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December 5, 2011 

Welcome to our weekly memo featuring news, tips, resources, and reminders to help you stay in the know.  

Medicaid funding for children disproportionate to their numbers

From National Family Voices, Raising Special Kids is the Arizona Chapter for Family Voices

On November 29, 2011 two briefings were held for Congress, one in the Senate and one at the Capitol, to highlight the importance of the Medicaid program in serving children. The briefings were sponsored by health care organizations that serve children and families, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, National Family Voices, the March of Dimes, Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families, and the National Association of Children's Hospitals.

Although children make up more than half of all Medicaid enrollees, they account for less than a quarter of all Medicaid spending. Medicaid functions as a critical safety-net for the increasing number of children living in poverty, and protects families from bankruptcy when they have a child with extensive medical needs, such as a premature newborn or a child with a serious illness or disability. Chronic conditions such as these force thousands of families into financial crisis each year.

U.S. Urges Supreme Court Not to Hear Special Education Case - The School Law Blog - Education Week

blogs.edweek.org

The Obama administration is urging the U.S. Supreme Court not to take up an appeal from a school district ordered to provide compensatory tutoring because it failed to identify a student's disability.

Early Childhood Home Visiting Program threatened by cuts

Washington should fully support evidence-based initiatives

More: article from The Brookings Institution

Arizona Gets Grant to Set Up Affordable Health Insurance Exchange

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Thanks to a federal grant of nearly $30 million, Arizona will start building a state health insurance exchange. The exchange is a "marketplace" where individuals or businesses can go to comparison shop for health insurance and evaluate plans on benefits and rates. The grant is part of the Affordable Care Act, which will take full effect on Jan. 1, 2014.

Read article

Free Webinars

Hybrid Learning Pushes Personalization Forward  Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. ET (12 noon in Phoenix)
Free registration is now open. Also available "on demand" 24 hours after the event.

Schools are moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to education toward greater efforts to differentiate learning for each student. To truly personalize the learning process in more meaningful ways, many educators are turning to technology. They're blending face-to-face instruction with electronic resources, which can be everything from online courses complete with online teachers to digital curricula that enhance or reinforce classroom learning. However, experts caution that this approach must be planned very carefully in ways that maximize the benefits of digital content and online courses. Our experts will discuss how to use technology, especially blended learning, to personalize education and raise student achievement.

Deepening and Strengthening Teacher Education
Thursday, Dec. 8, 12 to 1 p.m. ET
Also available "on demand" 24 hours after the event.
Free registration is now open.

University-based teacher education remains the engine of teacher preparation in the United States. Long criticized, it has come under increasing scrutiny in recent months-from outside reviewers, from the U.S. Department of Education, and even from accreditation bodies-all of whom are pushing for changes. This webinar will introduce participants to the approaches taken by two teacher education schools to make the student-teaching experience more relevant and to emphasize the specific teaching skills the teachers they produce are expected to acquire and demonstrate.

Children and the Medicaid Health Home State Plan Option (Section 2703) of the Affordable Care Act

Webinar-attend from your computer:

In support and in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Date: Wed, Dec 7, 2011

Time: 12:00 PM EST (10:00 am in Phoenix)

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Host(s): Carolyn Mullen

Meeting Description: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides states with new opportunities to expand health care coverage and improve health care quality and outcomes. The Medicaid Health Home State Plan Option (Section 2703) of ACA gives states the option to allow Medicaid beneficiaries with "at least two chronic conditions, one chronic condition and the risk of developing a second, or one serious and persistent mental health condition" to select a specific provider as a "health home" to help coordinate their treatments. Section 2703 of ACA provides states with an important opportunity to develop and enhance efforts to provide medical homes to Medicaid eligible children, including children with special health care needs (CSHCN).This national webinar explores how state Title V maternal and child (MCH) programs, state Medicaid agencies, and other key partners (e.g., providers, families) can approach inclusion of pediatric populations in their State Plan Amendments for Section 2703.

Click here to register.

Training needed for caregivers

Training is needed for professionals and paraprofessionals in the community about assistive technologies and, most importantly, where to refer family caregivers and adults with disabilities for additional assistance. Read more.

Assistive Technology: Write Answers

Since difficulties in writing are wide-ranging-and technology is rapidly evolving-finding the right assistive technology device can be an ordeal.

The Ticket to Work program

Ticket to Work is a voluntary program designed to let a person with a disability try to return to the workforce, without sacrificing their benefits. If you are between the ages of 18 to 64 and receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you are automatically eligible to participate in the Ticket to Work program.

Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities: Issues and Strategies

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of mentoring in helping youth develop skills, knowledge, and motivation to successfully transition from high school to adult life. This transition is a major goal of youth with disabilities--one supported by both school systems and federal policy. Research on mentoring programs, however, reflects a lack of focus on specific applications of these programs for youth with disabilities. Read more.

Please register for all workshops. To register, click on the name of the workshop or call 602-242-4366 or 800-237-3007.

Dana was puzzled and concerned when her toddler's speech development was not keeping up with her peers. Although friends offered reassurance, Dana was glad she pursued testing after the results yielded a diagnosis of apraxia.

After Katelyn began receiving Early Intervention services, a therapist referred Dana to Raising Special Kids. And when she attended a workshop she found other parents who could relate to her experience. "That was the first time I ever felt like somebody 'got it'."

Dana went on to become a Parent Leader. "I'm getting to meet so many other parents and assist other families. I love being there to share with other families."

Please donate to our annual fund through our secure online system. A donation of any amount is greatly appreciated.

Community Outreach Events

Assistance with Hosting Raising Special Kids Information Table                 

• Maricopa County Kids Safety & Health Fair, Palm Valley Apartments, 1891 N. Litchfield Rd., Goodyear, AZ   ~ Saturday, December 10, 2011, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

Call Janna at 602-242-4366 or email jannam@raisingspecialkids.org