IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Case Tip: Waiting for Katie Beckett Approval? Check Your Child’s Eligibility for Healthy Start
2. Elimination of Barriers Initiative (EBI)
3. The National Youth with Developmental Disabilities Development Information Center Needs Youth
4. Circles of Life Conference in April – Save the Date!
5. NBC to Air Ten Part Series on Autism
6. Helping Families Raise Children with Special Health Care Needs at Home
7. HealthWatch Updates and Contacts

1. CASE TIP: WAITING FOR KATIE BECKETT APPROVAL? CHECK YOUR CHILD’S ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTHY START

The application process for the Katie Beckett program (KBP) can take several months. Unfortunately you may be running up medical bills that will not be covered if your child's KBP eligibility is denied. A strategy to consider is completing a Healthy Start Medicaid application while you wait for a decision on KBP. Even if you have private insurance you can still apply for KBP. Any family can apply, regardless of income. Private insurance working jointly with Medicaid can provide insulating "blanket coverage" to protect you and your child with special health care needs. And what if your income is above eligibility limits? You should still apply! There are important eligibility features with Medicaid that permit eligibility for children. For example, if your income exceeds the Medicaid eligibility guidelines, you can use old medical bills or insurance premium payments outstanding for any family member and or prescription drug costs, to offset income by using the Medicaid deductible. Also the Family Fiscal Unit (FFU) eligibility feature is available to gain eligibility for families with step-children, pregnant women or children with a source of income, like interest from a savings account. The FFU usually separates income more favorably for children to help them gain Medicaid eligibility. For more information on applying for Medicaid or eligibility features to gain coverage for your child see:
http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid1/recpubs/factsheets/phc10066.htm

http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/em/mahandbook/pdfs/Appendix-28.pdf

http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid1/recpubs/factsheets/phc10070.htm

2. ELIMINATION OF BARRIERS INITIATIVE (EBI)
Over the past year, the Elimination of Barriers Initiative produced and disseminated a wealth of public information materials to address stigma and discrimination. The EBI is an 8 State demonstration and evaluation project to test the effectiveness of public education models to reduce discrimination and stigma. The eight states are California, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. The EBI has laid the groundwork for the National Anti-Stigma Campaign and the TV, radio, and print public service announcements are now being circulated in the demonstration states. Early results show that the materials are attaining above average placement.
For more information and/or to recommend a pilot state, please see: http://www.allmentalhealth.samhsa.gov
3. THE NATIONAL YOUTH WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION CENTER NEEDS YOUTH
The National Youth with Developmental Disabilities Development Information Center (NYDDDIC) is a youth-led research, information, and training center for youth and emerging leaders with developmental disabilities founded on the five essential areas of youth development and leadership: learning, connecting, thriving, working, and leading.  An additional ideal of the project is the need for youth involvement at all levels, and to make sure that the input of the constituency is heard and acted upon.  If you  know of someone who you think exemplifies an emerging leader from your organization, community and/or network of contacts, please have them submit a resume and cover letter focused on the topic,  "What Does it Mean to be an Emerging Leader with a Disability?",  posted to Rebecca Hare's email address, harer@iel.org  by 2/11/05.   >From Rebecca Hare, NYDDDIC, Institute for Educational Leadership.
4. CIRCLES OF LIFE CONFERENCE IN APRIL – SAVE THE DATE!
Circles of Life. April 28-29, 2005 Marriott Madison West, Middleton, Wisconsin! This is Wisconsin's annual conference for families of children and youth with disabilities and the professionals who support them. This conference will include transition-related sessions. Parent scholarships available- call ASAP! For more information about the Circles of Life Conference, go to: http://www.colwisconsin.org/ or http://www.wfv.org/circle/

5. NBC TO AIR TEN PART SERIES ON AUTISM

Beginning Monday, February 21st, NBC will air a ten-part, week-long series on autism spectrum disorders on the "Today Show". Two segments will be aired each morning at approximately 7:10 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) and 8:10 am CST. Wednesday's segments will focus on intervention approaches, and will include Dr. Stanley Greenspan and parents whose children have benefited from the DIR/Floortime Approach. Other DIR/Floortime advocates, both clinicians and parents, will be featured as well in other segments. Later each day, MSNBC will feature live interviews. For more information, contact: email: diraphael@floortime.org or http://www.floortime.org

6. HELPING FAMILIES RAISE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS AT HOME
The best place for children with special needs is at home with families, not in institutions, according to a new clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Researchers look at what it takes to make that possible, and encourage pediatricians to help families meet the challenge. The report, in the February issue of Pediatrics, reflects the Healthy People 2010 goal of having no child or young adult (age 21 and younger) with special health care needs living in group homes or institutional care by the year 2010.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/

7. HEALTHWATCH CONTACTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

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

CONTACT US!

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.

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