Policy: Its history, intentions, and consequences for children with special health care needs

Abstract

Children who have special health care needs are a vulnerable population developmentally, socially, and politically. The programs and services they depend on to promote their optimal growth and development are subject to the vagaries of public policy and its often inexplicable development process. At the same time, children with special health care needs stand to benefit greatly from policies that enable the provision of services and supports to them and their families. In this chapter, we will describe policy, the evolution of policies for this population of children over time in a variety of arenas, policy themes, and future avenues for policy direction.