Home Medical Supply Guidance for Families During COVID-19 Outbreak
Instructions for safely cleaning and re-using supplies for technology-dependent children.
Adequate medical supplies are essential for families caring for children who are medically fragile and technology-dependent at home.
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) wants to make sure our participant families can keep their supplies properly stocked through the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
We’ve compiled guidance and instructions to help families safely clean and re-use supplies in case there’s a future shortage. *Please note you should check with your child’s care team to make sure these guidelines are appropriate for your child.
The DSCC Guidance on Home Medical Supplies includes instructions for cleaning and re-using:
- Feeding supplies
- Suction supplies
- Tracheostomy supplies
- Ventilator equipment
- Nebulizer equipment
*Again, please check with your child’s care team to make sure these guidelines are appropriate for your child.
The guidance is available on our Home Care Information and Resources page as well as in our list of COVID-19 resources and supports for families.
Our Care Coordinators are also available to discuss strategies and help you become prepared and well-equipped for your child’s care in the weeks and months ahead.
Please reach out to your local regional office or call us at (800) 322-3722.
Resources for Special Needs Families During COVID-19 Pandemic
Meals, financial help, health tips, condition-specific information, learning tools and more to support families of children with special healthcare needs.
Parents and caregivers have a lot to juggle as they care for a child with special healthcare needs amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
The uncertainty and required social distancing can pose unique challenges, questions and concerns.
The University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC)’s team of professionals is here to help.
We’ve compiled a list of resources to help families find the right support: https://dscc.uic.edu/browse-resources/covid-resources/.
The list includes places offering free meals, utility assistance, free Wi-Fi, health tips, educational websites, activities during social distancing and condition-specific information.
Resources are also broken down by our regional office locations.
We’ll continue to update this list as new resources become available. Please check back often for the latest information.
If you have a resource to add to our list, please email us at dscc@uic.edu.
Tips for Medical Supply Preparations During COVID-19 Outbreak
We’re here to help participants and their families plan and take the proper precautions with their medical supplies during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Many families enrolled with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) rely on medical supplies for their child’s care.
Now is a good time to plan for how to keep your supplies properly stocked through the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
We suggest you reach out to your child’s medical provider about how to safely reuse and/or make supplies last longer. This information can help you act in the best interest of your child in case there’s a need to conserve medical supplies in the future.
We also recommend asking your provider about getting extra necessary medications to have on hand or using a mail-order option.
Your DSCC Care Coordinator is also available to discuss strategies and help you feel prepared and well-equipped for your child’s care in the weeks and months ahead.
Please reach out to your local regional office or call us at (800) 322-3722.
Important COVID-19 Update for DSCC Families
DSCC taking steps to protect our participants, their caregivers and our staff, including suspended home visits and limiting office visitors.
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) has an important update about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
We want you to be aware of some precautions we are taking to protect our program participants, their families/caregivers and our DSCC team.
We are limiting visitors in our office until the guidance changes. We feel this step is necessary to protect the participants of our program and our staff.
If you arrive at one of our offices, you will be asked to call to tell us more about how we can help you.
We are also suspending home visits or other face-to-face visits until the current situation improves.
DSCC Regional Offices plan to remain open. If we have to close an office, we will still have staff available through our other DSCC locations who can help you get the care you need.
Since the guidance on ways to slow the spread of coronavirus is evolving, please watch our website for continued updates.
Our DSCC team remains committed to our mission to partner with Illinois families and communities to help children and youth with special healthcare needs connect to the services and resources they need.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we all do our part to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Be well!
Parent Institute Lectures Available for Families of Children With Hearing Loss
Families can watch video presentations from experts in the field on a range of topics affecting children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The Institute for Parents of Preschool Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing is a one-week program for parents of children ages 5 and under who have a significant hearing loss.
It takes place on the campus of the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville each June. Participating parents attend daily lectures by experts in the field to learn about raising a child with hearing loss.
Lecture topics include:
- Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Advocacy
- Communication Options
- Language
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Literacy
- Amplification
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC), a supporter of the Institute, is making these presentations available online so they can benefit more families of children with hearing loss.
Videos on each topic are posted on the Illinois Sound Beginnings website.
Parents and caregivers can watch each presentation at their own pace in the comfort of their own home.
If you are interested in participating in the next Institute or would like more information, call us at (800) 322-3722 or email Institute@exchange.dscc.uic.edu.
You can also visit our Events page for more details about the 2020 Institute.
You may also read a recap of the 2019 Institute at https://dscc.uic.edu/institute-provides-support-connection-for-dscc-families-of-children-with-hearing-loss/.
Former Participant Comes Full Circle to Work at DSCC
DSCC Program Coordinator Assistant Lisette Rios draws from her own family’s experiences in the program to connect with other families.
In 22 years, Lisette Rios’ life has truly come full circle.
Born with a cleft lip, Lisette grew up as a participant of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC).
“I remember my mom talking on the phone a lot to my Care Coordinator, who would always ask how I was doing,” Lisette said.
DSCC helped the Rios family find medical specialists, discuss treatment options, coordinate surgeries and ensure Lisette and the family’s overall needs were met.
Now as a DSCC employee herself, Lisette is that helping hand and voice of comfort for other families like hers.
“My mom likes to say it’s a full circle for me. It was meant to be,” she said.
True to her dream
For as far back as Lisette can remember, DSCC was a part of her life. Shortly after her birth, her pediatrician referred the Rios family to DSCC.
“I think my parents were probably very overwhelmed. I was the first-born and there were a lot of issues, and they didn’t know what was going to happen. The fact that my pediatrician told them about DSCC helped a lot,” she said.
Lisette required at least eight surgeries throughout her childhood until age 12. She particularly remembers DSCC helping her family navigate her orthodontics issues and finding a specialist who could address them.
The family’s Care Coordinator would also check in about Lisette and her goals for the future. Around age 12, she decided she wanted to become a social worker.
“My mom told my Care Coordinator that, and my coordinator said, ‘Maybe she can come work with us,’” Lisette recalled. “After I got my internship, I joked with my mom that I’m coming for this position I was promised.”
Lisette stayed true to her dream.
After high school graduation, she double majored in sociology and criminology at UIC. When it was time to look for internships, she reached out to DSCC.
“On the other side”
Lisette started an internship in the Chicago Core Regional Office during the fall 2018 semester.
“I think seeing how much DSCC helped my family made me want to do social work. I want to help people and I want to make things better or try to find solutions to things,” Lisette said.
“You’re already dealing with so much when you have a child born with a health condition. It’s already a lot of emotions for the family and then to try to figure everything out on your own – that’s a lot. I want to be on the other side trying to reassure families and help them.”
Lisette called her DSCC internship a wonderful experience. She learned how to read medical reports and the steps necessary for families to apply for DSCC’s assistance. She also learned how to communicate with families and help them identify their needs.
Care Coordinator Rita DeSoto was Lisette’s supervisor during the internship. Rita admired how quickly Lisette learned her job role and her willingness to do hands-on work.
After her internship ended, Lisette graduated in December 2018. Since DSCC had no job openings at the time, she looked elsewhere for employment.
A few months later, a job in our Chicago Core Office became available. Lisette applied and in August 2019, DSCC hired her as a full-time Program Coordinator Assistant (PCA).
In this role, she makes sure families complete the necessary paperwork for DSCC to communicate with their providers, provide financial assistance and so on. She also takes calls from families about any needs or problems that arise.
“It’s being there for someone to let them know you understand, you know what’s going on and that one way or another, we’ll figure it out if there is a problem,” she said.
“Here to help”
Lisette serves as a PCA for six Care Coordinators, including Rita, her former internship supervisor. Rita praises her communication skills and work ethic.
“I am so grateful to currently have her as my PCA teammate, she really does an outstanding job and goes above and beyond,” Rita said. “Lisette is a great asset to the Chicago Core team and we are very happy to have her with us. She is on her way to great things.”
Lisette said she often draws from her own family’s experiences to relate to other DSCC families. Many families she works with are more hopeful once they learn Lisette is a former participant herself.
“I want families to know that we’re here to help out throughout the process. It’s not just you and your child having to deal with this. There are resources, and I am here to help you,” she said.
Looking ahead, Lisette would like to earn her master’s degree in social work and advance positions at DSCC.
She encourages current DSCC participants to take ownership of their care and the necessary paperwork and to be persistent with their goals.
“No matter what your condition is, you can live a so-called normal life,” she said. “Nothing is really out of reach.”
Help Us Improve Services for Children and Families
Public input needed for maternal and child health survey
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) wants to hear from you.
We invite Illinois residents to fill out a quick, anonymous survey about the needs of women, infants, children and families across the state.
Your input will help us better understand the health challenges facing Illinois communities. It will also help us determine how new programs and services could help meet communities’ needs.
The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous and confidential. You can click on the English survey link or the Spanish survey link to complete it online.
We are working with the Illinois Department of Public Health to collect survey responses.
This feedback will help guide the work of the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Program over the next five years.
We will collect responses through the end of March 2020.
Email DPH.MCH@illinois.gov with any questions about the survey.
We hope to hear from you!
Portion of DSCC Families Now Enrolled in Managed Care
DSCC continues to provide care coordination services and support for affected families.
Illinois children with special healthcare needs who receive Medicaid are now enrolled in managed care.
Managed care is a type of health insurance program. When you enroll in managed care, you become a member of a health plan. HealthChoice Illinois is the new managed care program that is now required statewide.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) moved children with special healthcare needs into a HealthChoice Illinois health plan on Feb. 1.
This transition affected participants enrolled with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) who both:
- Receive Medicaid and
- Do not have private health insurance
DSCC staff is working with HFS and its partners to continue our care coordination services for DSCC families now enrolled in a HealthChoice Illinois health plan.
We are developing contracts with each HealthChoice Illinois plan so families continue to receive the right support for their unique needs and goals.
We will share more information about our partnership with each HealthChoice Illinois health plan once contracts are complete.
DSCC staff is here to help affected families with any questions about your new health plan.
You may contact your local DSCC regional office or reach us at (800) 322-3722 or dscc@uic.edu.
Greeting Card Contest Winners Announced
DSCC’s new greeting cards feature artwork from young Illinois artists
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) is excited to announce the winners of our Greeting Card Art Contest.
The 38 greeting card designs feature drawings from 28 artists ranging in age from 1 to 18.
The cards will be sent to our participants, providers and community partners.
There are at least six designs for each greeting card category:
- Congratulations
- Get Well
- Happy Birthday
- Happy Holidays
- Thank You
- With Sympathy
DSCC collected drawings for the greeting cards from Illinois youth all over the state. The drawings were posted on DSCC’s Facebook page. Those that received the most likes were considered for the greeting card designs.
Congratulations to all of the artists!
The winning designs for each category are:
Congratulations
Get Well
Happy Birthday
Happy Holidays
Thank You
With Sympathy
Reminder: Deadline Approaching for Families Affected by Managed Care Transition
Families transitioning to Medicaid managed care must select a health plan by or shortly after Jan. 10.
HealthChoice Illinois is the new Medicaid managed care program that is now required statewide.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will move children with special healthcare needs into a HealthChoice Illinois health plan on Feb. 1, 2020.
These families must choose a HealthChoice Illinois health plan and primary care provider (PCP) by or shortly after Jan. 10. (Please note the specific deadline for your family is included in the enrollment packet you received from HealthChoice Illinois last month).
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) urges families affected by this transition to research which plan is right for them.
If a family does not choose a plan before the deadline, HFS will automatically assign them a plan and PCP.
Enrollment in a HealthChoice Illinois plan is mandatory for most DSCC families who both:
- Receive Medicaid and
- Do not have private health insurance
Note that if your child is a Home Care Program participant, your child will not transition to a HealthChoice Illinois plan. This transition only affects DSCC’s Core Program participants who meet the criteria above.
There are at least four HealthChoice Illinois health plans to choose from.
We developed a list of questions to help our participant families select the best plan for their family’s needs. The “MCO Selection Tip Sheet for Families” is available at https://dscc.uic.edu/browse-resources/available-brochures-pamphlets/. (Note the tip sheet is also available in Spanish.)
We strongly encourage families to use these tip sheet questions and reach out to a HealthChoice Illinois enrollment broker.
More information about Illinois’ managed care program is available at https://enrollhfs.illinois.gov/choose/compare-plans.
DSCC staff is working with HFS and its partners to continue our care coordination services for affected families beyond the Feb.1 transition.
We remain committed to supporting our families and making this transition to a new health plan as seamless as possible.
Families may contact their local DSCC regional office with questions. They may also reach us at (800) 322-3722 or dscc@uic.edu.