There is a new NYS-funded program that has educators, therapists and parents buzzing. The program is called Home and Community Based Services, HCBS, and it is designed to help medically fragile children or children struggling with mental health.
Bright Futures provides staff for HCBS and Health Home services and the Bright Futures team is located in Cedarhurst, although they help children across Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens.
The HCBS program is for ages 0-21, and it is funded by Medicaid, although there is a waiver option for children who do not have Medicaid to still join the program. Bright Futures can help parents through the process of enrolling via a waiver if their child does not have Medicaid but is eligible for the program based on the state’s criteria.
Many parents are familiar with OPWDD, which is a program for children with developmental disabilities. Another great program is ABA, which helps children on the autism spectrum. This new program, HCBS, was designed to help children avoid hospitalization or institutionalization by being preventative and providing home and community based support for struggling children.
There are two main pathways for eligibility for the program. Children who are medically fragile are those who have ongoing medical challenges that require frequent medical attention. This can include undergoing chemo treatments, heart or kidney issues, other long-term health challenges, etc.
The second target demographic are children with mental health struggles. To be eligible, children need to have serious emotional issues that are manifesting in multiple “systems”. This means that they are struggling in school (for example, they have an IEP or 504 plan) and at home or in another system (for example, they receive counselling, or have other support in place).
Eligible children are first assigned a Health Home Care Manager, who is the family’s point person for the child’s care and can help connect them to resources like counselling, organizations, and more.
Children in the Health Home program may then be eligible for HCBS services, based upon their Care Manager’s assessment. HCBS services are performed after school and on weekends. These services may include respite or Caregiver Family Advocacy Supports Services. Providers work with the child or parents to help accomplish their customized goals.
If your child can benefit from the program, or if you are a healthcare professional who wants to learn more about how Bright Futures can help children you work with, you can contact Bright Futures by phone/WhatsApp at 347-970-9531, via email at [email protected], or you can see more information at brightfuturesny.com
