Nutrition Interventions for Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs, 4th edition. Harsh S, Mazon M, Murray M, and Schoenacker, K, editors. Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, WA. September 2024. 312 pages including 21 chapters and 6 appendices.
This publication includes 3 sections:
- Determination of Nutrition Status
- Problem-Based Nutrition Interventions
- Condition-Specific Intervention
AND:
- addresses the complex needs related to growth, nutrition and feeding in this varied population;
- features easy to follow tables containing assessment guidelines, intervention strategies and evaluation/outcome parameters.
This resource has been designed by and for registered dietitians and others who provide nutrition care for children with special health care needs. Twenty-three practitioner/authors provide a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field.
Click here to download a copy of the entire publication (312 page pdf).
Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) is defined as an impaired oral intake that is not age-appropriate, and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction. Synonyms include extreme picky eating, problem feeders, sensory sensitivity, and oral aversion.
Feeding Matters
https://www.feedingmatters.org/
Feeding Matters is an organization of advocates, experts, and allied health care professionals working toward a world where children with PFD can thrive. Resources on their website include
Disaster Preparedness for Children and Youth with Special Nutrition Needs – Resource for Families of CYSHCN
This two-page checklist will help families prepare for emergencies for their children who have specialized nutrition needs including considerations for formula stores, formula preparation and/or administration without power and planning for those who care for each child. For additional information or to comment about this checklist please contact us.
Some links provided in this handout are no longer valid. Please see below for the updated links:
Washington State Department of Health’s Disaster Preparedness Webpage
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Pocket Guide to Children with Special Health Care and Nutritional Needs, 2nd Ed. Behavioral Health Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL. 2021
This publication fulfills the need for a practical handbook for the many dietetic professional who serve an ever-increasing number of children with special health care needs, such as developmental disorders, birth defects, low birth weight and metabolic disorders.
The handbook is organized by common functional nutrition problems seen by dietetic professionals, primary care providers and medical specialists. Sections include feeding problems related to oral-motor or behavior difficulties, growth differences, nutrition assessment, dietary modifications, considerations for non-oral feedings, fluid and bowel management, and community services for children with special health care needs. This handbook equips the dietetic professional with the information necessary to better communicate with children with special health care needs, their families, and their specialty service providers whether in an outpatient or community setting.
This publication can be purchased through the Academy’s EatRight Store.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Pocket Guide to Neonatal Nutrition, 2nd Ed. Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL. 2016
This publication provides guidelines for nutrition assessment of neonates, enteral and parenteral nutrition, medical/surgical conditions, discharge and follow-up, and conversion tables.
This publication can be purchased at the EatRight Store.
NUTRITION FOCUS for Children with Special Health Care Needs Newsletter, Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. 6 issues per year. Subscription allows for full article access to current and archived issues.
Sample articles and more information can be found here.
Nutrition Screening for Infants and Young Children with Special Health Care Needs: Spokane County, Washington, Gilliam, J and Laney S. Children with Special Health Care Needs Program – Washington State Department of Health. 2008 (13 pages).
This report describes the nutrition problems of young children (birth to age three years) entering early intervention programs in Spokane County, and documents the need for regular nutrition screening of children with special health care needs, both by medical home providers and early intervention programs. The reports also demonstrates the need for referral networks of registered dietitians for helping children and families get the nutrition services they require. Information provided in this report can be used by policy makers, Interagency Coordinating Council members, early intervention program directors, and health care providers to advocate for including nutrition as a reimbursable service in government and private health plans as well as federal early intervention legislation.
Medicaid Reimbursement for Medical Nutrition Products and Nutrition Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs: A Washington State Case Studies Report. Lucas B, Feucht S and Nardella M (eds). Children with Special Health Care Needs Program – Washington State Department of Health. 2004 (53 pages).
This report features 17 case studies of children in Washington State who used medical nutrition products. The report provides cost summaries for Medicaid reimbursement of the nutrition products and medical nutrition services provided by a registered dietitian. Positive nutrition outcomes from this report included improved oral feeding, decreased failure to thrive and reflux, decreased constipation and diarrhea, and improved weight gain and growth. The reimbursement systems for medical nutrition products and medical nutrition therapy for these children with special health care needs resulted in fewer complications and improved health status.
To view this publication – DOH website (pdf)
For additional information, or to receive a copy of the report contact:
Nutrition Consultant
Children with Special Health Care Needs Program
Washington State Department of Health
PO Box 47880
Olympia, WA 98504-7880
Phone: 360-236-3573
Community Based Nutrition Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs in Spokane County, Washington. Gilliam J, Laney S and Yang Y (eds). Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, Division of Community and Family Health – Washington State Department of Health, 2006 (35 pages).
The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program in Washington produced a report identifying nutrition problems that can be improved with nutrition intervention conducted by CYSHCN Registered Dietitians. The report recommends that early identification and nutrition referral to dietitian and frequent nutrition follow-up visits are necessary to improve the outcomes for certain nutritional concerns, such as feeding difficulties and underweight issues.
For additional information, contact us or to receive a copy of the report contact:
Khimberly Schoenacker, RDN, CSP, CD
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program
Washington State Department of Health
PO Box 47880
Olympia, WA 98504-7880
Phone: 360-236-3573
email: khimberly.schoenacker@doh.wa.gov
Cost Considerations: The Benefits of Nutrition Services for a Case Series of CSHCN in Washington State. Lucas B. and Feucht S. (eds). Office of Children with Special Health Care Needs, Community and Family Health – Washington State Department of Health. 1998 (71 pages).
A case series of 30 children with a wide variety of special health care needs and nutrition related problems was collected by registered dietitians and community feeding teams in Washington State between 1993 and 1996. The children ranged in age from 11 months to 17 years, and had multiple visits over variable time periods within a variety of settings. The estimated medical costs avoided exceeded the intervention costs for nutrition and feeding teams services for 28 of the 30 children. The ratio of intervention costs to medical costs avoided ranged from 1:0.8 to 1:20. The report demonstrates that an investment in professional time with multiple family/child contacts can achieve improvements in nutrition and feeding problems and results in savings in overall health care expenditures.
View and download this publication in PDF format here.
For additional information, contact us or to receive a copy of this publication contact:
Nutrition Consultant
Children with Special Health Care Needs Program
Washington State Department of Health
PO Box 47880
Olympia, WA 98504-7880
Phone: 360-236-3573
email: khimberly.schoenacker@doh.wa.gov
Gaining and Growing: Assuring Nutritional Care to Preterm Infants
http://staff.washington.edu/growing
This web site is designed to provide information to community health professionals who work with premature infants, especially those with very low birthweight (<1500g) in hopes that assuring adequate nutritional status will improve outcomes and family life for these children. Included are:
- nutrition assessment
- nourishing the very low birth weight (VLBW) infant after discharge
- feeding the VLBW infant at home
- parent focus groups
- decision trees for clinical services
- case studies
- resources
Additional nutrition resources can be found at the Assuring Pediatric Nutrition in the Hospital & Community website.
