Center for Special Children

The Center for Special Children at Vernon Health provides compassionate, comprehensive care for children and adults with rare genetic and metabolic conditions. Serving as a medical home for individuals with complex needs, we partner closely with families to offer clear guidance, accurate diagnoses, and ongoing support that respects the values of each community we serve. Many of our patients come from the Plain community, where certain inherited disorders can occur more frequently. With a strong emphasis on relationships, early identification, and advancing science, we are committed to improving health outcomes for children and adults now and in the future.

Our Approach to Genetic Care

Since opening in 2015, our patients have received care from providers who understand both their specific genetic conditions and their overall health needs. Our multidisciplinary team includes UW–Madison specialists who offer affordable, on-site services, helping families access care close to home. The kind of care the program offers is the future of medicine.

Genomic medicine—using an individual’s genetic information to guide clinical decisions—is shaping care across all areas of health, especially for rare and undiagnosed conditions. Translational medicine strengthens this approach by bringing discoveries from the laboratory into practical diagnostics and treatment. Through close, collaborative work across specialties, scientific progress becomes meaningful, real-world care. Today, the Center manages more than 157 known inherited conditions, to include neurodevelopmental, cardiovascular, ocular, immunologic, and hearing disorders, and we continually learn as diagnostic and treatment options evolve.

Newborn Screening & Genetic Testing

Newborn screening is a statewide program to identify babies with serious disorders that could lead to illness or long-term effects. We support the program by helping ensure all newborns receive timely screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Our team reduces barriers such as communication challenges, distance to specialty care, and cost. In many cases, we make rapid, direct contact with families following a positive screen. With 24/7 call coverage, we support families through confirmatory testing and after a diagnosis is made.

We strive to help families find answers, feel heard, and understand potential genetic causes for their child’s differences. We clearly present all available testing options and support families in making choices that reflect their values. Through collaborations with the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene, nationwide laboratories, private laboratories and research scientists, we can offer low-cost targeted genetic testing (testing for one gene), microarray (testing for a subset of expressed genes) or whole exome/genome sequencing (testing all of the expressed genes) to try to identify the cause of conditions.

Key Areas of Support

These highlights show the essential ways our program partners with families, community organizations, and clinical resources to improve care.

Funding Support

Much of the Center’s ability to offer affordable services comes from community generosity. Patient fees cover less than one-third of annual operating costs, benefit auctions, private donations, and grants through the Vernon Health Foundation help ensure care is accessible for those who qualify.

Educational Outreach

Our team provides and facilitates educational opportunities for families and community partners. Family Day events, held multiple times throughout the year, bring families together to learn from experts and strengthen relationships among families and healthcare providers. We host Community Birth Attendant meetings three times per year, including a two-day conference every three years. These gatherings bring together public health nurses, medical professionals, licensed and certified midwives, and community birth attendants to share knowledge, build relationships, and improve outcomes for mothers and babies. The meetings emphasize the value in collaboration among different providers.

Community Partnerships

Our ability to offer exceptional care depends on strong community partnerships. Collaborations with specialty providers allow us to expand the services we offer, while local medical partners help identify gaps in care and support families more effectively. By sharing our expertise, we help ensure that families can receive the care they need close to home.

The Center is also a member of the Plain Community Health Consortium (PCHC), an association of organizations dedicated to supporting Plain communities facing rare genetic disorders across North America. Together, we improve the health of underserved communities through collaborative programs, research, education and resource utilization.

Research

Medical research plays an essential role in answering challenging questions about how to best care for individuals with rare conditions. We collaborate with researchers at multiple universities and experts from clinics with similar missions to improve health outcomes locally and globally. We participate only in research that directly benefits the families we serve and only after careful evaluation.

FAQ

Have questions about care at the Center for Special Children? Our team is here to help. For more information or to speak with someone about your care, please call (608) 625-4039.

What is the Center for Special Children?

We provide diagnosis, treatment, and support for families with rare genetic conditions and complex medical needs. Our work includes respecting cultural diversity, increasing awareness of genetic conditions, collaborating to advance research, supporting all caregivers, and advocating for accessible healthcare.

Who can receive care?

Children with known or suspected inherited genetic or metabolic conditions may be referred by their primary care provider, midwife, newborn screening program, or specialists. Our team works with families to determine the right next steps for evaluation and care.

What conditions do you treat?

We evaluate and manage metabolic, neurodevelopmental, cardiovascular, ocular, immunologic, and hearing disorders, continually expanding our knowledge through research and collaboration.

Do you work with other clinics or specialists?

Yes. We partner with local healthcare providers, regional health systems, research institutions, and clinics within the Plain Community Health Consortium to ensure families receive coordinated, up-to-date care as close to home as possible.

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At Vernon Health, we’re committed to providing patient-centered, compassionate care wherever you are in your health journey. Explore our trusted providers and convenient locations to find the right support for you.