Program Description

The activities of Children's Advancement Fund, Inc. will increase a child's motor, speech and language skills through speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Children's Advancement Fund, Inc. will provide funding directly to therapy providers who are contracted with CAF.

In CAF's first year of implementation the goal is to provide 15 sessions of therapy services a week. A child may qualify for more than one service. These services are available to children who do not have insurance benefits and whose families meet the income requirements. At this time only families with an income less than or equal to 300% of the federal poverty level will be eligible for funding (proof of income is required through financial documentation). There will be 5 available spots in each of the three following areas, Occupational, Physical and Speech and Language Therapy.

Our Vision for the Future

The goal is to increase available services as funding is available. Over the next three years programs for second opinion evaluations, and home and community services will be implemented. In addition more therapy sessions will be made available and the income requirements will be eased. We also hope to expand our funding to more states.

Process

In order to initiate enrollment in CAF the family should make contact with Stephanie Bendiske by calling her at (860) 967-3713. An intake meeting will occur at the CAF office. This meeting will involve review of financial information, development of goals and completion of paperwork. After the intake process is completed and all paperwork is submitted and signed, the child will be placed on a waiting list until funding and providers are available.

Services

Eligible participants will be evaluated by contracted providers for Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy and/ or Physical Therapy services. In order to qualify for a specific service the children will have to score one standard deviation below the mean. Services must be traditional in nature and research based (provided services include but not limited to: oral motor, therapeutic exercises, feeding, language, handwriting and functional activities). Provided services must be approved.

Participant Qualifications:

Children who do not have insurance, have received an insurance denial, or have exhausted benefits for the year, fall within stated income levels and do not qualify for early intervention services (Birth to Three) are eligible for funding through CAF. For children who have exhausted their insurance benefits, CAF will only support participation in the program if the child can stay with a provider who accepts both the family's insurance and CAF funding. In addition family must be paid in full or have a current and up to date payment plan with all current or past providers before receiving funding from CAF. Families must be willing to sign releases and submit all previous/ present evaluations, IEPs and treatment notes.

Family Participation Fee:

A family participation fee will be paid by families and based on a sliding scale. Family participation fees are equivalent to copayments. Fees will be collected at each visit by the provider. The fee is collected weekly and is not dependent on the number of services received by the child. Those families with an income less than 45,000 will not be required to pay a family participation fee.