RESPITE AND EXTENDED SERVICES FUNDS

    Connecticut Lifespan Respite Coalition can provide
    information on respite funds and extended services.  
    They can be reached by calling 860-513-0172 or toll
    free at
    1-877-737-1966.

    Respite is planned or emergency temporary relief that
    can be offered once or multiple times to family
    caregivers who are caring for individuals with special
    needs such as a disability or chronic or terminal illness.

    Please note that due to the limited availability of funds,
    there is a $500 per family maximum per year for
    Respite funds, including camp within the availability of
    funds.

    DPH conducted its own statewide assessment of the
    needs of families of CYSHCN and the providers who
    serve them:  306 families and 223 practitioners
    responded to the study, which found that 31% of
    families had no care coordination.  In addition,
    approximately 40% of all those surveyed felt that the
    largest unmet need was for non-medical services such
    as respite services, after-school programs and summer
    camps.

    There was a consensus in both the family and provider
    surveys that providers did not always effectively address
    the impact that caring for CYSHCN had on the family.  
    Providers also cited a need to have additional materials
    to help them provide more effective family-centered
    care.
    Get Creative About Respite Guide  

    The Get Creative About Respite Guide provides a way
    for you, as a family member or other caregiver, to
    communicate with the people who provide respite care
    for the child or adolescent in your life who has special
    needs.

    Respite: A Parent's Guide

    Respite: A Child/Adolescent Guide for Families and
    Caregivers

    Directions:  Resources for Your Child’s Care:  
    Connecticut Edition

    Directions is a guide to help you plan and coordinate
    care for your child or adolescent with special health care
    needs.   In Directions you will find:  ways to organize
    your child’s health information; information about caring
    for your child’s special needs; resources; and tips from
    other parents of children with special health care needs.

    Directions: Resources for Your Child's Care - English

    Directions: Resources for Your Child's Care - Spanish

    Directions: Resources for Your Child's Care -
    Portuguese

    MEDICAL HOMES

    A medical home is not a building, house or hospital, but
    rather an approach to providing health care services in
    a high-quality and cost-effective manner. Children and
    their families who have a medical home receive the
    care that they need from a pediatrician or pediatric
    health care professional whom they know and trust. The
    professionals and families act as partners in a medical
    home to identify and access all the medical and non-
    medical services needed to help children and their
    families achieve their maximum potential.

    What's a Medical Home

    Medical Home & Empowerment

    Measuring & Monitoring Performance Outcomes for
    CYSHCN

    MEDICAL HOME ADVISORY COUNCIL

    The Medical Home Advisory Council (MHAC) was
    established to provide guidance and advice to the CT
    Department of Public Health in its efforts to improve the
    community-based system of care for children and youth
    with special health care needs (CYSHCN) by ensuring
    their connection to a medical home that is accessible,
    compassionate, comprehensive, coordinated,
    continuous, culturally effective and family-centered.

    The MHAC's membership includes representation from
    parents (families/caregivers) of CYSHCN, partners in
    the Connecticut Medical Home Initiative, service
    providers, community-based organizations, and public
    and private agencies.

    YOUTH WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS (LINK
    TO YSHCN WEBPAGE)

    Youth with special health care needs have additional
    concerns to address as they mane plans to transition to
    adult life.  The Department of Public Health is fully
    committed to fostering a system that will provide all
    youth with special health care needs the services
    necessary to make successful transitions to all aspects
    of adult life including adult health care, work and
    independence.  
Connecticut Respite Care
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