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Program
Children with Special Needs Program
Laurie Stoffel, Coordinator and Early Intervention Designee
Telephone: (315)
376-5849
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30AM - 4:30PM
OVERVIEW:
Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) is a name that covers
numerous programs assisting children from the age 0-21 to reach toward and
achieve educational goals, as well as to see that they become as healthy
and as strong as they can.
What Services Are
Offered?
Early Intervention
is a program focused on enhancing the development of infants and toddlers
with diagnosed disabilities or developmental delays. The Lewis County
Early Prevention Program is designed to meet the very specific needs of
disabled children, ages birth to three, and their families. Parents and
child advocates have long recognized that the amount and type of services
available to young children and their families, particularly to those who
are at financial, emotional or social risk, can and do make a difference
in the lives of those children. Lewis County has been very progressive
in implementing Early Intervention (EI) Services under federal and state
legislation. EI services include, but are not limited to: medical services
for diagnostic or evaluation purpose; early identification, screening and
assessment services; therapy services; family training; counseling; home
visits, parent support groups, and service coordination.
Preschool Special Education
Program (3-5 Years) focuses on the educational needs of children from
age 3-5, until they are Kindergarten eligible. This program is
administered through the local school district in which the child resides.
The services authorized are provided at no cost to eligible children, and
are determined at a school district meeting. Referrals are made directly
to the school district of residence by parents and families, as well as by
local agencies involved with children, such as Head Start, Even Start and
DSS, upon consent of a parent. All services, including initial
evaluations, are authorized by the Committee on Preschool Special
Education (CPSE) located in the school district where the child resides.
After authorization by the committee, the County Municipal Representative
to the CPSE oversees the fiscal administration of the program through the
Public Health Department as is a member of the CPSE. Within the evaluation
process, specific developmental needs are assessed such as: gross and fine
motor skills, speech and language skills, vision and hearing concerns and
educational and social development. This program is funded by the state
and county, with the Federal Medicaid portion for Medicaid eligible
children.
Physically Handicapped
Children (PHCP) was created to ensure access to health care and
diagnostic services for chronically ill and disabled children. This
program is used for children when there is no other payer source for the
medical services they need.
The Dental Rehabilitation
Program is designated to offer help to correct severe physically
handicapping dental condition, such as cleft lip and palate or severe
malocclusions.
The CSHCN Program
can offer eligible families "Care Coordination." Care Coordination can
assist with accessing health and non-health care services. A care
coordinator can assist with obtaining insurance, educational resources,
social program assistance (public health services, social services, WIC,
food stamps, SSI, transportation, respite services), and medical
equipment.
Who Is Eligible?
Children with Special HealthCare Needs Programs are available to
children birth to age 21 who have or are suspected of having a serious or
chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and
who require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that
required by children generally.
