Children with Special Health Care Needs Resource Guide

Transcription

1 Children with Special Health Care Needs Resource Guide

2 General Information and Support The ARC of Greater Houston Provides information service and serves as a referral source. Support group that meets one time per month for parents of children with disabilities. Social, leisure, and respite program. Familias Hispanas Spanish speaking support group for parents of children with various types of disabilities. Support group is parent run and meets at least once a month. Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County Provides services to persons with mental retardation, autism, and other developmental disorders, and services to persons with severe mental illness. Family to Family Network Provides monthly opportunities for families to get together for purposes of education and to meet other families who have gone before them. Also publish a monthly newsletter, host educational events that teach families how to work with their schools, and have a Resource Center for families with computer access, resources and a Lending Library. Parent Education Project A no-cost to family program that provides support groups, education, information, referrals, in- home case work services, and family support services. Information on Specific Disability Attention Deficit Disorders Association Provides information and support for people affected by ADD and ADHD. Support groups also provided in Spanish ( ). Autism Society of America Monthly parent support group meeting as well as a monthly newsletter. UCP Houston Many locations throughout the Houston area, provides services for adults and children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Down Syndrome Association Information and support for people affected by Down Syndrome, information also available in Spanish ( ). Spina Bifida Association Houston Gulf Coast Provides information services, a family support network and social activities, and to increase public and professional awareness and prevention of spina bifida. Also provides a Quarterly newsletter, information and referral services, support links and various social activities, including summer camp, a sailing adventure, a flying experience with Challenge Air pilots and a Christmas party.

3 Muscular Dystrophy Association Support groups in the greater Houston area for individuals and their families affected by any of the 40 neuromuscular diseases. Epilepsy Foundation Works to improve the lives of the adults and children with epilepsy. American Diabetes Association 800.Diabetes Nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. The Lighthouse of Houston The Lighthouse aims to enhance the welfare and well-being of those with visual disabilities by equipping them with the skills they need to function more independently in sighted world and by broadening public understanding and fostering acceptance. Child Care Information Initiatives for Children Provides parent information regarding childcare issues, telephone referral for childcare services. Services available in Spanish as well. Neighborhood Centers The focus of NCI's Children's Service Programs is to provide children with the experiences necessary to prepare them for lifelong learning, arriving at school ready to learn. These programs are also designed to strengthen families' ability to be their child's primary educator, nurturer and advocate as families move toward self-sufficiency. Head Start Children who will be four years of age on or before September 1, and who meet the income eligibility guidelines are given priority for enrollment. The program is free to all children who meet eligibility requirements. The family must provide transportation. Funding Sources for Medical Care Children with Special Health Care Needs Program The Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) is made up of several programs that provide services to children with extraordinary medical needs, disabilities, and chronic health conditions. The CSHCN health care benefits program pays for medical care and family support services. Families need not be U.S. citizens to apply. Please contact your CRS: LBJ Janice Cox, LMSW and Ben Taub - Krystal Andrews Gamarra, LMSW for assistance with obtaining and completing an application for funding. Childrens Health Insurance Policy (CHIP) In order to qualify for this government-funded program, children must not be Medicaid eligible and cannot have private insurance. Children must be U.S. citizens to qualify for benefits or be a legal resident prior to 1996.

4 Children s Medicaid Government funded program that provides medical benefits for low income families or children with disabilities at no cost to the families. Children must be U.S. citizens to qualify for benefits. Supplemental Social Security Income Supplemental income to help offset the cost of raising a child with a disability, eligibility is based on the family income, the number of people in the family and the severity of disability. Gold Card A Harris County Hospital District program that provides access to county hospitals and health services for persons who reside in Harris County with extremely low incomes. Harris County Public Health Children s Dental Clinics Provides dental care on a routine and emergency basis for children. North Houston (Antoine Clinic) Pasadena (Southeast Clinic) Medically Dependent Children Program Provide support services that help prevent unnecessary placement of an individual in a long-term care facility and supports the de-institutionalization of individuals who reside in nursing facilities. Children must be U.S. citizens and Medicaid eligible to apply. Prevent Blindness Texas Kids Matters program provides no-cost eye exams and eyeglasses to children who qualify. Legal Issues Catholic Charities Provides information sessions three times per month that explain worker rights and immigration laws. Following the information session is an opportunity for a free consultation with an Immigration Attorney or Accredited Representative. Medical Equipment & Adaptive Technology Project Mend (Medical Equipment Network for the Disabled) Provides loaner recycled medical equipment (i.e. a wheelchair) until it is no longer needed. There are income requirements for eligibility and verification of income and a doctor s prescription is needed in order to obtain equipment. Shriners Hospital bed pediatric orthopedic that provides comprehensive orthopedic care to children at no charge.

5 Social & leisure Metropolitan Multi-Service Center Centrally located center, provides recreational and sports activities for people of all ages with mental and physical disabilities. Saturday Fun Day A recreational day program for children and teens with autism, mental retardation, and pervasive developmental disorder ages Activities are held two Saturdays a month and siblings are welcome. The program has sites in Central Houston, Kingwood, and Cy- Fair. Pasadena Parks and Recreation Local residents enjoy tennis, soccer, jogging, walking, picnics, family gatherings and more at Pasadena's 47 parks, 5 swimming pools, and 5 game room buildings, museum, Strawberry House, 15 tennis courts and 21 ball fields. Houston Parks and Recreation Department Maintains 56 recreation centers, provides youth enrichment center programs, and also has after school programs during the fall and spring. The River Performing and Visual Arts Center A barrier free affordable arts enrichment program for children age 2-19 with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses as well as their siblings and friends. Mental Health Treatment Facilities HCPC (Harris County Psychiatric Center) bed acute care public psychiatric hospital. Partial hospitalization and outpatient services provided. Able to accommodate both Spanish speaking and Vietnamese speaking families. NPC (Neuropsychiatric Center) hour, walk-in, emergency services for persons with mental illness in crisis. NPC center is accessible to any persons with acute mental illness, including persons with mental retardation or other co-occurring conditions. Transportation Services Metro Lift METROLift provides transportation for persons with a disability who cannot board, ride, or disembark from a regular METRO fixed-route bus, even if that bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift or ramp. Medicaid Transportation Provides transportation for Medicaid patients and one parent to and from doctors appointments. Basic Needs

6 Summer Foods Program Free nutritious meals to all children ages 18 and younger at participating sites. No proof of income and no registration required. Services also available in Spanish. Harris County Social Services Several programs that assist with providing short-term financial assistance for housing/utilities, assist homeowners with low interest grants/loans for remodeling, and provide rental assistance designed to help families afford rental housing. United Way Helpline Help Provides information and referrals to local social service agencies free of charge Abuse and Neglect Children s Protective Services Investigates abuse and neglect of children. Also provides crisis intervention. Houston Area Women s Center Provides shelter, counseling, and support services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Counseling Crisis Intervention 713.HOTLINE Provides 24-hour crisis counseling via telephone. Services also available in Spanish ( ). Depelchin Children s Center Provides therapy, family counseling, and adoption services. Bo s Place Provides group and family counseling for children and adolescence. Community Family Center Provides various community programs including health care and counseling. Services are available in Spanish. Asian American Family Counseling Center Non-profit agency dedicated to providing for the mental health needs of the Asian American community. Provides bilingual and bicultural counseling, screening, referral and follow-up for social services, training, education, and advocacy. Also provides case management, interpreting/translation upon request. Education Houston Community College 281-College Provides extensive ESL (English as a Second Language) classes on both a full time (20 hrs/week) and part time basis (10 hrs/week).

7 HISD s Newcomers Charter School A new school created by HISD. The school will offer more flexible schedules, with evening and weekend courses, and is targeted for new immigrant students between the ages of AVANCE Provides GED/ESL classes in Spanish. Houston Read Commission Provides GED classes and test preparation Gulf Coast Community Services Association Provides adult education and GED preparation Bilingual Education Institute Provides vocational training and ESL training for the following languages: Arabic, Bosnian, French, and Vietnamese. Special Education Information HISD Office of Special Education Fort Bend I.S.D. Special Education Aldine I.S.D. Special Education Alief I.S.D. Special Education ext 6140 Pearland I.S.D. Special Education ext Pasadena I.S.D. Special Education T.E.A. (Texas Education Agency) The state agency ultimately responsible for making sure every student with a disability receives a free appropriate education.