About the Blueprint for Change and the National Center

What is the Blueprint for Change?

The Blueprint for Change is a national framework for a system of services for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) where they enjoy a full life and thrive in their community from childhood through adulthood. The Blueprint focuses on forty strategies in four key areas: 

• Equity: All CYSHCN have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible and thrive throughout their lives without discrimination and regardless of where they were born or live.
• Quality of life and well-being: The service system prioritizes quality of life, well-being, and supports flourishing for CYSHCN and their families.
• Access to care: Health care and other related services are accessible, affordable, comprehensive and continuous; they prioritize the well-being of CYSHCN and families.
• Financing: CYSHCN and their families have timely access to integrated, easy-to-navigate, high-quality health care and supports they need. 

The Blueprint for Change offers ways to improve the lives of children with special health care needs and their families. To help families understand the Blueprint, Family Voices developed a one-pager to introduce families to the ideas in the Blueprint.

What is the National Center for a System of Services for CYSHCN?

The National Center is a group of organizations working collaboratively to support state Title V programs and their allies in their efforts to advance the Blueprint for Change. We provide one-on-one technical assistance, tools, training, strategies, expert and peer connections to improve equity, access, quality of life and financing in the systems that serve children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) so they can flourish throughout the lifespan.

Our partnering organizations include the American Academy of Pediatrics, Family Voices, Boston University Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health, Got Transition, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

All activities of the National Center are guided by a diverse National Advisory Board, which includes families/caregivers, young adults, pediatricians and other clinicians, Title V partners and supporting sectors within the system of services for CYSHCN.

Download a PDF version of this one-pager.

The National Center for a System of Services for CYSHCN is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,500,000 with no funding from nongovernmental sources. The information or content are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the US Government.