Connections

Meet the New Service Coordinators

We’ve hired several new service coordinators since our last newsletter.

Katie Johns has a bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Illinois State University. Currently, Katie is pursuing a master’s degree in Social Work at Aurora University. Her previous experience includes working as a teacher in an early childcare center, recreation leader for Bloomington Park & Recreation, and staff member at the YWCA Childcare Resource and Referral.

Nicole Fratto has a B.S. in Psychology from Illinois State University. Her previous experience includes an internship at a child welfare agency and being part of a student team that conducted a child development study for a local children’s museum.

By The Numbers

As of October, we are serving 1,407 children. At this time last year we were serving 1,312 children.

We average 180 new referrals a month
168 children are in the intake process
We have 21 full time, three 3/4 time and one part time service coordinators
Caseloads average 60 children for each full time service coordinator
On average, service coordinators receive between 15-20 phone calls a day
On average, service coordinators attend 25 meetings a month

Family to Family

Family to Family Health Information and Education Center is a free service for families of children and youth with special needs. Some of the questions they answer every day are:

How can I get health insurance for my child with special needs?
Who can help me find medical care for my child?
How can my family get help in paying medical bills?

This is a collaborative project with Family Voices of Illinois. Call them toll free at 1-866-031-1110 or check our their link on The ARC of Illinois’ website at www.thearcofil.org

Did You Know?

Therapists get paid only for the time they spend working with your child. They do not get paid for their travel time. Please try not to cancel a therapy session at the last moment or as a therapist arrives at your home. We know that emergencies arise, but try to avoid last minute cancellations. You should review the cancellation policies for each therapist working with your child. Therapists may request to be removed from working with your child if you cancel too often.

Your child’s therapists should provide you with a phone number where they can be reached in case of emergency. You can call our office if you need to reach a therapist to cancel for that day. Our secretary can call the therapist if you do not have their phone number. If you do not have their phone number, talk to the therapist at your child’s next session.

Insurance Reminder

Whenever your insurance carrier has changed, you need to notify your service coordinator immediately. You may be responsible for payment for services if claims are denied due to change of insurance if you have not notified your service coordinator or therapy providers in a timely manner.

Therapists should verify your insurance at every therapy session. Do not rely on the therapist to notify the service coordinator of a change in your insurance. It is your responsibility to notify the service coordinator.

Please remember that when you receive a check or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance company for services received, you must forward these items to the appropriate therapist. You cannot keep an insurance check that was designated as payment for services provided.

Also, remember to call your service coordinator if your income or number of family members has changed. Either of these can have an effect on your family fee.

Family Mentor Program

Elmhurst College’s Family Mentor Program is looking for families who have young children with special needs to mentor students. This program matches families of children 0-3 and 3-5 with graduate level students in the Early Childhood Special Education program at the college.

The goal for the program is to provide graduate students with an opportunity to learn directly from the families they will work with over a period of six months. For more info, contact Joan Debelak at Elmhurst College (630) 617 6437.

STARNET

Do you know about STARNet?

STARNet Region II, which serves DuPage County, provides free workshops and conferences for families and professionals.

They also provide support and information to families and professionals through Family Fellowship Awards, Professional Development Assistance, Mini-Grants, and a resource library. Mini-Grants provide professionals with funding for a specific project that supports the implementation of best practices in Early Intervention programs. The resource library contains books, videos, and journals that are available to parents and professionals.

Family Fellowship Awards are available to families who have children with disabilities under the age of six. They provide parents with reimbursement for financial expenses associated with attending workshops and conferences.

To obtain a list of conferences/workshops visit their website at: www.thecenterweb.org

From the Library……

These books have been recommended by the parent liaisons or by parents in the support group. You should be able to find them in your local library.

The Out of Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz

The Sensory Sensitive Child: practical solutions for out-of-bounds behavior
By Karen A. Smith and Karen R. Gouze

Sensational Kids- Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder
By Lucy Jane Miller, PH.D, OTR

Unraveling the Mysteries of Autism and Pervasive Development Disorder: a mother’s story of research and recovery
By Karyn Seroussi

Come Join Us!!

Child and Family Connections (CFC) has a parent support group that is facilitated by the parent liaisons. We meet once a month, 7-9 pm at the CFC office. All parents are warmly welcomed. This is a great way to talk to other parents about your experiences and concerns and learn more about resources available to you.

We usually meet the third Tuesday of the month. Please call Jenny at ext. 121 or Marianne at ext. 122 (630-493-0400) to confirm the next meeting date or to have your name added to the mailing list. You can email Jenny at jsomone@pactinc.net to be added to our email address list.

Down Syndrome Support Group

One of our newest parent support groups is for parents of children with Down syndrome. This group meets once a month in the evening at the CFC office. Contact Jenny Somone at 630-493-0400 ext. 121 or email her at jsomone@pactinc.net to be put on the mailing list or receive additional information about the group.

Consumer Involvement Fund Program

This program is designed to enable people with developmental disabilities and their family members to attend conferences of their choice that are directly related to developmental disability issues.

You can be reimbursed for up to $300 per person or $500 per family per year. The stipend application and conference documentation must be submitted 30 days in advance of the conference.

Applications are available for the Consumer Stipend from The Arc of Illinois. Call them at 708-206-1930 or download the form from the Arc website: www.thearcofil.org

Parent-to Parent Links

One of the most valuable resources you can find is another parent who has been down the road you are traveling. The information and insight that is gained through first hand experience is unmatched. Currently we have a small database of parents who are willing to be a link –a support to other families. When a family calls the parent liaisons looking for a ”link”, we contact the support family and, with permission from both sides, we release the contact information (name and phone#.)

Parents usually seek information related to diagnosis (i.e. Down syndrome, Autism, Prematurity, hypotonia etc.), treatment (i.e. ABA, Gluten free-Casein free diets, feeding, etc.) and transition (school districts, programs, day-care, etc.). In DuPage County, we have a very diverse population and often families seek someone who shares their language and culture.

We highly encourage you to become a parent link. Information that is gained in your day-to-day parenting of a child with special needs is a valuable resource.

If you are interested, please contact the Parent Liaisons. Jenny x121 or Marianne x122 at 630-493-0400 or send an email to jsomone@pactinc.net

Websites

FUSSY BABY NETWORK
Offers support to families who are experiencing a baby who is fussy, crying excessively, or has difficulties with sleeping or feeding. Offers options from calling their warmline to an individual home visit. The Fussy Baby Team works with mom and dad in finding more ways to soothe, care for, and enjoy your baby.

www.fussybabynetwork.org

DO2LEARN
This site has activities and products to promote independence. They have a FREE picture card maker as part of the site which can be used to make picture cards for communication.

www.do2learn.com

EXCEPTIONAL PARENT
This website compliments the Exceptional Parent magazine, which is a great magazine for parents of special needs children.

www.eparent.com

PACES
PACES is a not-for-profit, parenting support group centered on providing education, friendship, and support to parents and their children – ages birth through five. PACES offers family enrichment through expert parenting information, peer support, social activities, and volunteer opportunities. Thousands of families have benefited from their seminars and activities. They also publish a preschool directory each year that can be purchased at local bookstores. A valuable aid in searching for the right preschool for your child!

www.pacesmoms.com

APRAXIA KIDS
A comprehensive website for information on childhood apraxia of speech and children's speech and language topics

www.apraxia-kids.org

AUTISM COMMUNITY CONNECTION
DuPage County group created by parents for families with children on the autism spectrum

www.autismcommunityconnection.com

AUTISM SOCIETY OF ILLINOIS

www.autismillinois.org

AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Link above is for local chapter in Illinois, this website is the national one. Site has other links that may be of interest to families.

www.autism-society.org

SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER
Website created by an Occupational Therapist who has a daughter with sensory processing disorder.

www.sensory-processing-disorder.com

Ways to Reach Us

You can reach us through the various addresses listed below. If you would like to be informed about upcoming parent support group meetings, parent workshops or other events please send the parent liaisons your email address. We will make sure you are informed of events. Please note: service coordinator do not have individual email addresses.

cfcdupage@pactinc.net           CFC Service Coordinators              Put the name of the service coordinator in the subject line and it will be given to them.
Lorr@pactinc.net                     Program Manager
jsomone@pactinc.net              Jenny Somone                              Parent Liaison
mmcguire@pactinc.net           Marianne McGuire                         DICEI Coordinator and Parent Liaison
www.pactinc.net                     Our website

CFC Contacts:

Connections

A Newsletter from Child and Family Connections of DuPage County

Family Mentoring Program