At the Miss You Can Do It pageant, contestants get more than a day of glamour.

The theme of the pageant is a “can do” attitude. Contestants participate to their fullest ability and feel great doing it! Many parents said it helped their child build confidence. Watch McKenzie’s experience at the 2014 Miss You Can Do It pageant.

Providers can continue to see children enrolled with Specialized Care for Children.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ managed care enrollment requirement does not affect children enrolled with Specialized Care for Children.

We provide care coordination for children in our programs, so you can continue to see them and bill Healthcare and Family Services directly on a fee-for-service basis. The same fee-for-service billing and payment rules and prior approval requirements continue to apply.

Call us if you have any questions (800) 322-3722.

What does it mean for your family?

Illinois families who have all Kids or Medicaid for health care coverage will be receiving letters from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. These letters tell families how to enroll in a managed care plan to continue their health coverage.

Children receiving care coordination through Specialized Care for Children do not need to enroll in a managed care plan. Specialized Care for Children is already providing care coordination for your child. We want to continue to help with your child’s needs in any way we can.

It is important that you follow the directions in the letter for yourself, or your other children who do not receive care coordination from Specialized Care for Children.

Since Specialized Care for Children was excluded from the managed care requirement, your child can continue to see the same healthcare professionals. We’re communicating with them to make sure they understand they will continue to be paid for services provided for children in our programs.

We understand this can be a confusing time and we here to answer any of your questions!

Know what’s covered and where to get it.

Dental Coverage for Illinois Medicaid was added to our Resource Directory.

This guide shows you exactly which services, like exams, cleanings, x-rays, and extractions are covered. It also shows you the age ranges eligible for services and how frequently you can get them. Towards the bottom you’ll link to dentists who accept this coverage plan.

The guide was created by EverThrive and reviewed by Healthcare and Family Services for accuracy.

At this celebration of children, families had fun learning to be happy and healthy!

The celebration kicked off with a 2.1 mile walk from the National Museum of Mexican Art to the UIC Forum. Walkers were led by a marching band and grand marshal Ronald McDonald. At the festival, families enjoyed activities including soccer, pitching, jumping around in the bounce house and taking photos with mascots and superheroes! Other festivities included on-stage performances of live music, dance, and a bubble show.

Many exhibitors offered wellness screenings and health information. Specialized Care for Children bi-lingual staff greeted families at our information booth upstairs. We met many new families who were curious about our services. Even those who didn’t need our help, wanted to share our information with friends, neighbors or co-workers who could benefit.

Check out more pictures from Día del Niño on our Facebook album!

 

Quilt of Valor honors orthopedic surgeon.

Dr. Keith Gabriel is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He cares for many of our enrolled children who are affected by things like Scoliosis, Cerebral Palsy and limb deformities. Dr. Gabriel also serves on Specialized Care for Children’s Medical Advisory Board.

He was recently presented with a Quilt of Valor, pieced and quilted by our own care coordinator, Donis Vail. She began presenting quilts last year to veterans at her father’s church, in his memory. Vail has made 35 quilts for the non-profit Quilts of Valor Foundation whose mission is to “cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing quilts.”

Vail presented two quilts to Dr. Gabriel: one for him and one for his wife, Jane Gabriel, to honor their military service. Dr. Gabriel served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation and general medical officer and an orthopedic (and pediatric orthopedic) surgeon. Jane Gabriel also served in the U.S. Navy. Following 13 years of active duty in the Navy, Dr. Gabriel transferred into the U.S. Air Force Reserves.  He has now retired from the military, after total service of 28 years.

Public health departments receive $37,000 to help identify children with special needs.

Ten health departments in Southern Illinois received funding to purchase screening equipment that helps schools identify children with special health care needs.

The $37,000 will purchase vision screeners and charts to test eyes, and audiometers and otoscopes to evaluate ears. Four health departments are also purchasing wheelchair scales making it easier to get an accurate weight without having to remove children from their wheelchair at each visit.

Specialized Care for Children offered the assistance to public health departments to build community infrastructure and improve referrals for care coordination for children with special health care needs. Associate Director for Program Services, Gerri Clark says, “Early identification of vision and hearing problems and access to needed diagnostic and follow up services are essential to assisting children to be successful at school and in their future lives.”

 

Our North Cook and DuPage locations are moving to Lombard.

The DuPage and North Cook Regional Offices are closing in their current locations on May 12th. It will take us about a week to get all of our staff and office items moved.

The newly-formed Lombard Regional Office will open on Monday, May 19th at 1919 Highland Avenue, Suite A-320, Lombard, IL 60148. We’ll update our Find An Office page so you’ll know right where to find us!
 

Want to weigh in on issues affecting children with special health care needs?

We are seeking new members for our Family Advisory Council.

For additional information, read our flyer.

Audiences are impressed with the “Chalk Guy’s” work, but they are inspired by his words.

Specialized Care for Children sponsored artist and inspirational speaker Ben Glenn at the Kankakee Transition Fair on Thursday, March 13, 2014. Read Ben’s advice to special education students.