Parenting Resources- Children with Special Healthcare Needs

The Arc of Florida Includes information for professionals, families, and people with mental retardation, autism, spinal bifida, cerebral palsy (CP), prader-willi syndrome and other developmental disabilities.
(www.arcflorida.org)

The Children's Medical Services (CMS) Network is a comprehensive, managed system of care for Medicaid or Florida KidCare children with special health care needs.. Services are family-centered and provided by specially qualified doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals around the state.
(http://www.cms-kids.com)

In addition to providing health care services to children and young adults through a managed system of care, the CMS Network provides additional services through the following programs:

Early Steps offers early intervention services for families with infants and toddlers (birth to thirty-six months) who have developmental delays or an established condition likely to result in a developmental delay. Services are individualized for each child’s needs.
(http://www.cms-kids.com/families/early_steps/early_steps.html)

The CMS Newborn Screening Program tests all babies born in Florida for certain medical disorders. This screening is free to families and includes a referral to a regional treatment center for intervention, and counseling if something is detected. Early identification and intervention are important to ensuring positive growth for the child’s future.
( http://www.cms-kids.com/families/newborn_screening/newborn_screening.html)

Family Village includes resources on diagnoses, communication connections, adaptive products and technology, adaptive recreational activities, education, worship, health issues, disability-related media and literature, and more.
(http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/)

Department of Education (DOE) has compiled information from various areas to assist you in learning more about DOE services. Topics include safety, school choice, and testing.
(http://www.fldoe.org/disability/)

Learning Disability Online is for parent, teachers and children with learning disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The site includes information on dyslexia (reading problems), dysgraphia (writing problems), dyscalculia (math problems) and ADHD including signs, symptoms, and how to help.
( http://www.LDOnLine.org)



The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities site contains information on children and youth with disabilities. There are A-Z topics on web resources, as well as a section on state resources.
(http://www.nichcy.org)

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