Health Department Resource Offerings Serve Local Children with Special Health Care Needs
MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y., Oct. 22, 2026 — The Livingston County Department of Health is celebrating the first-year achievements of two new initiatives that help local families raising children and young adults with specialized health, developmental, or psychological care needs.
With $32,496 in funding through a Community Accessibility and Inclusion grant from New York State, the County’s Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) program created their first-ever free Wellness/Hygiene Closet and Durable Medical Equipment Closet. They provide families with essential, immediate health and wellness support with no out-of-pocket costs or lengthy insurance delays. To date, these community wellness facilities have served more than 165 children, and 61 families in Livingston County, said Community Health Director Margaret Betette.
“The Wellness and Hygiene Closet addresses serious gaps in rural resource access, providing families with essential hygiene products, basic food items, and infant care supplies to ease severe physical and mental health challenges like infections, anxiety, and social isolation,” explained Betette. “Our Durable Medical Equipment Closet gives CYSHCN families access to free durable medical equipment that would otherwise incur out-of-pocket expenses or require a lengthy insurance approval process.”
The Durable Medical Equipment Closet stocks items like medical helmets, weighted vests and blankets, gait trainers, adaptive strollers, communications devices and wheelchairs. The offerings eliminate significant financial obstacles for local families, enabling children with special needs to obtain the tools necessary for their growth, mobility, and safety.
“Private insurance, at times, restricts or denies coverage for specialized equipment such as wheelchairs or communication devices, highlighting the importance of public support,” added Betette. “This initiative closely aligns with the goals of community accessibility and inclusion funding, as it aims to create environments where children with chronic physical, developmental, or behavioral conditions can fully engage in daily life.”
Families interested in learning more about the Wellness/Hygiene Closet or Durable Medical Equipment Closet can complete an online referral form on the CYSHCN website. Community members can also call the Department of Health at 585-243-7299 for more information on the CYSHCN program.
The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs program is a free public health initiative that provides information, resources referrals and care coordination for Livingston County families of children and young adults, from birth to age 21, who have chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions. New York State’s Community Accessibility and Inclusion grant funds local health departments and community organizations to improve accessibility and inclusion for children and youth with special health care needs, from birth to age 21.
About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.
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