Office for Genetics and
Children with Special Health Care Needs
The Office for Genetics and Children with Special Health Care Needs (OGCSHCN) coordinates a wide range of DHMH programs for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and their families.
The mission of the OGCSHCN is:
- To protect and promote the health of Maryland's children with special health care needs, to reduce death, illness and disability, and to improve the quality of their lives
- To foster a system in which each child receives family-centered, community-based, comprehensive, coordinated, culturally appropriate primary and specialty care within a medical home
The Office works to:
- To improve the early identification of children with special health care needs through newborn screening for metabolic diseases, sickle cell disease, chronic diseases, birth defects and hearing loss and through developmental screening
- To improve timely access to necessary specialty care
- To improve availability of specialty medical care and genetic services statewide
- To improve availability and access to critical family support services statewide
OGCSHCN Divisions
The OGCSHCN is comprised of three divisions:
Division for Clinical Genetic Services
Hemoglobin Disease Program
The Metabolic Disease Program
Birth Defects Reporting and Information System (BDRIS)
Division for Newborn Screening and Follow-up
Newborn Bloodspot Screening Follow-up Program
The Infant Hearing Program
The Sickle Cell Disease Follow-up Program
The Metabolic Nutrition Follow-up Program
Division for Specialty Care and Regional Resources Development
Education of patients, parents, professionals, voluntary organizations and the general public about disorders affecting children with special health care needs and the services available to them is another important activity of the office.