larimer loop spring 2011

The weather was chilly but the response was warm for the 3rd Annual Flying Pig Charity 5K Run/Walk. Scores of sponsors, contributors, volun-teers, runners/walkers and spectators gathered at Spring Canyon Park Sunday, April 10th to prove that there is no end to what this community can accomplish. 407 runners/walkers completed the route and qualified for an array of fabulous prizes. Over 75 children under 10 yrs participated in the “Piglet Walk”. Each received a free T-shirt and a goody bag filled with toys, gift certificates, and a “flying pig” decorated cookie. Numerous volunteers donated their time and efforts before, during and after this event to ensure its success. 17 major sponsors and 16 other sponsors financed the race, and pro-vided food and beverages for the post run/walk brunch. Several organizations donated items and gift certificates used for the prizes awarded age group winners and winners of the random drawing. Foot of the Rockies/Runlimited Timing set up the course, and officially timed each runner/walker. All Occa-sions Catering served the delicious brunch. Community members offered emotional support to fami-lies and friends of race participants as well as the Family Support Services Program at Foothills Gate-way Inc. We would like to thank each and every one of our sponsors, contributors, volunteers, run-ners/walkers and all other community supporters for making this event a tremendous success! Enjoy the photo montage of race day on page 3 of this newsletter. Please take note of our sponsors listed on page 2. Whenever you visit one of these businesses thank them for supporting the 3rd Annual Flying Pig 5K Run/Walk. See you next year!

-Family Support Services Program Council

Spring 2011

What’s inside the Loop Sponsors of the Flying Pig 5K Run/Walk Page 2 Pictures of the Flying Pig 5K Run/Walk Page 3 FSSP Staff Page 3 Support Groups Page 4 Online Resources and Sup-port Page 5 Bulletin Board Page 6 Neurology Clinics Page 7 Larimer County Health De-partment Immunization Pro-gram Hours Page 7 HCP Staff Page 7 Guardianship? Page 8-9 Shriners Hospitals for Children Page 9 Unified Play Group Schedule 0 What is HIMAT? Page 11 Who’s Who at the Loop Page 11 The Importance of Early Intervention Insert

Special Thank You to all of the Sponsors of The 3rd Annual

Flying Pig Charity 5KRun/Walk

TOWNSQUARE MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS-PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS:

SILVER SPONSORS:

MORNING FRESH DAIRY PUBLIC SERVICE CREDIT UNION

EVERGREEN HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCY BEAUTY BEYOND BELIEF SEEDS GALLEGOS SANITATION, INC

SAM’S CLUB

BRONZE SPONSORS:

THE TOOTHZONE ELKS CLUB BPOE 804 MARKLEY MOTORS, INC FOOT OF THE ROCKIES RUNLIMITED TIMING BIG O TIRES ATG Rehab

ALL OCCASIONS CATERING TEXAS ROADHOUSE MAX MUSCLE COLUMBINE HEALTH SYSTEMS STARBUCKS COFFEE COMPANY EYE CENTER OF NORTHERN COLORADO ADVANCED MEDICAL IMAGING CONSULTANTS

Foothills Gateway Inc. Children’s Case Management

Coordinator/Part C Coordinator

Sondra Lee

(970) 266-5424

[email protected]

Children’s Case Managers

Bri Wronski (970) 266-5422 [email protected] Paige Sorensen (970) 266-5426 [email protected] Billy Hurst (970) 266-5395 [email protected] Pam Miller (970) 266-5409 [email protected] Sarah Varble (970)266-5437 [email protected] Stacie Seim 266-5418 [email protected] Matt Cloven 266-5445 [email protected] Christie Sebesta 266-5411 [email protected] Francine Bush 266-5394 [email protected] Joan Sugarman 266-5439 [email protected] Family Support Services Program Council Members Cheryl Pugh Parent-Chair Kristen Deakin (Parent)-Co-Chair Mindi Pryce (Parent) Libby Stoddard (Parent) Gayle Timm (Parent) Brenda Tuttle (Parent) Trista (Tree) Roecker (Parent) Tina Boyer (Community Member) Jarah Grashorn (Parent) Kim Walkenhorst (LCDHE –Healthy Communities) Debbie Lapp (Foothills Gateway Inc.) Sondra Lee (Foothills Gateway Inc.)

Support Groups

EMPOWER Colorado/DREAM is a nonprofit organization created by parents and families to support, educate and advocate for parents and families of children with mental health issues (brain disorders). Contact: Libby Stoddard (970) 227-7196 or Tina Boyer, (970) 980-7527 www.empowercolorado.com Federation of Families Supports families of youth, who have emotional, behavioral and mental disorders. Call Libby Stoddard for dates and times at (970) 223-9162 www.coloradofederation.org Parents of Asthmatic & Allergic Children Meetings quarterly-call for dates and times Cindy Coopersmith (970) 495-8153 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group Loveland Support Group Meets the 4th Monday of every month, 5:30 – 7:30 pm Lifespring Covenant Church, 743 S. Detsero Fort Collins Support Group Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 6:00 - 8:00 pm Summitview Community Church 1601 W. Drake Daycare provided at both groups. For more information, contact Josh Rabe at 970) 622.7311

Mile High Down Syndrome Larimer County New Parent Group Focus: birth to 5 years old Meets on the 3rd Friday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm Plymouth Congregational Church, 916 W. Prospect Rd, Fort Collins, CO Contact: Mindi & Kirk Pryce (970)226-8674 Northern Colorado Circle of Friends Community Group for families of children with Down Syndrome ages 5 to 12 who live in the Greeley, Windsor, Ft. Collins, Loveland, Estes Park, Red Feather Lakes, Wellington and Berthoud areas . We plan a social activity in the Summer and Fall (~July and October) and have a mix of meetings with and without formal presentations to allow us to get to know one another and share information about how our kids are doing. (September, January, February, and May) We meet the second Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Crossroads Church, 5420 N. Taft Avenue, Loveland, Colorado. For more information, contact Bernie Connell (970) 221-3758 or send an email to [email protected] Thompson Autism/Asperger’s Parent/Community Support Group Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month during the

school year. 6pm-8pm Thompson School District Administration Building 800 Taft Ave Loveland, CO Contact: Margi Scoufis (970) 613-6771 D.I.S.H Dietary Intervention Support and Hope provides personal one on one FREE consultations and individual meetings. These services are open to anyone who is inquiring, starting out or is a veteran of the gluten-free, casein-free diet and biomedical interventions. Contact: Phyllis Zimmerman (970) 206-4979 Email: [email protected] You're Never Alone Multi-disability Support Group for families of children with special needs Sponsored by Larimer County Autism Society and Empower Colorado Third Tuesday of each month 6:30pm-8:00pm Trinity Lutheran Church 301 E Stuart, Fort Collins, CO FREE Childcare by reservation at (970) 980-7527 For further information please contact: Tina Boyer, (970) 980-7527 or Libby Stoddard, (970) 227-7196 Larimer County Epilepsy Support Group Provides support for people with epilepsy, their family and community members.

For further information contact Amanda Jaksha [email protected] Moms Night Support and friendship for Northern Colorado Mothers of Children with and without special needs. Meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month 7-9pm Locations vary. Please contact Brenda Tuttle at (970) 267-8705 or email [email protected]

[email protected] Special Online Support for Parents of Special Kids is a list serve for parents who reside in Northern Colorado. To join email [email protected] or contact Brenda Tuttle at [email protected] or (970) 267-8705. www.p2p-co.org Parent-to-Parent of Colorado We are a non-profit organization committed to quality Parent to Parent support across Colorado. We offer encouragement to each other on the journey of parenting our sons and daughters with disabilities or special health care needs. We do this by providing emotional and informational support, resources and by matching parents seeking sup-port with a support parent. www.peakparent.org PEAK Parent Center . 800-284-0251 The mission of PEAK Parent Center is to provide training, information and technical assis-tance to equip families of chil-dren birth through twenty-six including all disability conditions with strategies to advocate suc-cessfully for their children. As a result of PEAK’s services to fami-lies and professionals, children and adults with disabilities will live rich, active lives participating as full members of their schools and communities. www.arclc.org The Arc of Larimer County advo-cates for all individuals who have developmental disabilities to have opportunities and choices for inclusion and in-volvement in all aspects of life within our communities.

www.autismcolorado.org Autism Society of Colorado Our mission is to promote the quality of life for people with autism spectrum disorders and their families. FortCollinsAspergers_Austim@yahoo groups.com A group for parents, caretakers, teachers, of children on the au-tism spectrum to share informa-tion in the Larimer County, Northeastern Colorado areas. www.uchsc.edu/atp Assistive Technology Partners 800-255-3477 Device exchange program, data base of potential AT funding resources. Make and Take di-rections on various low cost AT adaptations and devices. Com-munity based demonstrations, annual conference www.ccdconline.org Colorado Cross Disability Coalition (303) 839-1775 Information and assistance on disability rights issues for youth and adults. Advances legislation and public policy impacting the disability community www.cde.state.co.us/index_special.htm Colorado Department of Educa-tion-Exceptional Student Leader-ship Unit (303) 866-6694 Website resources on special education law/school/district programs etc. FAST FACTS on a variety of topics. Information on educational specialists, parent-professional partnerships www.citizensforpatientsafety.org Citizens for Patient Safety (303) 226-5526 Patient safety information and referral. Advocacy training for those who have family members

in the hospital. Support for fami-lies/individuals dealing with legal issues in the medical sys-tem www.cdhs.state.co.us/ddd Division for Developmental Disabilities (303) 866-7450 Provides various services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Administers children and family program, adult pro-grams. Information on CCBS (Community Centered Boards) www.eastersealscolorado.org Easter Seals Colorado (303)233-1666 x237 Respite, including Discovery Club, weekend programs and summer camp. Warm water therapy and aquatic programs. Employment services/support, transition trainings, transporta-tion assessments. www.eicolorado.org Early Intervention Colorado 888-777-4041 Connects families with early intervention services to help infants and toddlers under age three grow and develop as well as help their families in the proc-ess www.elgrupovida.org El Grupo Vida (303) 904-6073 Information, referrals and sup-port groups for Spanish speak-ing families of children with spe-cial needs. Annual free confer-ence. www.empowercolorado.com Support, education, advocacy for families of children/youth with mental health issues. Support groups throughout the state. Statewide listserve

www.familyvoicesco.org Advocacy for children with spe-cial health care needs. Assists families in navigating health systems including Medicaid, Medicaid waivers and private insurance www.guardianshipallianceof colorado.org Guardianship Alliance of Colorado (303) 228-5382 Information and referral on guardianship, including volun-teer guardianship matching pro-gram. Information and training for those wishing to become a guardian for a family member who is 18 yrs or older. www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/PEP.asp Parents Encouraging Parents (303) 866-6846 Free conference including lodg-ing and meals, held twice per year at various statewide loca-tion (apply early as waiting lists occur frequently). Brings to-gether parents and professional for education on supporting your child in school and the commu-nity www.thelegalcenter.org The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People 800-288-1376 Advice on the legal rights of peo-ple with disabilities. Publishes: “Everyday Guide to Special Education Law”

Online Resources and

Support

BULLETIN BOARD Attention Families receiving Family Support Services! Quarterly expense forms are due July 5, 2011 Foothills Gateway Inc 301 W Skyway Dr Fort Collins, CO 80525 Fax: (970) 267-3497 Just in Time Parenting Newsletter Electronic Newsletters FREE valuable resource for parents of children prenatal through age 5 (with links to additional information for parents/providers working with school aged children and teen parents). These research based newsletters are written and reviewed by university faculty across the nation. The newsletters written at a 4th-6th grade reading level and available in both English and Span-ish. Other features include podcasts, “Ask and Expert” and videos. To sign up simply go to www.extension.org/parenting scroll down and look on the right for “parenting newslet-ter”. For further information please contact Dr Ann Bruce at (970) 491-7608 or [email protected] Moms’ Night Out Join Northern Colorado mothers of children with and without special needs

for support and friendship. We will meet several times this month 7pm-9pm. The following nights are a chat and craft nights at Dazbog Coffee, 401 Mason Ct, Fort Collins, Don't craft? No problem join us for support and friendship. June 9, July 7,and August 4, 7-9pm Each month we will also meet for dinner and social-izing at local restaurants Upcoming dates and loca-tions are: June 23 7-9pm Island Grill Fort Collins - 2601 S. Lemay (Scotch Pines Village) 970-266-0124 July 21, 7-9 Woody’s Woodfired Pizza Fort Collins, CO 80521-3602 (970) 482-7100 August 18 7-9pm Rio Grande Mexican Resturant 143 W. Mountain Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 224-5428 11th ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL BRUNCH August 26 10M-1PM Potluck Brunch, Brenda Tuttle’s House, 1445 Wakerobin Ct, Fort Collins, CO, (970) 267-8705

Unified Play Group Beginning of Summer Pizza Party May 27 10am-12 pm Chuck E Cheese, 105 W Prospect Rd, Fort Collins, (970) 221-2122 For more information contact Brenda Tuttle (970) 218-0362 or email [email protected] (check out the full summer schedule on page 10 of this newsletter) Unified Play Group End of Summer Family Play Date Aug 20 10AM-12PM Tie Dye Party, Inspiration Park, Spring Canyon Park, 2626 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins, CO For more information con-tact Brenda Tuttle (970) 218-0362 or email [email protected] (check out the full summer schedule on page 10 of this newsletter) Discovery Club Fort Collins Redeemer Lutheran Church 7755 Greenstone Trail Fort Collins, CO 80525 3rd Saturday of the Month 10:00am - 4:00pm Saturday, May 28, 2011 Explore and Learn Who: Kids of all abilities, ages 6 - 18 What: A day for children and youth to explore and learn

in a friendly social setting and an opportunity for par-ents to rest and recharge. Contact: Nancy Hanson, 303.233.1666 x237 for more information, space reservations or to volunteer. RESPITE Nights Special Friends Club Crossroads Church 5420 N. Taft Ave Loveland FREE Respite Nights for families of children with special needs June 25, July 23, & August 20 Please contact Melanee Willenbrecht, at 970-203-9201 ext.8120 or [email protected] Crossroads Church also has a new Special Friends Youth Group for middle school, high school & young adults. It is on Saturday’s from 6:15 to 8:15 pm in the Youth Building’s Club 45 Room. The upcoming dates are: June 18, July 30 and August 13

Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs

Mailing Address and Phone Number: Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs Larimer County Department of Health and Environment 1525 Blue Spruce Dr Fort Collins, CO 80524

(970) 498-6732

Larimer County Staff Team Leader/Community Health Services Director Averil Strand, RN, MSN (970) 498-6760 Nursing Coordinator Cindy Bradrick, RN BSN 498-6747 Program Coordinator Ginger Hillyard, BSW (970) 498-6732 CO-HEAR Regional Coordinator Annette Landes, SLP (970) 217-9532 Family Regional Consultant Brenda Tuttle (970) 267-8705 Nutrition Regional Coordinator Donna Uhlrich, RD (970) 498-6732 OT/PT Regional Coordinator Caryn Stanwyck, MS, PT (970) 691-1223 Social Work Regional Coordinator Anne Chaisson, MSW (970) 498-6733 Audiology Coordinator Nancy Alexander, MA, CCC-A (970) 586-6812

Neurology Clinics July 14, 2011 October 06, 2011 Dr. Paul Moe and Dr Michele Yang, Board Certified Pediatric Neurologists From: The Children’s Hospital, Aurora, CO To register contact: Cindy Bradrick RN, BSN with the Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs at Larimer County Department of Health and Environment 1525 Blue Spruce Dr Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 498-6747

Larimer County Department of Health and Environment

Immunization Program Walk-In Hours

Fort Collins 1525 Blue Spruce Dr. Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 498-6700

9am-12pm

1pm-3:30pm 9am-12pm

Loveland

205 E. Sixth Street Loveland, CO 80537 (970) 679-4580

3-6pm 9am-12pm

Estes Park 1601 Brodie Avenue Estes Park, CO 80517 (970) 577-2050

9am-12pm

3-6pm

3-6 pm

Office Location Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday

Dr. Paul Moe

Dr Michele Yang

It is hard for me to believe that my son Keith will be 18years old in December. Where has all the time gone? Like so many other parents of children with special needs I have made Keith’s physical, emotional and psychological needs a priority. As his parents my husband and I have made decisions concerning his health and well being for his entire life so, why can’t we continue make medical and financial decisions after his eighteenth birthday? We are his parents and the “experts” concerning “every thing Keith”. These are some of the questions I had one March morning entering into a class taught by Guardianship Alliance of Colo-rado and hosted by Foothills Gateway. This class entitled “Guardianship Petition Assistance” helps people petition for guardianship without having to hire an attorney. The instructor works with each class participant to tailor each petition to the particular needs of each family. This class removed much of the mystery of the need for and responsibilities of guardianship for me. Here is a small portion of what I learned that day: • Colorado law provides that when all persons become 18 years of age they are emancipated, i.e., released from pater-

nal care and responsibility and have full legal rights or capacity. The law does NOT say that if a person has a disability or illness that causes him to be unable to manage his own life, then he is not emancipated. Rather, in that case, it is necessary for a court to make a legal determination that (1) the person is incapacitated, and (2) someone should serve as his guardian.

• Guardianship gives a person or agency responsibility for making decisions on behalf of someone who is unable to make or communicate responsible decisions about his/her own life. The person for whom a guardian is appointed is called a "ward." Without being the guardian, you cannot legally make decisions for your son or daughter. Often service providers, including doctors and residential care staff, consult with parents who are not guardians and may take their consent in certain situations. However, they are not obligated to do so and may refuse because of concern for their own liability.

• Guardianship is a serious responsibility and one that should be approached with the same seriousness and attention which you apply to your own life. As a guardian you have overall responsibility for your ward's welfare. While guardian-ship provides important protection, it is also very restrictive. An unlimited guardianship can remove all of an individual's legal rights to manage his/her own life.

• Before considering guardianship for an adult with a disability, there must be an assessment of the person's functional capacity. This may include a recent psychological or psychiatric evaluation and a medical examination which, together, clearly describe the history, nature and degree of the disability.

• Before appointing a guardian, the court must find by “clear and convincing evidence” that the person is incapacitated. Colorado law defines an incapacitated person as “an individual, other than a minor, who is unable to effectively receive and evaluate information or make or communicate decisions to such an extent that the individual lacks the ability to satisfy essential requirements for physical health, safety, or self-care, even with appropriate and reasonably available technological assistance.” (C.R.S. 15-14-102(5))

• You must first consider if limited guardianship would be appropriate. Under limited guardianship, you are only responsi-ble for specific matters with which the ward may need assistance, for example, money management and/or medical decisions. The ward remains responsible for all other decisions. Colorado law presumes that only limited guardianship is required. If unlimited guardianship is requested, you must prove to the court that it is necessary

• The procedure for obtaining a guardianship in uncontested cases need not be difficult. It can be done with the assis-tance of an attorney or, if there is no contest to the guardianship, it is relatively easy to do on your own.

• As a guardian, your duties and responsibilities may be similar to those you have exercised as a parent. However, there are a few exceptions. Namely, you are NOT responsible to provide for your ward out of your own funds and you are NOT liable to third persons for your ward's actions and behaviors. Also, if you use reasonable care in choosing a service pro-vider for your ward, you are not liable for injury to the ward resulting from negligent or wrongful conduct of the provider.

• In addition, as a guardian you MAY NOT admit your ward for involuntary treatment for mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse or for institutionalization for developmental disabilities. Neither can you give consent for sterilization.

(Continued on page 11)

What do you mean Guardianship is not automatic for adults with special needs

By Brenda Tuttle

(Guardianship continued from page 10) • Even though, as a guardian, you will have responsibility for protecting and caring for your ward, it is important to care-

fully distinguish between providing adequate protection and imposing excessive restrictions. The law requires guardi-ans to make every effort to include their ward in all decision-making. The kind of information and how it is presented will have a bearing upon the ward's ability to participate in a decision. Information should be tailored to the under-standing of the individual; the language must be simple; repetition may be necessary, and visual aids may be helpful. Following the attempt to inform, special efforts should be made to determine whether the person has in fact under-stood the information, perhaps through quizzing or other feedback.

• In general, guardians have responsibility for personal and medical matters. If a ward has more assets than are re-quired to provide for his/her daily needs, or if he/she owns real estate, a conservatorship may be necessary. Conserva-tors are only responsible for money and property. Most adults with developmental disabilities do not need a conserva-tor. Guardians can manage limited amounts of money such as income from SSI, Social Security, and low wages. A guardian may also be the Representative Payee for a ward.

I hope these tidbits of information have given you some insight into what guardianship is and when it is appropriate to pur-sue. If you have further questions or concerns I encourage you to contact an attorney or the Guardianship Alliance of Colo-rado, 801 Yosemite Street, Denver, CO 80230, Christi Romero-Roseth, Guardian Coordinator, 303-228-5382 email: [email protected].

FREE Shriner’s Hospitals for Children Application Screening May 13, 2011 9am-4pm Weld County Health department 1555 N 17th Ave Greeley, CO No appointments are necessary to attend this Application Screening. For further information contact: Kathy Smith-Stillson, PhD, RN (970) 304-6420 ext. 2316 Application Screenings are available for all children up to their 18th birthday for any of the following medi-cal needs, including Pediatric Orthopedic conditions, complications from burns, cleft lip & palate, and spi-nal cord injury rehabilitation. It is important to note that these screenings are specifically designed for those with any of the following conditions: Cerebral Palsy,Cleft Lip & Palate, Club Foot, Leg Perthes Dis-ease, Scoliosis, Missing Limb(s), Bone Disease, Spinal cord injuries, Osteogenesis, Imperfecta-Brittle Bone Disease, Myelomeningocele (spina-bifida), Orthopedic birth defects, Problems associated with burns. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind health care system dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Every year, the 22 hospitals provided care for thousands of kids with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip & palate in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. Children under age 19 are eligible for care at Shriner’s Hospitals for Children if it is determined that there is a reasonable possibility they can benefit from the specialized services available. Acceptance is based solely on a child’s medical needs. A family’s income or insurance status are not criteria for a child’s accep-tance as a patient. However, Shriners Hospitals for Children accepts third-party pay from insurance com-panies and programs, if the family has insurance.

Unified Play Group A playgroup for kids

of all ages and abilities Summer 2011 Schedule

Friday Play Dates May 27 10AM-12PM Beginning of Summer Pizza Party Chuck E Cheese, 105 W Prospect Rd, Fort Collins, (970) 221-2122 June 3 2PM-4PM Inspiration Playground, Spring Canyon Park, 2626 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins, CO June 10 2PM-4PM Bowling at Chipper Lanes 217 West Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins, CO, 970.226.6327 June 17 2PM-4PM Chilson Recreation Center Pool, 700 East Fourth Street Loveland, CO 80537 (970) 962-2458 June 24 2PM-4PM Rollerland Skate Center, 324 South Link Lane, Fort Collins, CO. 80524 970-482-0497

July 1 10AM-12PM City Park Pool. 1599 City Park Ave ,Fort Collins, CO 80521, (970) 484-7665 July 08 10AM-12PM Lee Martinez Farm, 600 North Sherwood Street, Fort Collins July 15 10AM-12PM No meeting this week. July 22 10AM-5PM Water World, 1850 W 89th Ave,, Denver - (303) 427-7873. RSVP by July 20 for discount tickets, Brenda Tuttle (970) 218-0362 July 29 10AM-12PM Inspiration Park, Spring Canyon Park, 2626 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins, CO Aug 5 10AM-12PM Lyric Cinema & Café, 300 E Mountain Ave, Fort Cvollins, CO, FREE Cartoons with all your can eat cereal bar. Aug 12 10AM-12PM City Park Pool. 1599 City Park Ave ,Fort Collins, CO 80521, (970) 484-7665

All children must be supervised by a Personal Care Provider at all times.

A “personal care provider” is defined as a person who accompanies the child and assists the child with all necessary daily living skills. Please note that this is not a respite group.

. *Ending times are approximations.

End of Summer Family Play Date

Aug 20 10AM-12PM Tie Dye Party, Inspiration Park,

Spring Canyon Park, 2626 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins, CO

For further information please contact: Brenda Tuttle (970) 218-0362 or email [email protected]

Who’s Who at the Larimer Loop Newsletter Editor: Brenda Tuttle, HCP Family Consultant and FSSP Council Member (970) 267-8705 [email protected] Newsletter Review Team: Ginger Hillyard, HCP Program Coordinator (970) 498-6732 Kim Walkenhorst, EPSDT Coordinator and FSSP Council Member (970) 498-6755, Sondra Lee Children’s Case Management Coordinator at Foothills Gateway Inc (970)266-5424 Tim O’Neill Executive Director at Foothills Gateway Inc. (970) 226-2345 Debbie Lapp Director of Resource Coordination and Development at Foothills Gateway Inc. (970) 226-2346 Averil Strand, RN, MSN HCP Team Leader/Community Health Services Director (970) 498-6760 Libby Stoddard Parent, FSSP Co Chair (970) 227-7196 Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs Larimer County Department of Health and Environment 1525 Blue Spruce Dr Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 498-6732 Foothills Gateway, Inc. 301 W. Skyway Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525 Phone: (970) 226-2345

On July 1, 2010, Colorado’s new autism bill became effective. This bill is known as HIMAT or Health Mandated Autism Treatment. It is a huge step forward for Colorado families affected by autism. Many people have fought long and hard to gain this foothold in Colorado and I, for one, am extremely appreciative of their huge effort. This summer, I was able to attend and informative conference in Denver on HIMAT. Foothills Gateway graciously paid for my tuition and I learned a great deal about this new law. The main theme throughout the conference was that this bill will only apply to certain types of private group health insurance policies. Determining if your insurance policy is affected by HIMAT is the first hurdle to overcome. Basically, if your employer is headquartered in Colorado, HIMAT guidelines will most likely apply to them. More specifically, according to the Autism Society of Colorado: Health Benefit Plans that comply with HIMAT:

• Colorado Group Insurance Policies • Insured ERISA plans that purchase Colorado group insurance policies • Colorado State Employee Plans

Health Benefit Plans that may not have to comply with HIMAT: • Self-funded ERISA Plans • Group insurance policies issued to companies headquartered in another

state, even if employees reside in Colorado • Individual plans and self-funded church plans

One other important point is knowing WHEN this bill will become effective for your family. It became effective July 1, 2010. However, it will apply to qualifying insurance policies when they are issued or renewed. For instance, my family's insurance benefit year is from September 1st through August 31st each year. It is not based on a calendar year. In theory, HIMAT became effective for my son on September 1, 2010. (I say in “theory” because we are still working with our insurance company to obtain necessary approvals). It did not become effective for us on July 1, 2010. Another example would a policy based on a calendar year. If your benefit year is January 1 though December 31, HIMAT would become effective for you on January 1, 2011 (if your policy meets the necessary qualifications). Because this law is so new, insurance companies and providers are trying to learn all the new requirements and coverage requirements. It is a slow process. We work with an ABA provider in Denver that was very much on top of the requirements. They had all their approvals in place by July 1, 2010. Insurance companies have not been prompt in meeting their requirements, Our insurance company, for example, should have begun to cover ABA treatment effective September 1, 2010. Both the providers and I have been given verbal approval of this but have yet to actually see anything in writing or receive any compensation. Another theme of the conference was that there is still much debate about what HIMAT means for different parties. It is new and issues are being battled daily. But, in the long run, this is a forward step for treatment of autism in Colorado. The best resource for specific questions and answers on HIMAT is the Autism Society of Colorado’s website, www.autismcolorado.org There is a very comprehensive overview of the law on this website. Thank you so much, Foothills Gateway for enabling me to attend this informative conference.

What is HIMAT? How does it affect my Family?

By Jennifer Baker

Larimer LOOP

C/O Brenda Tuttle

Family Support Services Program Council

Foothills Gateway Inc.

301 W. Skyway Drive

Fort Collins, CO 80525

(970) 267-8705

[email protected]

Have you received two copies of this newsletter? Would you prefer to receive this newsletter electronically or in Spanish?

Please contact Brenda Tuttle at (970) 267-8705.

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Fort Collins. CO

Permit No. 483

larimer loop spring 2011

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