Resources

If your child has special needs, so do you! Below you will find links to many different resources in South Carolina for children with special health care needs.
 
SC BUDGET CUT INFORMATION:
Below you will find several pieces of information related to the SC Budget Cuts affecting families raising children with disabilities and special needs:
 
 
 
 
Family Connection Materials:
 
 
Unexpected Treasures A guide for new and expectant parents of children with special needs.
 
Parent Resource Guide A guide to statewide resources, services, agencies, and organizations.
 
Fathers Resource Guide A guide to statewide resources, services, agencies, and organizations developed specifically for fathers.
 
Insurance 101 Developed by parents as a resource to help other parents navigate both public and private insurance.
 
Other Resources:
 
The Sibling Support Project is a national effort dedicated to the life-long concerns of brothers and sisters of people who have special health, developmental, or mental health concerns.  They offer SibParent, a place where parents of kids with special needs can talk about their "other" kids.
 
Protecting your child from abuse and neglect A guide for parents to prevent adolescent and child exploitation
 
BabyNet is South Carolinas early intervention program that offers special services to children who have a disability or are slow to develop. These services are for infants and toddlers, up to age three and their families. Not income based.
 

Childrens Rehabilitative Services (CRS) is a health care program that offers medical evaluation and treatment to children with special health care needs. Family size and income are used to decide CRS financial eligibility.

The SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs serves persons with mental retardation, autism, head and spinal cord injuries and conditions related to each of these four disabilities. Not income based.

The Early Intervention Program of SC School for the Deaf and Blind (SCSDB) provides weekly home visitation and care coordination services to children with sensory disabilities (birth to six) and their families. Not income based.

Alternative Behavioral Services Equipped with a solid foundation of over 20 years of successful treatment experience and a commitment to providing youth and families access to all levels of care, Alternative Behavioral Services (ABS) has services that encompass almost every facet of behavioral care, including community-based and in-home services, residential treatment, acute hospitalization, group homes, independent living programs, youth academics and specialized therapeutic foster care.
Log on to their website to learn more about facilities in Charleston and the Midlands of South Carolina.
 

Care Line is a statewide, toll-free hotline that provides assistance and support for obtaining access to family planning services, prenatal care, infant and child health care, assessment and care for children with special health care needs and other related services. Not income based. 1-800-868-0404.

SC Childrens AIDS Care System (Ryan White) assures access to comprehensive medical care. This includes case management as well as social and support services for families with HIV-exposed or HIV-infected children and adolescents. Not income based. 803-898-0291

Shriners Hospital in Greenville is a 60-bed pediatric orthopaedic hospital providing comprehensive care to children at no charge.

SC Department of Mental Health (DMH) provides a full range of community and inpatient services to persons of all ages who are emotionally disturbed or psychiatrically disabled. 803-898-8581

The Continuum of Care for Emotionally Disturbed Children provides intensive case management to assist the child, family and other agency providers in developing an individualized plan of service for those children eligible through a formal selection process. Not income based. 803-253-6272

NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) is a grass-roots organzation consisting of 17 local groups throughout South Carolina. NAMI provides support, education and advocacy for families and friends of people with mental illness and for persons with mental illness. Not income based.  

The Federation of Families of South Carolina serves the families of children and youth who either have or are at risk of developing emotional, behavioral or mental disorders. Services include support groups, parent-to-parent shpport, referrals, educational materials and publications. Not income based.

CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders) serves people affected by attention deficit disorders and similar disabilities thorugh familiy support and advocacy, public and professional education and the encouragement of scientific and educational research.

SC Department of Education Office for Exceptional Children Kids Hotline 1-800-763-5437 or 803-734-8224 or your Local School District Office of Special Services

Head Start is a comprehensive chidre development program that serves children birth to age 5. These are child-focused programs and have the overall goal of increasing school readiness of young children in low-income families. Programs are required to allocate at least 10 percent of their enrollment to children with disabilities and special needs. 803-898-2861

PRO-Parents (Parents Reaching Out to Parents) provides information and training about special education law to families of children with disabilities and special needs. Not income based. 803-772-5688 or 1-800-759-4776

Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities (P&A) provides support and protection concerning the legal and civil rights of person with disabilities. P&A can advocate for children about their right to services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Not income based.

South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness (First Steps) is a statewide education initiative to help prepare children to reach first grade healthy and ready to succeed. 803-794-0479 or 1-877-621-0865

Partners for Health is the eligibility process for all of South Carolina Medicaid Health Insurance Programs for children and adults. Based on income. 1-888-549-0820

Partners for Healthy Children (PHC) is South Carolina's name for the federal CHIP program. It is a free health insurance program for children under age 19 in families with low incomes. For example, a family of four with one parent working and an income of approximately $28,000 a year would be eligible. Coverage is reviewed and renewed annually. 1-888-549-0820

TEFRA (Katie Beckett Waiver) is a category of eligibility for Medicaid coverage for children under age 19 who meet the SSI childhood disability definition and who can more economically be provided home care than in a hospital or community home. Based on a child's income resources rather than family income. Contact Family Connection at 1-800-578-8750 or 803-252-0914

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays monthly case benefits to children and adults who are blind or disabled and who do not own much or have a low income.

South Carolina Health Insurance Pool (SCHIP) is a state health insurance program administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield for individuals who are refused insurance coverage for health reasons or whose rate is more than 150% of the SCHIP rate. 1-800-868-2500 ext. 42757

Office of the Governor South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council develops policy and advocates for people with disabilities while monitoring programs and service delivery.

The South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and its member pediatricians dedicate their efforts and resources to attain the optimal physical, mental and social health and well being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

Emergency Preparedness for Children with Special Needs When a crisis occurs and children with special health care needs must access the emergency system, they are often left vulnerable because of a lack of access to information about their medical problems. There can be delays in treatment, unnecessary tests, and sometimes serious errors as a result of lack of access to information available to the treating emergency physician. Visit this site to download an Emergency Medical Information Form for your child. Also check out http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1442 and www.nod.org/emergency
 
United Way 2-1-1 This site helps direct and navigate through the ever growing maze of human services and programs within the state. Community members will have access to an extensive directory of community based organizations and governmental agencies.
 
Exceptional Parent Magazine EP's on-line resource. Continuing 35 award-winning years of providing information, support, ideas, encouragement & outreach for parents and families of children with disabilities, and the professionals who work with them.
 
Parent to Parent USA is an alliance of statewide* Parent to Parent programs following established best practice standards. Parent to Parent programs provide emotional and informational support to families of children who have special needs most notably by matching parents seeking support with an experienced, trained 'Supporting Parent'.