Division of Children's Medical Services

The Child Protection Bureau leads the Department’s prevention and intervention efforts for children who have experienced child abuse and neglect.

The bureau also works to prevent child abuse and neglect by leading several prevention initiatives and promotes child safety by providing poison prevention information and exposure assistance in partnership with the Florida’s Poison Control Centers.

Early Steps is Florida's early intervention system that offers services to eligible infants and toddlers, age birth to 36 months, who have or are at-risk for developmental disabilities or delays.

Early intervention supports families and caregivers to increase their child’s participation in daily activities and routines that are important to the family.

Newborn Screening is a state public health program that screens newborns for 36 core genetic, endocrine, hemoglobinopathy, immunology, and metabolic conditions and may detect an additional 23 secondary conditions (for a total of 59 conditions).

Screenings for hearing loss and critical congenital heart defects are also completed prior to discharge from a hospital or birth facility. If a baby's newborn screen is abnormal, parents will be notified and the Newborn Screening Follow-up Program will ensure access to diagnostic testing to confirm results.

The Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Centers work to improve the outcome of pregnancy and the quality of life from birth. These centers provide obstetrical services to women who have a high-risk pregnancy and care for newborns with special health needs, such as critical illness or low birth weight.

The Florida Department of Health's (DOH) Office of Children's Medical Services Managed Care Plan administers Florida's Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs Program.

This program focuses on several priorities:

• Increasing access to medical homes and primary care for children with special health care needs
• Improving health care transition for adolescents and young adults with special health care needs to all aspects of adult life
• Improving access to appropriate mental health services to all children

In addition to our state's Title V priority areas, Children's Medical Services supports many specialty programs throughout the state that specialize in serving at-risk pregnant women and children with complex medical conditions.

Caregiver Survey for Child and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Your opinion is important! Please take a minute to complete the survey below. Your answers will be private and anonymous. The purpose of this survey is to get your opinions about access to your child's primary care physician or patient-centered medical home.

DOH will use the results of this survey and other information to identify challenges for families with children and youth with special health care needs that can be addressed through community action. If you have any questions, please contact us at CMS.CSHCN@FLhealth.gov or 850-245-4200.

Caregiver Survey:

Youth Survey for Child and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Your opinion is important! Please take a minute to complete the survey below. Your answers will be private and anonymous. The purpose of this survey is to get your opinions about accessing needed community-based health care services in your area.

DOH will use the results of this survey and other information to identify challenges for young adults with special health care needs that can be addressed through community action. If you have any questions, please contact us at CMS.CSHCN@FLhealth.gov or 850-245-4200.

Youth Survey: