Project Sunshine -
Advisor: Sheila Cannon
Email address:
HOUSTON, BenTaubGeneralHospital
HOUSTON, HealthBridge Children's Hospital
HOUSTON, Texas Children’s Hospital
HOUSTON, The Woman's Hospital of Texas
Medically Dependent Children's Program (MDCP) Serves children and youth under the age of 21 years who have significant medical disabilities and would typically be eligible for nursing home care; provides respite, nursing, and home modifications. Available statewide.MDCP provides services to support families caring for children and young adults who are medically dependent and to encourage de-institutionalization of children in nursing facilities. number for information and to place a name on the waiting/interest list call: 877-438-5658. Some of our children with autism with medically dependent needs are qualifying for the program. Place your child’s name on this list ASAP since names on this list seem to move up a lot faster than other Medicaid waiver programs. More information on Medicaid Waiver Interest lists below.
Apple of His EyesLearningCenter
339 Dulles Avenue
StaffordTX77477 (opposite the FortBend Library)
Tel#: 281-969- 5973/ 832-453-4010
Hours of Operation: 6:30am to 6pm
Regular Hours: 8:30am - 3pm Monday- Friday
Before hours: 6:30am - 8:30am
After hours: 3:30 - 6pm
Welcome to peace of mind - Regardless of your child’s disability, child care is available for him/her and their siblingsat Apple Of His Eyes Learning Center. We say we are small for a reason; our center is small enough to focus on each child’s specific and special needs for 2 to 22 years. The hearts of our staff are big enough to nurture each child in our safe and engaging center. Think about Apple Of His Eyes Learning Center as a place you can bring your child and feel secured because they are considered precious,the Apple of someone’s eyes. For children between the ofages 2-22 years who have a special need. Where we respect every childfor who they have been created to be -specially unique.
Care.com, Inc.
201 Jones Road, Suite 500
Waltham, MA02451
877-277-3115
Mon—Fri. 10:00 – 6:00 pm ET
Online database of babysitters, nannies, special needs care, in-home caregivers, pet sitters, dog walkers, housekeepers and more. How it works, you sign in to create an account, search for your specific criteria, according to zip code, then you will be able to view providers, their resumes, experience, background check, hourly rates, availability or you can post a specific job for the providers to view. Under the special needs category you will see a list of diagnoses, e.g., ADD, ADHD, Asthma, Autism, ASD, Asperger’s, PDD, Speech Delays, Seizures, Tourette, Food Allergies, etc. There is also a section for mom-reviews and references.
Easter Seals - Greater Houston Respite Care Program (merged w/United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Houston, Inc.)
Elise Hough, CEO
4500 Bissonnet, Suite 340
BellaireTX77401
713-838-9050, ext 332
Email:
United Cerebral Palsy became Easter Seals Greater Houston on January 1, 2011. As Easter Seals, the organization is building on its 64-year history of serving people with disabilities, while continuing to serve thousands of families in the area.All funds raised in the greater Houston community stay here through ESGH’s nine programs: Early Childhood Intervention; Respite Services; Toy/Tech; High School/High Tech; Home of Your Own; Therapy Services; The Caroline School; Camps, Counseling & Case Management; Bridging Apps, Social Motion Skills & Adult Services. Announcement 5-2-2012: The Caroline School at Easter Seals Greater Houston, located in Belliare, Texas, is excited to announce that we will be moving to a larger location that will allow us to grow and help more students with special needs. The CarolineSchool serves students with multiple disabilities including medically fragile health conditions and severe and profound developmental delays. Students who attend The Caroline School are provided with a positive academic learning environment that incorporates several research based curricula to meet the diverse needs of our student population. To enhance the academic experience The Caroline School students participate in therapeutic activities provided by Easter Seals of Greater Houston such as Pet Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Gymboree, Dance Therapy and The Children’s Therapy Group, a therapy group that provides on-site occupational therapy, speech therapy and physical therapy services.They offer comprehensive Assistive Technology Evaluations. Assistive Technology is any item, piece of equipment, software or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Assistive Technologycan be anything from low tech communication boards, to high tech communication devices, iPads, or switches. If it is recommended that your child use an assistive technology device, the report will be filed with your insurance company, Medicaid, or CHIPS to await approval for funding of the device. They accept Medicaid, CHIPS, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and private pay. Once the Assistive Technologyevaluation is complete, and the appropriate device has been ordered and delivered, Easter Seals will provide follow up sessions to train the device user and their family. BridgingApps has been a great support to The Caroline School over the past year by providing us with the opportunity to help teach and communicate with our students using the iPad. BridgingApps is a great resource to have on-site and we are excited to grow with them in the coming years. At The Caroline School teachers focus on what a child can do, building skills slowly step by step.The CarolineSchool is currently taking applications for the 2012-2013 school year and excited to be in a new, larger space so that we are able to serve new students. If you feel as though your child would benefit from our low student to teacher ratio, research based curriculum, individual and small group attention and numerous therapeutic activities please contact the Educational Director, Melissa Larson, at or 713-838-9050 ext. 362 to schedule a tour.
*License pending
*Free Parking for all services
Easter Seals – Katy Teen Club
Linda Latimer
St. Peter’s UnitedMethodistChurch
20775 Kingsland Blvd.
Katy, TX77450
They coordinate the Katy Teen Club every Friday evening 6:00-9:00 at St. Peter’s UMC. They primarily serve teens with autism and Asperger’s. It is also a respite break for parents and sponsored by the respite program. Contact Linda Latimer at to learn more about their program.
Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church
1530 Norwalk Drive
Katy, TX77450
A small special needs class for kids with neurological differences are led by Michelle Taylor and Claudia Wood. There are shadows in place for kids once they reach the appropriate age for sacraments. The class is on Sunday afternoons. Class size is capped.
First Presbyterian Church-Houston, WinGS n Wishes Respite Program embracing children with special needs
Stephanie Fregia
5300 Main Street
Houston, TX77004
713-620-6500
This program provides themed activities one Friday night a month. WinGS participants and their siblings are invited to attend while parents enjoy an evening out. For more information about this program and special events, please contact Stephanie Fregia, WinGS Coordinator, 713-620-6431 .
FirstMethodistChurchHouston (two locations), JOY Respite Nights
Tanya Sterling, 713-458-4702
1320 Main Street@Clay
Houston, TX77002
832-668-1800
or
10570 Westpark Drive
Houston, TX77042
713-458-4700
They also host a variety of programs including JOY Respite Nights, JOY Summer Camp, JOY E-devotionals, JOY Seminars and more! For more information on First Methodist's JOYMinistry, please contact: Tanya Sterling
JOY Ministry-Director or 713-458-4702.
Houston Area Respite Care (HARC) / Parents’ Night Out Program
(Located on the campus of GethsemaneUnitedMethodistChurch)
Lynne Tupper
6856 Bellaire Blvd.
Houston, Texas77074
713-271-6001
Email:
On Friday evenings from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., HARC provides “Parents Night Out” programs where the kids can have an entertaining evening and the parents can enjoy up to four hours away. A typical evening will include games, crafts, music, movies and loads of fun events. The programs are created to offer the participants a great time in a nonsectarian environment. The program is restricted to children ages 4-21 years of age (age limits are flexible at the discretion of the HARC program director).
- Respite for children with special needs, ages 4-21, siblings included
- Friday night respite, 6:30-10:30
- Requires pre-registration, $10.00 fee, partial scholarships
- Includes games, crafts, movies, music
Hermann Respite House - 713-704-2394 Application required. Serves people who are Medically fragile, developmentally delayed.
Texas Respite Resource Network (TRRN) 210-704-2794.
State clearinghouse and technical assistance network for respite in Texas. TRRN links families with available respite options in Texas.
RESPITE NIGHT FROM TREASURES OF JOY
Joyce Weatherford
Church of Champions
12922 Cutten Road
281-468-6716
We host a free of charge Respite Night from 4:00pm to 8:00pm (the 3rd Saturday of every month). This is a night especially for parents/caregivers. Our desire is that you bring your child or adult with special needs for us to care for while you take a break for four hours. We know the time you spend with your child or adult and that you need a support system. Again, there is no cost for you, except that you go have a good time and enjoy yourself while we take care of your Treasure. We have experienced volunteers for Respite Night and we so look forward to meeting you. Anyone living in the Greater Houston area is welcome to register. To register, fill in the contact form below. We will then email you the registration forms. There is limited space, so register early. Respite is located at 12922 Cutten Road, at Church of Champions. Registrationis open and ready for your email contact right now. Fill out the contact form at the link below and your registration is complete. You will be contacted by email to obtain information about your loved one, so our volunteers will be prepared to take care of them while you get to relax. To register, go to:
Medicaid Waiver Interest Lists (waiting lists) Programs:
These services are administered by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. These services are not available right away. Your child’s name must be placed on an interest list first, before eligibility is determined. The Access and Intake Services Community Options Booklet can be located at this site:
Medicaid-Waiver info:
Medicaid is a health insurance program provided by the federal and state government to those who meet family income requirements (i.e. those who have a very low income—exactly what that income is changes with inflation but it's pretty low.) The federal government matches the dollars that the state is willing to put into its own Medicaid-eligible population.
Medicaid will only reimburse services provided by “licensed practitioners of the healing arts.” This is a small but important detail. This means if there is a health service offered by someone like a dental assistant (who generally aren't licensed) they won't pay, but they will for a dentist, who is licensed.
The states quickly realized that some services were needed, but weren't appropriate to be licensed—like respite, etc. So they appealed to the federal government to create a waiver program.
The waiver program allows each state to design a program, a waiver, to serve whatever special population they saw a need to serve. Each waiver program can be designed any way the state wants to. Usually but not always the two requirements that are waived for persons with specific needs due to a disability of one sort or another are 1) family income requirement and 2) the license requirement for service providers. Often the waiver will use the individual’s income, which in the case of children is nothing—unless a grandparent or other relative has given them money under the Uniform Gift to Minor Act. A child with a disability should have no assets in their name—it should be in a special needs trust for this reason. By waiving the licensing requirement, the waiver could pay for services like day habilitation or respite, or other therapies not covered by “traditional” Medicaid if those services are specified in the waiver.
That is why the waivers can be so confusing. Each one serves a different population:
·CBS, is a waiver for adults with developmental disabilities, 21 and older.
·CLASS, serves those with developmental disabilities, no IQ specification.
·DBMDP, is a waiver for person with deaf/blind designations.
·HCS, only serves those with IQ <70 or with autism IQ<75.
·MDCP, serves those with medical needs (i.e. dependent on medical equipment or medication).
·Texas Home Living is for people already receiving services funded by general revenue dollars through Mental Health Mental Retardation Agency—and this waiver does not waive the family income requirement, only the licensing requirement.
· Not all waivers are available in all counties in Texas. Not all waivers provide identical services or pay the same annual amount (they have different spending caps).
Medicaid waivers are not easy to navigate. There is a maze of approved contractors, and hiring staff who are approved Medicaid providers, it’s often tricky to become an approved provider because Medicaid billing is very, very complicated. However, there are people who have been able to make it work to get extra services for their children.
A Comparison of the Medicaid-Waiver Programs:
Right now, all waivers have a significant waiting list in Texas (e.g., >8 years.) Anyone with a child with autism sign-up for HCS, CLASS, and MDCP waiting lists today, with CLASS being the most urgently needed.
Community Based Alternatives & DADS Home & Family Support (CBA). This program provides direct grant benefits to people who have physical disabilities and or their families to help them purchase services that enable them live in the community. Eligible people choose and purchase services that help them to remain in their own homes. 877-236-6500.
Community Living and Support Services (CLASS) provides home- and community-based services to people with related conditions as a cost-effective alternative to placement in an intermediate care facility for persons with mental retardation or a related condition (ICF-MR/RC). A related condition is a disability, other than mental retardation, that originated before age 22 and that affects the ability to function in daily life. Call for more information on and to place a name on the waiting/interest list: 877-438-5658.
Home and Community based Services Program (HCS) provides individualized services and supports to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities that are living with their family, in their own home or in other community settings, such as small group homes.
In-Home and Family Support Program (IHFS) — Mental Retardation. This program provides direct grant benefits to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities or their families to purchase items or services that directly support the person to live in his or her natural home.
Medically Dependent Children's Program (MDCP) Serves children and youth under the age of 21 years who have significant medical disabilities and would typically be eligible for nursing home care; provides respite, nursing, and home modifications. Available statewide.MDCP provides services to support families caring for children and young adults who are medically dependent and to encourage de-institutionalization of children in nursing facilities. number for information and to place a name on the waiting/interest list call: 877-438-5658.
Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Serves children and adults with mental retardation. Must meet functional eligibility requirements for intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded. Services are available statewide.
For information and to place a name on the waiting/interest list, contact your local Mental Health/Mental Retardation Community Center. To find the center nearest you, call 512-794-9268 or 800-252-8154,
Local area information can be found below:
MHMR Authority of HarrisCounty
7011 Southwest Freeway
Houston, TX77074
Main & Intake Line: 713-970-7000
Website:
County served: Harris
Harris County Psychiatric Center Liaison Team, (713) 741-6998
The liaison team, located at the Harris County Psychiatric Center (HCPC), serve as consultants for patients with mental retardation and/or autism.
TexanaCenter
4910 Airport Avenue
Rosenberg, TX77471
Intake Phone: 281-239-1363
Main Phone: 281-239-1300 or 1-866-4TEXANA
Website: or
Email:
Counties served: Austin, Colorado, FortBend, Matagorda, Waller, and Wharton
The Developmental Disabilities Services division provides a very wide array of services and supports to people with mental retardation and people with pervasive developmental disorders. They serve people of all ages from infants to the elderly. They serve two separate and distinct functions. As the state-designated Mental Retardation Authority for their six counties, they plan for the development of services to meet the needs of the people of these counties, determine eligibility and help people access services they need. They also function as a Service Provider, and in fact are the largest provider of services for people with developmental disabilities in their area. TexanaCenter services are provided to persons who qualify based on an evaluation of developmental disabilities needs. Call Texana’s Authority and Admissions Department at: 281-342-0090 or 281-239-1363 or 1-866-526-4437. A Texana Center Intake Coordinator will complete a telephone interview with you, and an Intake Packet will be mailed to you. You will be requested to complete an Intake Assessment and return it to TexanaCenter. If you need help completing the paperwork, a Texana Center Intake Coordinator will schedule an appointment and meet with you to complete the assessment. Copies of psychological tests completed previously for your family member will be requested by Texana. When TexanaCenter receives the completed Intake Assessment and copies of school or other records, Texana will schedule your family member for an Intake with one of the Department’s Psychologists. These meetings are at their Developmental Disabilities - Authority & Admission's Office.