26 Feb 12 Christie restructures services for disabled kids
Governor Christie’s 2013 budget calls for a major shift in how the state helps children with intellectual and physical disabilities. It also adds nearly $25 million in spending on community placements for adults with such problems, enough to move 130 people off its burgeoning waiting list.
The moves won praise from advocates for the “developmentally disabled” — who suffer conditions ranging from severe intellectual disabilities to cerebral palsy and autism.
Under Christie’s plan, about 16,000 disabled children would no longer receive services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities, which is part of the Department of Human Services. instead, their care will be overseen by a new Division of Child Integrated System of Care Services within the Department of Children and Families.
Relief for parents
That will make life easier for parents of disabled children, many of whom must now seek services from different state agencies, said deputy Human Services commissioner Dawn Apgar. She noted that the children may need mental-health or substance-abuse services, which are now handled by Children and Families, in addition to programs through DDD.
“This will allow us to look at the needs of the whole child through one agency,” Apgar said.
The change is similar to what the state did 10 years ago when it merged a range of mental-health services for children within Children and Families, said Jeffrey Guenzel, who heads up the department’s behavioral health services.
“We were able to eliminate a long waiting list, make a single point of access for families through one phone number, and we were able to reduce the number of kids in institutional-type placements,” Guenzel said. “We hope to take some of that experience and success and integrate community support services for children with developmental disabilities in a better way.”
Apgar emphasized that the move will not reduce spending on services for the disabled. “This is not any kind of cost-saving measure,” she said.
In fact, DDD will expand its efforts at helping children make the transition into the adult system, she said, working more closely with them and their families beginning at age 16 to plan and implement employment and other day services.
20 Feb 12 Rosen Hotels debuts new employee medical center
with about 40 staff members, the Rosen Medical Center provides the primary care for more than 2,000 employees of Rosen Hotels & Resorts and their dependents. The company, which has seven hotels in the Orlando area, has self-insured its associates since 1991, when it converted a small accounting office into a medical center.
“We weren’t happy with the traditional way of providing health care. We didn’t believe that the insurance company had our best interest at heart,” said Harris Rosen, the hotel chain’s founder and chief executive.
“My hope is that others will look at what we’re going and decide that maybe it’s something they should do also,” Rosen said Friday. “We can share our knowledge and our experiences with others and make them feel more comfortable.”
Rosen, who is marketing the concept to other businesses, calculates that over the two decade run of the program, he has unexpectedly saved $215 million.
“I had no idea what the cost would be,” he said. “When you do something good, when you do the right thing…the good Lord makes sure that there are benefits. It happens.”
skclarke@tribune.com or 407-420-5664
19 Feb 12 Learning Disability Homes
Learning disability homes come in a variety of shapes and sizes and offer many different services catering for a wide range of special needs. however, there are a number of central tenets which form the core virtues of this kind of accommodation and should be looked for when considering such a living and care environment for a loved one.
Special needs homes care for people with many kinds of learning disabilities and complex needs including autism, epilepsy, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) and high vulnerability. It is therefore extremely important to find a learning disability home which can identify and focus on the specific needs of the individual, helping them to meet their particular goals and aspirations through dedicated support within safe and secure environments and friendly communities.
PMLD care homes will have specially trained staff to ensure all the complex needs of your loved one are met through dedicated care and constant contact and assessment. this person centred approach is the hallmark of a committed learning disability home. Enabling personal growth is of paramount importance for people with complex needs and this should be wholly implemented in the care strategy of the learning disability home that you eventually choose.
A range of supportive services and engaging activities can greatly break down barriers between people with complex needs and their surroundings. Communication is central to stimulating and encouraging progressive development in all vulnerable people with complex needs and providing them with as much independence and choice over their everyday lifestyle as possible. Special needs homes should have a thorough care and communication strategy in place and a wide range of activity options for all people in their care.
Learning disability homes have strict policies in place to ensure that all people in their care are treated with respect and without a trace of discrimination. these homes have it as their duty to ensure their strategy and protocols place the person at the centre of their care and that the day to day action of their care workforce truly improves the quality of life of everyone within their care.
The facilities of learning disability homes are designed to allow individuals with complex needs to maintain their independence while ensuring they remain safe and secure. The health and wellbeing is of paramount importance to care staff and they are trained to use all equipment on site in a safe and knowledgeable manner.
Naturally, it is crucial to thoroughly check the specific care strategy, facilities, activities and approach of learning disability homes when considering entrusting the care of your loved one to them.
Engage with the management and staff, gain as much information as possible and make your choice based on the knowledge that placing your loved one in such a safe, secure and stimulating care environment will help them to fully realise their life aspirations.
18 Feb 12 5 Things to Know If Your Child in Special Education Needs Mental Health Services
Does your child with autism have behavioral difficulties and need psychotherapy? Has your teenager with Learning Disabilities who struggles with academics begun to act up at school? Does your child have emotional disorders from trauma or early life before adoption? Mental Heath Needs affect a lot of children with disabilities who are currently receiving special education services. this article will discuss things that you as there parent need to know to advocate for these important services.
Below are 5 things that you need to know:
1. Mental Health services including psychotherapy and counseling are covered under Related Services in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA 2004). What this means is that a child with a disability can receive any service that is required to assist the child with a disability from receiving benefit from special education.
2. Related Services must be provided at no cost to the parent. many school districts refuse to pay for psychotherapy for children or tell the parent to use their insurance benefits.
In a document by the Office of Special Education Programs entitled: Questions and answers on IEP’s, Evaluations, and Reevaluations, OSEP states that: Mental Health services provided as a related service must be provided at no cost to the parent. In other words if your child needs psychotherapy or counseling in order to receive an appropriate education, the school district is required to pay for the service; and cannot require you to use your insurance benefits.
3. If the school district does not have qualified staff to perform the psychotherapy or counseling they are responsible for paying for an outside person to give the services. Lack of money or staff is not allowed to be used as an excuse to not provide a needed related or special education service.
4. You have the right to be an equal participant in making the decision of who will provide this service to your child. If your child has had a therapist for many years that they have bonded with it is within your right to ask that the school district reimburse you for the therapy provided by this person.
5. If the school district offers a staff person that does not have the appropriate qualifications it is within your right to ask for a qualified person. for example psychotherapy is given by a licensed psychologist. a trained social worker may be able to counsel your child, but is not trained as a licensed psychologist, so will not be able to give your child psychotherapy. Lack of training for school staff is a huge problem when children require specialized mental health services.
Many years ago I was on my states committee when OSEP came to monitor Illinois compliance with IDEA. one of the areas that they found in non compliance was that many children throughout my state needed mental health services, that were not being provided by school districts. OSEP required Illinois to send out a document stating that school districts were required to pay for mental health services, even if they did not have trained staff. Check your state’s Department of Education and see if they have any documents on providing mental health services to children with disabilities in your state who receive special education services, and need them.
You may have to fight for this service, but your child’s education will benefit it will be worth the fight in the end
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