Why WONDERbabies

In Colorado, more than 7,000 children or 13% of births each year are identified as having special health care needs (CRCSN, 2005) with 6.4% of these children between the ages of 0 and 5 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2001). Additionally, Colorado has one of the highest incidences of low birth weight in the nation, with numbers rising from 8.4% in 1999 to 9.4% in 2002 (Vital Statistics, 2002) and diverging from the Healthy People 2010 goal of 5%. Thus, many babies in Colorado begin their lives in the hospital, often in neonatal intensive care units, and are at high risk for developing disabilities and/or special health care needs that could jeopardize parenting and subsequent development. Having a young child with special health care needs impacts family members, friends and loved ones, colleagues, the communities in which they live and the professionals with whom they come in contact.

Babies and young children with special health care needs access medical, mental health, and early intervention services early in development and with an expectation that they will continue to utilize these services. Over 60% of babies who begin their lives in the hospital grow-up to experience emotional, cognitive, behavioral, or academic difficulties that can persist throughout childhood. After being discharged from the hospital, young children with special health care needs may experience continuing health problems that create additional stress for their families. Resulting stress may contribute to parenting difficulties and place children at higher risk for being the victims of abuse and neglect. As such, it is imperative that young children with special health care needs are identified as early as possible and provided with comprehensive care.


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