May 28, 2020
To meet the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are continuously striving to provide accessible and high-quality medical care while also ensuring that the Clinic for Special Children (CSC) is a safe place for our patients and their families. Beginning June 8, 2020, we plan to increase the CSC’s capacity for on-site visits, home visits for the Cherished Lives program, research studies, and immunization clinics.
To view the full letter from our Medical Director, Dr. Kevin A. Strauss, please click HERE.
May 14, 2020
After careful consideration and due to COVID-19 public health safety guidelines, the 2020 Union County and Lancaster County Benefit Auctions for the Clinic for Special Children have been canceled. The Union County auction was originally scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2020 and the Lancaster County auction was originally scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2020.
Click HERE to read more information, including a letter from the Union and Lancaster Auction committees and CSC leadership.
April 14, 2020
Our Medical Director, Dr. Kevin A. Strauss, has released an updated open letter to provide the Plain community with timely, critical information regarding COVID.
April 7, 2020
Our Executive Director, Adam D. Heaps, MS, MBA has released a letter sharing words of hope and gratitude during this challenging time.
March 20, 2020
Our Medical Director, Dr. Kevin A. Strauss, has released an open letter to provide the Plain Community critical information about COVID-19, what it means for them, and how we can work together to protect our loved ones.
March 17, 2020
Ensuring safety and well-being is at the heart of our mission. In that spirit, The Clinic for Special Children (CSC) is taking steps to protect our patients and their families from COVID-19.
How Can We Control COVID-19?
Although there is no treatment for COVID-19, protective measures can limit its impact in communities (Figure from CDC). 
In the absence of protective measures, the number of people infected (red shaded area) quickly overwhelms total hospital capacity (gray dashed line). Implementing protective measures early in the course of the pandemic (gray shaded area) has two effects: (1) The peak of the outbreak is delayed, giving medical systems more time to respond; and (2) Fewer people become infected.
What is the CSC Doing to Help?
- For the foreseeable future, CSC will postpone all non-essential gatherings and events, including the Kumme Essa dinner
- CSC will convert non-urgent appointments to scheduled phone calls; CSC will remain open for our patients who are sick or have urgent needs.
- For urgent office appointments, CSC will employ special precautions to minimize the risk of contagion.
- Objects of common contact (e.g. toys, books) will be removed from waiting areas.
- CSC will frequently sanitize common surfaces, use masks and gloves for patients who might be contagious, and limit all non-essential physical contact (e.g. handshakes).
What Can You Do to Help?
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after visiting with people outside the home, shaking hands, using the bathroom, or before preparing food.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid sharing hand towels.
- Limit shaking hands; ‘elbow bumps’ or ‘fist bumps’ are much safer.
- Unless necessary, avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If you or a family member is sick, stay home unless you need a doctor’s attention.
- Cover all coughs and sneezes. If you use a tissue, throw it away. If you use your hand, wash it.
- Frequently disinfect common objects and surfaces in your home.
- Avoid large, non-essential gatherings, even if everyone appears healthy.
- Respect government recommendations to cancel unnecessary gatherings and limit contact with other people. Countries that abide by such restrictions have fewer infections and fewer deaths.
Protective measures save lives. This is our time to work together to protect the people we care about. Until COVID-19 runs its course, we encourage you to stay calm, stay safe, stay clean, and stay home.
Clinic. Whoopie pie medals will be awarded to the first, second, and third female and male runners in the following age groups: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40- 49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+.
Each year the 
We’d like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone involved in putting on this great event, especially Jesse and Becky Crain, and Kris and Maureen Newkirk!
In this edition of the CSC newsletter, read about the Martin family’s inspiring journey with Kleefstra Syndrome. Also in this issue is the story of Margaretha whom the Clinic met while on a medical mission to Mexico and Drs. Matt Demczko and Mike Fox returning to CSC. Additional spotlights include our upcoming events, Clinic staff announcements, carrier testing FAQ, our collaborators from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, a embroidery company from Oklahoma supporting the Clinic stitch by stitch, and our 2018 Fall Family Fun Day!
Dr. Williams passionately involved herself in the education and empowerment of midwives across Pennsylvania. She worked with CSC’s Christine Hendrickson to organize three pulse-oximetry workshops for local midwives and hosted CME accredited midwife conferences at the Clinic. Through her care for Amish and Mennonite children living with rare genetic disease in Lancaster, Dr.Williams created lasting relationships with many families in the community and developed a deep respect and devotion to those she has served. She hopes to continue her care of children from the Plain community in her home state of Wisconsin. We wish her all of the best in her next endeavours.
After months of development, the CSC laboratory is proud to announce two new tests for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), tests that have significant implications for the services and care we offer to the patient families we serve. 
Last week, Clinic for Special Children’s Dr. Kevin Strauss (Medical Director) and Teresa Rineer (Development Director) traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona to participate in a special philanthropic event organized to help children living with rare disorders and raise awareness about CSC’s work with rare genetic disease. Retired White Sox pitcher Jesse Crain and his wife Becky partnered with the Newkirk family to host a “Swing FORE the Kids” Topgolf tournament through the 
The Crain Family Foundation generously hosted this event in partnership with Kris and Maureen Newkirk, parents of a child cared for by our Clinic, Charlie Newkirk. Seeking the best care for their son living with a rare genetic disease called Glutaric Acidemia Type 1, Kris and Maureen traveled from Arizona to the Clinic for Special Children. Visiting CSC was a “game-changer” for Kris.
The Crain Family Foundation’s “Swing FORE the Kids” event on Monday evening, February 26th, drew a diverse crowd of at least 40 professional atheletes and coaches, community members, family and friends, and others who share a passion for raising awareness about rare disease. Attendees were offered the opportunity to play golf with celebrity athletes, bid on a variety of items through a silent auction, and enjoy great food, drink, and camaraderie in support of the Clinic’s cause.
This week we celebrate a very important staff milestone: our laboratory director, Dr. Erik Puffenberger’s, 20th anniversary of employment at the Clinic for Special Children. Over the last 20 years Dr. Puffenberger, PhD has devoted his service at CSC to determining the genetic causes of disease in order to help improve and save the lives of those living with rare genetic conditions. For about eight years, he performed all functions of our laboratory by himself including genetic te
National Day of Prayer Community Breakfast
