Families often say that dealing with local and state agencies is like trying to read "alphabet soup." Each agency has its own set of acronyms that are a mystery unless you have a decoder. Well, get ready! There have been changes over the summer with new acronyms coming and others going away. Read below for a tip sheet to help you sort them out.

Enjoy the last days of summer!

-Jane A. Walker
Executive Director

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Gone - LCC
If your child ever needed a residential placement, then you know all about the Local Coordinating Council (LCC). LCCs were created in the early 1980s and every jurisdiction was required to have an LCC. Each of the key child-serving agencies were members of the LCC, including those dealing with education, juvenile services, social services, developmental disabilities and mental health. The LCCs were under the umbrella of the Local Management Board. Any child needing residential placement had to be reviewed by the LCC for approval. Depending upon the county, it often was an intimidating process for families. Legislation was passed by the 2011 General Assembly to eliminate the LCC. As of July1, 2011, LCCs are gone!

Coming - LCT
As a result of the same legislation passed this year, LCCs were "repurposed" as the Local Care Team (LCT) to provide local/regional problem-solving functions; promote accountability and outcomes; and serve a systems management and governance function at the local/regional level.
Like the LCCs, LCTs also include representatives of the local/regional child- and family-serving agencies, as well as representatives of family members and youth.

The LCTs are intended to support families in accessing services and supports when there is no identified lead agency or a family does not meet eligibility for a particular service.

Families may self-refer to the LCT. LCTs do not have funding, but serve as a place where families can get information from all of the agencies to see whether there are possible community resources, services or supports to help their child. It is an opportunity to have all of the agencies in one place and ask questions in a family-friendly environment.   

Specifically, the LCT is to:
1.    Be a forum for:

a.    Families of children with intensive needs to receive assistance with the identification of individual needs and potential resources to meet identified needs; and

b.    Interagency discussion and problem solving for individual child, family and systemic needs.

 

2. Refer children and families to:

 

a. Care Management Entities (CMEs) when appropriate; and

 

b. Available local and community resources.

 

3. Provide training and technical assistance to local agency and community partners.

 

 

4. Identify and share resource development needs and communicate with the CME, local Core Service Agency, provider networks, Local Management Boards and LCTs in surrounding jurisdictions.

 

 

5. Discuss a request for a voluntary placement agreement for a child with a developmental disability or a mental illness under §5-525 of the Family Law Article.

 

Because the legislation just took effect July 1, many jurisdictions still are deciding how their LCT will operate, as the legislation did not include funding to staff the LCT. At this time, we are waiting for a list of contacts for each jurisdiction for the LCTs. Stay tuned!

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The Social Security Administration pays monthly cash benefits through two programs:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)-This program is for people who are in financial need and may have never worked and paid Social Security taxes. Children with disabilities may qualify for SSI based on the family income.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)-To qualify for benefits under this program, you must have worked for a certain amount of time and paid Social Security taxes during that period.

If you'd like more information from the U.S. Social Security Administration regarding the steps involved in applying for disability benefits for children, click  here. An application for SSI and a Child Disability Report are required.

Regarding Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), click here to find information and resources on eligibility, qualifications and applying for SSDI.

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is a nonprofit organization devoted to improving the lives of people with mental illnesses through changes in policy and law. The center's website has helpful information to help families navigate the SSI and SSDI application process.

In addition, the Bazelon Center monitors activities in Congress, where some lawmakers are leading an effort to reduce access to such benefits; benefits for children with serious mental health disorders are under particular scrutiny on Capitol Hill. The House budget resolution passed in April included $1.4 billion over 10 years in SSI cuts for these children.

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The PACER Center and the National Endowment for Financial Education has collaborated on the free guidebook "POSSIBILITIES, A Financial Resource for Parents of Children with Disabilities."

This 200-plus-page book is available free on the PACER website. Topics covered include getting organized, income taxes, family relationships, health care, life insurance, disability insurance, spending plans, health insurance, long-term care, planning for education, guardianship, developing self-determination and self-advocacy, housing and other issues. While primarily geared toward parents of children under age 18, there is a wealth and breadth of information within that could help all families.

  

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The Child Study Center of Virginia Tech, through a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, is examining experimental treatments for children ages 7 to 14 with a specific phobia-and intense and excessive fear that interferes with home life, school and friendships and/or participation in and enjoyment of various activities. Common phobias include such things as dogs, spiders, snakes, storms, heights, loud noises, characters in costume and the dark.

The treatments involve an extended session of cognitive-behavior therapy for approximately three hours, including gradual exposure to the feared object or situation. Children will not be asked to do anything they do not choose to do. In addition to free treatment, families will receive payment of up to $250. Families will have to visit the Child Study Center next to the Virginia Tech campus.

To see whether your child qualifies, contact Emily McWhinney at 540.231.8276 or Emilyfm@vt.edu. For more information, visit www.psyc.vt.edu/labs/csc.

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All parents experience times of frustration when they need someone to turn to for advice on parenting and finding services. The National Parent Helpline® is open to parents and caregivers of children and youth of all ages; the service is free and anonymous.

Call 1.855.4A PARENT (1.855.427.2736). The helpline operates Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Standard Time, with trained advocates ready to listen, offer emotional support, help problem solve, support parents in creating their own solutions, encourage parents to take care of themselves, help parents connect to local services, explore resources for the family and help parents build on their own strengths.

  

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A Chance to Parent Conference-Sept. 12-14. Conference sponsored by the Association for Successful Parenting includes sessions on housing, attachment/bonding, funding, assessment and legal aspects. $175; $75 for students, self-advocates and support staff. Johns Hopkins Conference Center, 10 E. 33rd St., Baltimore. Click here to visit the conference website; contact Carly Hatalsky with questions.

Medical Assistance for Workers Webinar-Sept. 13, 1-3 p.m. Free webinar presented by Michael Dalto, the work incentives project director of the Maryland Department of Disabilities, for employed individuals with disabilities (EID). Marylanders with disabilities who work for pay and meet a few other conditions can qualify for Medical Assistance, which provides excellent coverage for those without insurance, can supplement other insurance and saves thousands of dollars a year for people who receive Medicare. The webinar also will cover how people receiving Medicaid waiver services can use the program to keep such services when their incomes or assets increase. Webinar features a PowerPoint presentation, but no video. Real-time captioning of the audio portion may be arranged. Registration is required and limited; registration deadline is Sept. 6. To register, visit http://mdod.webex.com; in the box labeled "Search for meetings..." type "EID" and click "Search." Click on the link for the date for which you are registering; you will receive an e-mail with instructions for accessing the webinar. For more information, contact Michael Dalto at mdalto@mdod.state.md.us, 443.514.5922 or 1.800.637.4113.

Fort Meade Family Leadership Institute-Sept. 17 and 24, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. MCF-sponsored training and leadership program to prepare caregivers to be better advocates for their child and all children who have mental health challenges, and to prepare parents to be leaders in the fight to improve the system of care for children with mental health challenges. Free; active-duty and Reservist parents, caregivers and/or family members are welcome to apply. Fort Meade Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave., Fort Meade. For more information, contact Carol S. Allenza, JD, or Renee Cotton, JD, at 410.730.8267 or mdfli@mdcoalition.org.

Medical Assistance for Workers Webinar-Sept. 21, 10 a.m-12 noon. Free webinar presented by Michael Dalto, the work incentives project director of the Maryland Department of Disabilities, for employed individuals with disabilities (EID). Marylanders with disabilities who work for pay and meet a few other conditions can qualify for Medical Assistance, which provides excellent coverage for those without insurance, can supplement other insurance and saves thousands of dollars a year for people who receive Medicare. The webinar also will cover how people receiving Medicaid waiver services can use the program to keep such services when their incomes or assets increase. Webinar features a PowerPoint presentation, but no video. Real-time captioning of the audio portion may be arranged. Registration is required and limited; registration deadline is Sept. 14. To register, visit http://mdod.webex.com/; in the box labeled "Search for meetings..." type "EID" and click "Search." Click on the link for the date for which you are registering; you will receive an e-mail with instructions for accessing the webinar. For more information, contact Michael Dalto at mdalto@mdod.state.md.us, 443.514.5922 or 1.800.637.4113.

Leadership Training for Southern Maryland Parents-October. Free training sponsored by the Parents' Place of Maryland for families of children with disabilities, covering such topics as recordkeeping, evaluation and assessments, effective IEPs, dispute resolution, etc. This is a commitment for six classes beginning in October; registration deadline is Sept. 29. For more information, contact Missy Alexander at Alexander@md.metrocast.net or 301.884.4662.

Estate Planning for the Special Needs Family-Oct. 4, 7-8:30 p.m. This workshop reviews comprehensive financial life planning concepts and the importance of a team/person-centered approach, including estate planning (wills, trusts, powers of attorneys, living wills, etc.) as well as issues specific to those with special needs (guardianship, special needs trusts, government benefits, funding options, etc.). Katherine Thomas School, 9975 Medical Center Drive, Rockville. Free. Visit www.specialneedsplanning.net for more information.

2011 Howard County Transition Fair--Oct. 5, 6-8 p.m. More than 30 agencies and organizations that provide services to individuals with disabilities are invited each year to help families discover what resources are available and meet the people who provide the services to help students transition from school to adulthood. Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia.

Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities-2011 NAMI Maryland Education Conference-Oct. 14-15. Workshops are skill-building sessions tailored for specific audiences, including local NAMI affiliate leaders, consumers and family members, mental health service providers and individuals working in criminal justice settings. CEUs and certificates of attendance are available. The Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt, 6501 North Charles St., Baltimore. Click here to register; for more information, please contact Karin Kramer at 410.884.8691 or kkramer@namimd.org.

Maryland Transition Conference-Oct. 16-17. Governor's Interagency Transition Council for Youth with Disabilities and the Maryland Rehabilitation Association host a conference to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities of professional staff, families, students with disabilities and other community partners to promote the successful transition of youth/young adults with disabilities to post-school outcomes. Ocean City Convention Center. For more information, contact Adele Connolly at aconnolly@dors.state.md.us or Tom Barkley at tbarkley@msde.state.md.us.

MANSEF Conference-Nov. 4, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Baltimore Convention Center. For more information, contact Lori Phelan at 410.938.4413.

  

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