Brades’ Place
Traveling with a child with medical complexity can be challenging. Brades’ Place provides tips, tools and templates to help parents with children with specialized healthcare needs plan and create memorable family travel experiences.
The site also provides diagnosis resources for certain conditions.
Project Fire Buddies
Baby Formula Tips and Information – HHS
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) website has resources in a variety of languages to help families choose the correct infant formula, and prepare and use it safely.
These resources include information on safe substitutes, formula company contacts and community programs.
How to Teach Children About Disabilities and Inclusion
Inclusion is the law, but it takes more than legal compliance to create an environment where all children feel included and valued. Educating children about disability and inclusion can protect vulnerable students from bullying and encourage empathy and kindness among students.
Baylor University’s “How to Teach Children About Disabilities and Inclusion” outlines age-appropriate ways to teach children about disabilities and strategies for fostering empathy and understanding in school or any social environment.
School Board Meeting Toolkit for People With Disabilities
School boards make many decisions that affect students. These decisions can significantly affect students with disabilities and special healthcare needs. The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities provides a School Board Meeting Toolkit with resources and tips to help families advocate with and to school boards.
Home Generator Information for MFTD Waiver Families
The Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Those Who Are Medically Fragile Technology Dependent (MFTD) may pay for power generators for a waiver participant’s primary residence.
The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) put together this tip sheet that covers what the waiver will cover, what families need to do and more.
Virtual Respite Provider Training Course
The Illinois Respite Coalition provides a free, online Respite Provider Training Program consisting of ten courses for individuals interested in providing respite care. The courses can be taken on your own time and will provide information to meet the Respite Care Professionals Core Competencies.
Following completion, participants will a certificate of completion and have the option of joining the statewide registry to be connected to respite opportunities.
Download the flyer for the Respite Provider Training Course.
Home Care Appeal and Peer-to-Peer Review Tip Sheet
The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) is the operating agency for the Home Care Program. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) completes required reviews and determinations regarding a participant’s eligibility for Home Care services.
This tip sheet from DSCC explains how the review and determination of medical eligibility for Home Care services works. It also outlines how to file appeals for any decision made by HFS that denies, reduces, changes or terminates benefits for you or your child. (English or Spanish)
HIPP Program Tip Sheet and Application
The Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) Program pays health insurance premiums for some children who have high medical costs and who have private health insurance available.
This HIPP Program Tip Sheet from the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) explains the program’s availability and how to apply. (The HIPP Tip Sheet is also available in Spanish.)
You can also find copies of the HIPP Program application in English and HIPP Program application in Spanish.