Resource Guides: Children with Intensive Needs

Children with Intensive Needs

Services for Children and Their Parents

Children With Intensive Needs (CWIN) is purposed to assist children with special needs-and their families-while keeping those children in the least restrictive environment possible.

The definition of "intensive needs" includes children who are medically fragile, have significant developmental disabilities, severe emotional disabilities, and/or who are abusing substances.

CWIN is a "champion of systems of care" for the children it helps. For the community, schools and families who sometimes experience difficulty in managing the challenging behaviors of these children, CWIN provides hope and delivers better outcomes because it can quickly direct people to the most appropriate resources.

Advisor: Kiran Dixit, Montgomery County Collaboration Council

Important Numbers

  • Local Access Mechanism
    A specialized access point to ensure service delivery and supports for CWIN children in a timely manner, regardless of where the family enters the system.
    (301)354-4905
  • Local Coordinating Council
    An interagency entity consisting of all the child-serving agencies and a family advocate.
    (301)354-4910
  • Montgomery County Youth Crisis Hotline
    Confidential and anonymous support by trained counselors, 24-hours.
    (301)738-9697
  • Core Service Agency
    Local mental health authority, responsible for the planning, management and monitoring of Public Mental Health Services.
    (240)777-1400
  • Montgomery County Mental Health Access Team Information and referral about outpatient mental health providers for residents who have Maryland Medical Assistance or no insurance.
    (240) 777-1770, (240)777-1236 (TTY)
  • Military Outreach Initiative Information and Resource Helpline
    An information and resource helpline designed to help all service members, veterans and family members find necessary and practical resource throughout the region.
    (301) 738-7176
  • Montgomery County Public Schools Ask MCPS
    (301) 309-MCPS (6277)
    Hispanic Hotline, 301-230-3073; Chinese, 301-230-5428; French, 301-230-5429; Korean, 301-230-5430; Swahili, 301-230-5429; and Vietnamese, 301-230-5432
  • Gang Prevention Task Force
    (240)-773-GANG