The Department of Health provides many services and benefits that target children’s health.
The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Food Program provides healthy foods, nutrition services, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care and social services to pregnant, postpartum, and breast-feeding individuals, to infants and to young children from families whose income is within 185% of the FPIG.
The program's services are designed to promote the healthiest possible pregnancies, deliveries and post-pregnancy experiences for parents and infants, to improve their use of healthcare services, and to increase the chances for use of health programs that are started early in a pregnancy or shortly after birth.
Services are available in every county. The statewide phone number for WIC is 1-800-WIC-WINS (1-800-946-9467). For county phone numbers, (see Chapter 338, Medical Assistance Benefits, Appendix J).
Modified School Health Services
Modified School Health Services programs allows certified nurse practitioners working as school nurses to be paid directly for EPSDT screenings. Forty-two school districts in Pennsylvania have modified school health services programs.
Mandated School Health Services
The Public School Code requires by law that certain health services and screens be provided to every child who is attending a public or non-public school. The health screenings also apply to children who are home-schooled. Physical health examinations and health screenings (growth, hearing, scoliosis, tuberculosis and vision) are provided.
Children upon entering kindergarten or first grade, in sixth grade and eleventh grade must have medical examinations. The examinations ensure that illnesses, or preventable/detectable conditions are identified in a timely way (hopefully before the condition gets too serious) and referred for diagnosis and treatment.
The School Code also requires:
Vision screenings (near and far acuity) are performed in every grade.
An Immunization Assessment is performed in every grade.
A growth screen is performed every year.
Dental checkups are done in third and seventh grades.
A scoliosis screening is performed in sixth and seventh grades.
Hearing tests are done on children in kindergarten, first, second, third, seventh and eleventh grades.
School nursing services are a very important part of all school health programs. School nursing services are available to all students in every grade, in both public and private schools. The school nurse helps students prevent illnesses and provides care to sick students in a family-centered, private setting. The privacy that is given to children allows the school nurse to offer students a "safe, healthy environment" for students.
For more information about school health services, contact the Division of School Health, at 717-787-2390.
309.73 Specialty Care Programs
The Specialty Care Programs serves individuals diagnosed with one of the following conditions:
Cooley’s Anemia,
Child Rehabilitation (an array of neuromuscular and osteopathic conditions),
Cystic Fibrosis,
Hemophilia,
Sickle Cell Anemia,
Spina Bifida.
The Specialty Care Programs provide support for care coordination, family participation in health planning, and multi-disciplinary clinics which bring together the full medical team to treat and plan for the individual’s health care needs. The Specialty Care Programs also include several community-based organizations serving the sickle cell population with outreach, education, and support with daily living and community integration needs.
For more information please contact the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach at (717) 772-2763.
The Epilepsy Program supports education and training for first responders, school medical personnel, teachers, and students primarily within the middle and high school settings.
Education for school personnel focuses on understanding, recognizing and providing care during seizures. Education for students supports understanding and anti-bullying materials. The program also provides education and supports for family members and caregivers of youth with epilepsy. The Epilepsy Program is provided through grants with the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania and the Epilepsy Foundation of Western and Central Pennsylvania.
For more information please contact the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach at (717) 772-2763.
309.75 Medical Home Initiative
The Medical Home Initiative (MHI) supports education and improvements for primary care providers (PCP) to engage families and support patients though the Medical Home model of care. The Medical Home model of care is a way of providing care that is patient-centered, comprehensive, team-based, coordinated, accessible, and focused on quality and safety. The MHI provides PCPs with technical assistance, educational conferences and webinars, as well as supporting family engagement within the PCP offices.
For more information please contact the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach at (717) 772-2763.
BrainSTEPS (Strategies Teaching Educators, Parents and Students) is a child and adolescent Brain Injury School Reentry Program designed to assist children with brain injuries with transitioning back into a school environment. BrainSTEPS will provide brain injury training and education to individuals who provide educational support to school-aged youth affected by brain injury. The purpose of the training and education is to equip those individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to assist students in achieving educational success through graduation. The program provides a foundational understanding of brain injury, the resulting challenges, and supports and interventions for effectively managing these injuries.
For more information please contact the Bureau of Family Health, Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach at 717-772-2763 or 1-866-412-4755.
309.77 Special Kids Network (SKN) Helpline
The SKN Helpline is an information and referral source that assists children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families in identifying and receiving the services and supports they require. Some of the information that the SKN Helpline provides is on topics such as healthcare, education, advocacy, and assistive technologies. If an individual is seeking services, referrals are made to providers with permission from the individual or family.
To obtain information on services and supports available to CYSHCN please contact the SKN Helpline number at 1-800-986-4550.
309.78 Community to Home (C2H)
Community to Home is a home visiting program for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families. The Community to Home program will improve the health of CYSHCN age birth through 21 by assisting them, with their families, to get the services and support required to thrive in the community. Community Health Workers will assist with navigating systems to identify and identify resources while empowering families to become strong advocates and self-reliant. In-home services will deliver care coordination and education with the goal of improving the physical, mental, and behavioral health of CYSHCN.
For more information please contact the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach at (717) 772-2763.
309.79 Charcot-Marie-Tooth Program
The Charcot-Marie-Tooth program supports outreach and education activities to increase awareness and knowledge of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. A youth camp and a one-day conference are hosted by the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA).
More information can be found on CMTA’s website, cmtausa.org, or by contacting the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Bureau Operations at (717) 346-3000.
309.791 Technology Assisted Children’s Home Program (TACHP)
The TACHP provides for the coordination of care for technology dependent children. The scope of the program is to provide comprehensive non-medical services to families and aid them in navigating systems of care. There is an emphasis on empowering families to become advocates for their children and collaborating with providers, insurance companies, and school staff, and moving towards self-sufficiency. The program also provides professional training for home health professionals and school nurses.
For more information please contact the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Bureau Operations at (717) 346-3000.
309.792 Pennsylvania Tourette Syndrome Alliance
As Tourette Syndrome (TS) remains widely misunderstood by the public and misdiagnosed by health care professionals, the Pennsylvania Tourette Syndrome Alliance (PA-TSA), Inc. provides support and education to individuals affected by TS, their families, healthcare and other professionals and the community. The services provided by PA-TSA are focused on increasing understanding of the disorder and providing proven accommodations and strategies, so children diagnosed with TS can succeed.
For more information please contact the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Bureau Operations at (717) 346-3000.
309.793 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)
PRAMS is a joint research project between the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has been a source of data in Pennsylvania since 2007. There are currently 51 sites, both states and jurisdictions, currently participating in PRAMS. By surveying a random sample of individuals with a recent live birth, the PRAMS program can collect state-specific, population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences before, during and after pregnancy. The survey is offered via mail and phone in both English and Spanish and spans a wide array of topics including: attitudes and feelings about pregnancy, barriers to and content of prenatal care, breastfeeding, safe sleep practices, pregnancy-related violence, and sources of social support and stressors. PRAMS is also designed with the ability to add supplemental questions to collect data on and respond to emerging public health problems affecting the maternal and child health population such as the opioid epidemic and Zika.
For more information, please contact the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Bureau Operations at (717) 346-3000.
309.794 Help in PA – Resources for Your Family’s Health
Help in PA – Resources for Your Family’s Health is a resource page for pregnant individuals, infants, children, children with special health care needs, and families. For a list of county specific resources, click on the county of interest. There is also a link to a list of resources available throughout the state.
For more information, please contact the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Bureau Operations at (717) 346-3000 or see the website: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/programs/Pages/Help-in-PA.aspx
The Lead Information Line provides specific information about lead poisoning and related environmental health issues. An information and referral specialist can answer questions and provide needed guidance. The specialist may also send electronic resources or fact sheets. Anyone who is concerned about lead and related issues may call, including parents, physicians, contractors, and property owners. The Lead Information Line number is (800) 440-LEAD.
The Healthy Baby Line is a statewide helpline that provides information and referral resources to pregnant and new parents. The Healthy Baby Line number is (800) 986-2229.
The Healthy Kids Line is a statewide helpline that provides information and referrals to parents and caretakers of children on issues related children’s health care. The Healthy Kids Line number is (800) 986-5437.
309.798 Metabolic Formula Program
The metabolic formula program provides metabolic formula to individuals under age 22 and individuals over 22 years of age that are currently pursuing pregnancy or who are pregnant with Phenylketonuria (PKU) or Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD). The application for the metabolic formula program is available from any of the metabolic treatment centers in the state or on the Department of Health website under the newborn screening program.
For more information please contact the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Newborn Screening and Genetics at (717) 783-8143.
Updated March 4, 2025, Replacing June 25, 2024