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Did You Know that Parents' Place of Maryland is the State Family-to-Family Health Information Center?
Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs) are non-profit, family-staffed organizations that help families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and the professionals who serve them. Because the health care needs of CYSHCN are chronic and complex, parents and caregivers are often challenged with finding the resources to provide and finance health care for their children. F2F HICs are uniquely able to help families because they are parents and family members of CYSHCN themselves who have first-hand experience navigating the maze of services and programs for CYSHCN. PPMD staff understand the issues that families face, provide advice, offer a multitude of resources, and tap into a network of other families and professionals for support and information.
Some typical questions asked of staff at F2F HICs include:
- Is there a health insurance program that will pay for my child's medical needs as well as the rest of my family?
- What are the eligibility requirements for Medicaid? How do I apply?
- What is Title V and what programs do they have for children?
- My health plan has denied payment of some of my child's services. What do I do now?
- Is there a way to keep my child's longtime pediatrician when my job requires that we switch insurance plans?
- Can you help me write a health care plan to help my son's teachers and therapists care for him at school?
- Who can help me find a way to pay for my child's expensive medications?
- Where can I find a support group for families of children with my child's disability?
You can find out more about F2F's at the Family Voices website. You can find out more about Parents' Place of Maryland at our website www.ppmd.org
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A Community Referenced Instruction program provides individualized instruction for students with developmental disabilities at Charles H. Flowers High School in Springdale. Prince George's county students are taking part in a pilot program known as Flowers' Sonny House Job Skills Prep Program, designed by special education teacher LeAnn Holden-Martin. Through Sonny House, students get hands-on experience with employable skills like housekeeping, car detailing and food service.
At a special luncheon Oct. 27, Holden-Martin transformed part of her instruction space into an imitation restaurant called "Sonny House Café," where students took orders and served food to school administrators.
Read the entire Gazette article here.
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Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment for 2015 begins November 15, 2014 and ends February 15, 2015. Find out how to apply and enroll at Maryland Health Connection.
Through the Affordable Care Act, more accessible, affordable, quality health care is available to millions of Americans.
7.3 million people signed up for Health Insurance Marketplace plans, paid their premiums, and accessed quality, affordable coverage. Approximately 8.7 million additional Americans now have coverage through Medicaid and CHIP, many for the very first time.
 | | Open Enrollment Announcement |
For more information on the marketplace visit these sites:
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Parents' Place Accepting Applications for LEADers Class
Parents' Place is now accepting application for the next LEADers training program. The LEADers Program provides parents with the information they need to be informed and active in special education advocacy at the state and local levels.
Parents are offered the tools they need to be an active voice for not only their own child, but also for other children with disabilities in their communities. Applicants must be family members of children with disabilities who want to develop a better understanding of special education advocacy and to make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities. Training begins in February 2015 and will be held in Columbia, MD. Deadline for applications is December 12, 2014. Find out more and apply here.
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November is Diabetes Awareness Month
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease.
In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, even young children can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy lives.
The American Diabetes Association has several free brochures about the care of children with diabetes in school and in child care settings. These brochures are written for parents, teachers, child care providers and for children with diabetes. You can download these at the American Diabetes Association website.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has ideas on ways you can participate to raise awareness of diabetes. These include making videos or promoting awareness with your Facebook or Twitter accounts. Visit JDRF for more ideas. |
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Upcoming Events
November 8, 2014
9:00am - 3:00pm
Largo, MD
November 12, 2014
9:00am - 3:30pm
Waldorf, MD
November 13, 2014
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Howard Community College
November 15, 2014
8:00am - 4:00pm
BWI Marriott
November 15,2014
10:00am - 12:00pm
Towson, MD
November 17, 2014
7:00pm- 9:00pm
Columbia, MD
November 19, 2014 5:30pm - 7:30pm Arnold, MD
November 22, 2014 8:00am - 3:00pm Potomac, MD
December 4, 2014 6:00pm Rockville, MD
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Workshops
Check out our online calendar for new and upcoming workshops in your area.
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MD & DC Deaf Blind Project Survey
Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey to help the project plan trainings for 2015. The survey is only 12 questions and should take only five minutes. You can take the survey here.
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Tips for Successful Parent Teacher Conferences
As the school year progresses, you are sure to have parent teacher conferences. It is important to make the most of those often brief meetings and create an open line of communication for your child. Below are links to sites that can help you through these meetings.
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13 Free Assistive Technology Resource
A limited budget doesn't have to stop you or your child from getting some of the best assistive technology available to help people with LD. These free resources will help you stretch your dollar. Better yet, some of them may already be in your pocket - information includes features built into common devices like the iPhone and iPad that can be helpful for people who struggle with reading, math, organization and more.
Visit the National Center For Learning Disabilities to read the list.
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Pre-recorded Webinars You Can Access Any Time
Parents' Place is making available pre-recorded webinars for families to listen to when it is convenient for them.
The available webinars are:
How Do I Know If My Child Is Making Progress?
Autism Insurance in Maryland
The PARCC Assessments and Students with Disabilities.
Click on the title and begin listening.
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