in summary form and U.S.    law requires that the name of study participants not be associated with any answers. Any    willful and knowing disclosure in violation of the Privacy Act of 1974 would subject the    violator to a fine of up to $5,000. Under the Public Health Service Act,    "Unauthorized disclosure of the confidential information is punishable under Title    18, Section 1905 of the U.S. Code." This excerpt is from Section 308d (1) of the    Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242k), and the Privacy Act of 1974, Section (e) (3).    Also, you may view a section of the NCHS Staff Manual on Confidentiality, which further    explains the prohibitions against **Disclosure of    Confidential Information**.

When findings are issued, all data will    be collapsed into categories to provide an overall picture of children’s health    issues. For example, the findings may report the number of children in a particular income    range that have a particular type of health insurance. No names or other identifying    information will ever be used.

**Who can be contacted to answer    additional questions?**    For more information about the survey itself, please contact Larry Osborn, the survey    director. His telephone number is 312-867-4071. Or, you may write to him at:**Abt Associates, Inc.**    640 North LaSalle    Suite 400    Chicago, IL 60610

For more information about the rights    of study participants, please contact Margot Palmer, the chair of the Institutional Review    Board. Her toll-free telephone number is 800-223-8118.

Finally, to contact the survey sponsor,    please call Marcie Cynamon, Special Assistant to the Director of DHIS. Her telephone    number is 301-458-4174. Or, you may write to her at:**National Center for Health Statistics - DHIS**    6525 Belcrest Road    Hyattsville, MD 20782-2003************
**Home | English Overview | Spanish Overview |    Household FAQProvider FAQ | Children with    Special Health Care Needs FAQSurvey of Families with Young Children FAQ | ConfidentialityAbt Associates Inc. | MMWR | Search NCHS | Contact    us**
**CDC Home | Search    | Health Topics A-Z******This page last reviewed May 25, 2000********

**U.S.    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES****Centers    for Disease Control and Prevention**    National Center for Health Statistics    Division of Data Services     Hyattsville, MD    20782-2003    (301) 458-4636****** |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|