CKSN UPDATE for November 1, 2003		ABC for Health, Inc.


IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Case Tip:  Fund Raising Events for Children on SSI
2. Free Transition Forum at Waisman Center
3. Parent Resources in Spanish
4. New Guardianship "Frequently Asked Questions" Resource
5. Study on the Disparities Among States in Mental Health Care for Children Published
6. Health Watch Updates


1. CASE TIP:  FUND RAISING EVENTS FOR CHILDREN ON SSI

Civic organizations, friends and churches often conduct fundraisers for children with special health care needs when an expensive item is needed or large expenses occur.
 
Medicaid eligibility for children, through SSI, is based on the income and assets of the family.  If not properly established, these funds, which can be quite large, can be evaluated as income or assets available to the family.  This can remove the child from SSI and Medicaid, causing the funds to be used to pay bills that Medicaid would have paid rather than providing the needed item or help.
 
Families should consult with their SSI worker or an attorney familiar with the rules when they establish an account so as to not adversely compromise the child's SSI eligibility.  This account should be in place before the fundraiser occurs.  Families should also consult with their SSI worker or an attorney concerning the process that the club should follow when paying the bills so the money is not given directly to the family and counts as income.

Staff at the following phone numbers will most likely be able to answer your questions:
Lawyer referral 1-800-362-9082
SSI  1-800-772-1213

2. FREE TRANSITION FORUM AT WAISMAN CENTER

On Tuesday, November 4 from 5:30 until 8:30 pm in the Ziemann Suite (8th floor) of the Waisman Center, the Waisman Center Healthy and Ready to Work Project in collaboration with The Arc - Dane County and the Waisman Center Training and Consultation Program will be hosting a free forum, "From High School to Adult Living:  A Forum on Transition."  

This forum is designed to provide practical information and resources for "navigating the maze."  In addition to opportunities to socialize over refreshments, people will have the chance to hear from students, young adults and parents who have been through or are still going through transitions.  Staff from the Dane County Adult Community Services Division will provide an overview of Dane County's support services to adults with developmental disabilities.  Teens and young adults, along with their families, are especially encouraged to attend.

To register for this free forum, please call 265-9440 or email comm.training@waisman.wisc.edu


3. PARENT RESOURCES IN SPANISH

(From the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families)
Parents' Resource Center Handouts Now in Spanish
The Parents Resource Center recently posted a number of handouts that help parents assess how their child's school handles various health and safety related issues.
http://www.healthinschools.org/parents/downloads.htm


4. NEW GUARDIANSHIP FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS RESOURCE

A new on-line resource is now available for people who are have questions or are interested in finding out more about guardianship and alternatives to guardianship for people with developmental disabilities. These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) were written and reviewed by a group of parents, service professionals and attorneys in Dane County to answer many of the commonly raised questions and issues that are encountered in this important area. While based specifically on Dane County policies and practices, many of the answers found in the FAQs could be applicable (or easily modified) for other parts of the state.  You can access the page by going to the Arc - Dane County web 
site:   http://arcdanecounty.org and clicking on the "guardianship link".



5. STUDY ON THE DISPARITIES AMONG STATES IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN PUBLISHED 

The October edition of PEDIATRICS includes a study by the RAND Corporation on disparities in children's mental health care based on geographic location.  The study concludes that "mental health programs serve a far greater share of children in some states than in others, but states with higher use of mental health services do not necessarily have a higher need for them."  The study was conducted by analyzing information from the National Survey of America's Families.  Data was collected in 13 states that represent a cross-section of the United States.  

The study found that the need and service use within a state may be mismatched.   This indicates that children most in need are not necessarily the ones using mental health services.   The study highlights the need for more mental health services in many states and suggests that some states need to do a better job of making sure mental health services are targeted to children who have the greatest need.  The press release and a link to the study can be found at: http://www.rand.org/rnb/1003/kids.html


6. HEALTH WATCH UPDATES

Southeastern Region:  Prior Authorization Training  -- An in-depth look at the purpose, requirements and appeal rights for prior authorizations.  November 20, 2003, 3200 West Highland Avenue Milwaukee...CHASE...Meeting: 5:00pm-6:00PM, Snacks: 6:00pm-6:30 PM, Training: 6:30PM-7:30PM . Childcare and snacks are provided free of charge at this event with reservations.  Call 414-449-4777 and ask for Brad or Pat or fax this form to 414-449-4775 by November 13, 2003 to reserve your place for this training. Spanish translation is available.

Western Region:  The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 11 from 10:45 am until 12:30 pm in Room 121 of the Chippewa County Courthouse.  Barbara Katz, from ABC for Health, will be presenting on "Children's Disability Related Programs."  

Northern Region:  The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 11...


If you are interested in joining your regional HealthWatch committee, or want more information about their work, please contact the following people:

Southern Region:  Barbara Katz, ABC for Health, Inc., 608.261.6939 ext 207, barbk@safetyweb.org
Southeastern Region:  Brad Holman, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, 414.266.3189,
bholman@chw.org or Brad Montgomery, 414.449.4777, opwindows@aol.com
Northern Region:  Deb Blackstone, Family Resource Connection, 715.365.8030,
dblacks@shsmh.org
Northeastern Region:  Steve Gerczak, St. Vincent Hospital, 920.433.8154,
sgerczak@stvgb.org
Western Region:  Rose Marsh, Chippewa County Dept of Public Health, 1-800-400-3678, rmarsh@co.chippewa.wi.us













SUGGESTIONS OR TIPS FOR THE UPDATE?

We need your help to develop content and tips for our CKSN Update. Please let us know about your ideas or success stories.  Email your suggestions to barbk@safetyweb.org 

The CKSN Update is a bi-weekly electronic newsletter of the Covering Kids with Special Needs project that ABC for Health, Inc. is implementing with its partners, the Title V Children with Special Needs Regional Centers and Family Voices - Wisconsin.  If you would like to submit news and information in future CKSN Updates, please send it to the attention of Barbara Katz.  All submissions should be limited to 150 words.

Barbara Katz, moderator
Parent Consultant
ABC for Health, Inc.
608.261.6939 ext. 207
barbk@safetyweb.org