Did you know that in Connecticut there were 43,000 children, 18 years of age and younger, who did not have health insurance between 2005 and 2007, according to the State of America's Children Report in 2008. There are nearly 70,000 students in Connecticut labeled with a disability by public school districts. However, public school districts do not have to provide services to disabled children if they determine services are not educationally necessary, and many insurance companies decide various treatments for disabilities are not medically necessary. The end result is that children can be caught in the middle, and many children do not receive the services they need to help them succeed and become contributing members of our society.

Children's Advancement Fund, Inc. (CAF), a 501(c) (3) organization founded in 2009, aims to help fill these gaps. CAF is now forming a waiting list of clients who need physical, occupational, or speech and language therapy services, but whose families can not afford these needed therapies.

Stephanie Bendiske, CAF Executive Director, founded this new nonprofit organization because, “It is heartbreaking to me every time a child needs medically-based therapy services not covered by insurance and the family is not in a position to pay privately. Our organization believes that every child should receive needed therapy services no matter what their family's financial situation. We hope to help children find a path to a brighter future. Children's Advancement Fund, Inc. will initially focus on families in Hartford and Middlesex Counties”.

Some of the children who will be assisted by this organization include (but are not limited to) children with learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism, apraxia and traumatic brain injury. CAF wants to help every child reach a brighter future no matter what the disability. Traditional research-based therapies will include oral-motor, therapeutic exercises, feeding, language, handwriting and functional activities, among others.

Eligible children will be between the ages of three and 18 and live in Hartford or Middlesex Counties. Children younger than three are eligible for funding only if they were denied Birth to Three services.

“Stephanie is a professional with many years of clinical experience who has seen many children denied supports because their families have inadequate insurance coverage or are no longer eligible for benefits,” stated CAF Board Member and Special Education Consultant Carol Nelson. She is using her clinical expertise, enthusiasm, and tenacity to engage others to believe with her, that we can make a difference, one child at a time.

Funding is paid directly to therapy providers. A child may qualify for more than one service. Needed services are determined by standardized testing. These services are available to children who do not have insurance benefits, have been denied services or have exhausted benefits and whose families meet the income requirements. At this time only families with an income less than or equal to 300% above the federal poverty guidelines(e.g., for a family of four, an annual income is $66,150) will be eligible for funding (proof of income is required). In addition, a new program will be implemented shortly, in which some portion of copayments and deductibles will be covered for families who qualify within specified income guidelines.

To begin the qualification process, families can contact Stephanie Bendiske at 860-967-3713. CAF is also seeking therapy providers who would like to apply to join this program to help children in Connecticut reach their potential. More information is available on the CAF website, www.cafinfo.org