CKSN UPDATE for February 15, 2004		ABC for Health, Inc.

IN THIS ISSUE:


1. Case Tip:  SSI and Katie Beckett Coverage
2. DPI Statewide Listening Sessions on Community Based Services
3. Does Your Family Get Enough Sleep?
4. Feingold in Monroe, Vernon, Richland and Waukesha Counties
5. Fairfax County, Virginia Public Schools Transition Times
6. Kaiser Family Foundation Report
7. HealthWatch Updates
8. Contact Us
9. ABC is Now 10 Years Old!




1. CASE TIP:  SSI AND KATIE BECKETT COVERAGE

Did you know that a child on SSI could also have Katie Beckett coverage in reserve in case the parents go over the income limits for SSI?  Many families who are on the edge of the income limit have children who flip from SSI to Katie Beckett month to month.  

If your child is on SSI it might be a good idea to fill out a Katie Beckett application just in case your income increases.  If your child were approved for Katie Beckett and your income increased over the SSI limit, it only takes a phone call to the Katie Beckett Consultant in your area to start the coverage immediately.  

Katie Beckett does have one requirement that SSI does not-the level of care requirement.  Your child would have to meet a level of care that is normally given in an institution or by a skilled nurse.  

If you think your child would qualify for Katie Beckett, call your local Consultant today!

For a comparison on the two programs, visit:

http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/ddb

2. DPI STATEWIDE LISTENING SESSIONS ON COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES
State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster is scheduling listening sessions throughout the state to explore how the Department of Public Instruction can work better with community-based organizations to deliver services to children. February 11 Madison, February 18 Beloit, February 26 Appleton, March 2 Green Bay, March 12 Milwaukee. http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/eis/prmenu.html
3. DOES YOUR FAMILY GET ENOUGH SLEEP?

Sleep is not a luxury, but for many parents and children it may seem like it. The National Sleep Foundations toolkit is available to organizations that co-sponsor National Sleep Awareness Week, March 29 to April 4. The Toolkit has a PowerPoint on Children and Sleep, a Children's Sleep Diary and information on the role of sleep in keeping children healthy.   Visit:  www.sleepfoundation.org
4. FEINGOLD IN MONROE, VERNON, RICHLAND AND WAUKESHA COUNTIES 

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will hold a Listening Session in Waukesha County on Monday, February 16, 2004.  He will also be in Monroe, Vernon, and Richland Counties on Thursday, February 19, 2004.  Senator Feingold has pledged to hold Listening Sessions in all of Wisconsin's 72 counties each year of his six-year term.

The Waukesha County Listening Session will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the Richard T. Anderson Education Center at Waukesha County Technical College, 800 Main Street, Pewaukee.

The Monroe County Listening Session will be held at 9:00 a.m. in the Meeting Room at the Warrens Municipal Building, 212 George Street, Warrens.  The Vernon County Listening Session will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers at the Hillsboro City Hall, 123 Mechanic Street, Hillsboro.  The Richland County Listening Session will be held at 2:15 p.m. in Pippin Hall at Richland Hospital, 333 East Second Street, Richland Center.

Each session will last up to an hour.  The sessions allow you the opportunity to express your views to the Senator on federal issues such as IDEA, MiCASA, Family Opportunity Act, Rehabilitation Act, housing, health care, voting and campaign finance reform.  For more information on federal issues, check the DAWN website on national disability issues at: http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/national.cfm

5. FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRIGINIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSITION TIMES

The Career and Transition Services winter 2004 issue of the "Transition Times" newsletter, a publication designed to share information and strategies for transitioning students with disabilities to post-school life, is now available online at:
http://www.fcps.edu/DSSSE/careertransition/crtnnews.htm 

6. KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION REPORT

People with disabilities are at risk in the health-care system because of their wide-ranging health-care needs, their relatively heavy use of prescription drugs, health-care, and support services, and because they typically have low incomes. Understanding the Health-Care Needs and Experiences of People with Disabilities: Findings from a 2003 Survey, which included people with permanent mental and/or physical disabilities, explores their health-care experiences and challenges in accessing and paying for care. Additional resources, including a video of people with disabilities discussing their health care challenges, are also available online.  Visit:
http://www.familiesusa.org/site/R?i=pgc7oQoIGrYDRYvcWDDmjg

7. HEALTHWATCH UPDATES

The Southern Regional CKSN HealthWatch Committee will offer a training for parents, providers and advocates on "Blanket Coverage for Kids" on Monday, March 1 from 11 am until 1 pm at the South Madison Community Health Center at 2202 South Park Street in Madison.  Come and eat lunch with staff from ABC for Health and learn strategies for using Medicaid as additional health insurance protection for children with special health care needs if they do not qualify or no longer qualify for Medicaid through the Katie Beckett Program.  Please reply to maureenf@safetyweb.org prior to the meeting if you are able to join us.

The Southeastern Regional CKSN HealthWatch Committee, better known as the CHASE group, is hosting a meeting on Thursday, February 19 at 5 pm at New Berlin Therapies.  The meeting will be followed by a light supper at 6 pm and then a training on Emergency Medical Assistance by Josh Salazar, ABC for Health Benefits Counselor, from 6:30 - 7:30 pm.  New Berlin Therapies is located at 2895 South Moorland Road in New Berlin.
Please contact Brad Montgomery at Community Options, opwindows@aol.com if you are interested in attending this useful meeting.

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

8. SUGGESTIONS OR TIPS FOR THE UPDATE?  CONTACT US!

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.

ABC for Health is a Wisconsin-based, nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to linking children and families, particularly those with special health care needs, to health care benefits and services.  ABC for Health's mission is to provide information, advocacy tools, legal services and expert support needed to obtain, maintain and finance health care coverage and services. 

9. ABC IS NOW 10 YEARS OLD!

We invite you to join with us in celebrating our 10th anniversary of helping families throughout the state of Wisconsin secure adequate health care coverage and financing resources!  Thanks so much for your ongoing support.

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