What will open the doors for children and youth with special health care needs from traditionally underserved communities?

The articles in this supplement to Pediatrics raise serious questions about the current policies and practices that affect children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) from traditionally underserved communities and are a call to action at a time when the United States is experiencing both unprecedented demographic shifts and a serious economic downturn. Although CYSHCN from underserved communities do confront persistent and even worsening barriers to community-based health and developmental services, the articles in this supplement also describemethods for meeting these issues headon. In the face of these complex conditions, the supplement authors offer practical information and provide guidance that can steer child health care professionals, communities, parents, and policy-makers alike as theywork together to formpartnerships and take advantage of new models of interaction as well as the new rights and policies that are embedded within the Affordable Care Act of 2010.