Indiana Family to Family

From Health Reform: Beyond the Basics In March 2021, the Biden Administration reversed the prior administration’s harmful changes to the public charge immigration policy that stood in the way of immigrants and their families from accessing public benefits. This FAQ  explains where the public charge policy stands now. Public Charge FAQ 2021 by Family Voices Indiana on Scribd

On March 16, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released a  draft bill , the “HCBS Access Act,” which would make home and community-based services (HCBS) a mandatory Medicaid benefit.    As a result, waiting lists would be eliminated in every state. (See a  press release  and  one-page summary   of the draft bill from the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network.)   The bill’s sponsors are  seeking comments on the bill as a whole and on  specific topics , including the services that should be covered, and how to address workforce shortages.   Comments are  due Monday, April 26, 2021,  and should be submitted to  HCBSComments@aging.senate.gov .  

From Covering Kids & Families of Indiana   Seeking Award Nominations    Do you know someone who is a strong advocate for student health or a healthy school environment? Someone who has made outstanding contributions to improving statewide processes and policies that benefit Indiana schools? Someone who promotes school wellness policies, school health behaviors and activities in Indiana? Would you like to see them recognized for their work?   The Indiana School Health Network and Covering Kids & Families of Indiana are currently seeking nominations for the Governor & Cheri Daniels School Health Award. The award winner will be featured at the 2021 Indiana School Health Network Virtual Conference. The deadline for nominations is May 14, 2021     Click here for more details and the nomination form.

From Riley Blog.  Original can be found here Joshua Karr is a vibrant first-grader with a particular talent for math. He is inventive and loves creating art and building with Legos. Joshua keeps his family laughing, and he is the first to cheer them up when they feel sad. Joshua also has autism. His mother Laurren says he benefitted from an early diagnosis and the support, resources, and therapy it unlocked, including ongoing care at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health. “The team at Riley was so optimistic and hopeful because of his age – he was only 2 when he was diagnosed,” Laurren said. Despite the challenges of the past year, “Joshua has really been able to thrive with the new rhythms and schedules we’ve been able to create.” “Joshua is really proud of who he is – that includes being proud of his autism and what we call his ‘superhero brain,’” Laurren shared. “He knows that his autism sometimes makes things a bit harder for him, but he also knows that it is a p

From Indiana Department of Health INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Health’s Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education has launched a mobile unit to better reach Hoosier children who are deaf or hard of hearing and in need of services and support. “The center continues to eliminate barriers and ensure that members of Indiana’s deaf and hard of hearing community can access resources that may not have been easily accessible in their community,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “By visiting school districts directly, center staff can collaborate with the school’s existing staff and resources and come together to help students get the support they need.” The center is currently piloting a program in which the mobile unit visits school districts around the state that have needs for their staff and students who are deaf and hard of hearing. Services can include assistance with hearing screening follow-up, ongoing educational audiology services and professional

From AchievABLE March/April Newsletter 4.9.2021 April is National Financial Literacy Month. Nonprofits, government agencies and businesses nationwide celebrate the month by urging all Americans to increase their knowledge of personal finances. The ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC) recognizes Financial Literacy Month as an opportunity to emphasize tools and resources that can people with disabilities achieve financial stability and wellness. National Disability Institute’s (NDI) Financial Resilience Center provides resources to help those with disabilities and chronic health conditions navigate financially through the COVID-19 crisis, including assistance to help you manage your finances. Its partnership with LifeCents provides access to free online financial wellness training, while AFCPE offers free professional financial counseling.  Discover Resources for Financial Literacy Month.

From ADDitude EXPERT:  Merriam Sarcia Saunders, LMFT DATE & TIME:  Thursday, May 6 @ 1pm U.S. Eastern Time (12pm CT; 11am MT; 10am PT)   |   Find it in your time zone >   This webinar will be recorded.   Register now and we'll reserve you a spot (even if you can't attend live) AND email you the replay link » . . . . . Because ADHD is a neurological disorder, difficult behaviors are sometimes our child’s way of telling us something isn’t working for them. They are confused, overwhelmed, tired, or afraid. To change a child or teen's response away from lying, defiance, and emotional outbursts, a new approach is necessary. In this webinar, you will learn a multi-tiered approach to behavior problems: Understand the brain science driving ADHD behaviors Shape your child’s environment in a way that shapes their behavior Take actionable steps to demonstrate the behavior you want and use preventative parenting to avoid difficult behaviors Increase your compassion, humor, and j