LOCAL PARENT TASK FORCE ON THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION

The mission of the Local Task Force on the Right to Education for Beaver County is to facilitate cooperative interaction between parents and educators by providing information, resources, support and training to insure that the spirit and intent of the Right to Education Consent Decree results in the provision of a free, appropriate education for all eligible students with disabilities.

All meetings are open to interested persons, for more information contact:
CHAIRPERSON, LOCAL TASK FORCE
c/o Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit
147 Poplar Avenue
Monaca, PA 15061-2585
724-774-7800 ext 3002


2011-2012 School Year Meeting Schedule
10:00AM
Wednesdays
March 21, 2012
April 18, 2012
May 16, 2012


The Local Task Force on the Right to Education for Beaver County serves the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit www.bviu.org  and the following school districts:


Aliquippa School District


Ambridge Area School District


Big Beaver Falls Area School District


Blackhawk Area School District


Central Valley School District


Freedom Area School District


Hopewell Area School District


Midland Borough School District


New Brighton Area School District


Riverside Beaver County School District


Rochester Area School District


Rochester Area School District


South Side Area School District


Western Beaver County School District

Occupational, Speech, Physical Therapy in Beaver County

Hope Learning Center
http://thehopelearningcenter.com/
Baden, PA
at the PA Cyber Building Blocks location
724-933-HOPE

Aspire Pediatric Therapy
http://www.aspirepediatrictherapy.com/
993 Brodhead Road
Moon Township, PA
412-474-3566


Pediatric Therapy Professionals,Inc.
http://www.pedtp.com/pages/services.html
3023 Wilmington Road
New Castle, Pennsylvania 16105
724-656-8814
Fax 724-656-8815
E-mail: contact@pedtp.com
**They offer services in Beaver County


TALKTIME SPEECH THERAPY
http://www.ttspeech.com/

Talktime Speech Therapy

2400 Darlington Road

Beaver Falls, PA 15010

724.846.TALK (8255)

contact@ttspeech.com

The TSS Scheduling Process

The initiative Value Behavioral Health is adopting is called The TSS Scheduling Process.

This is being created to focus prescriptions of TSS to most effectively meet the needs of the child. Yes, a form will be used to document the days and times when services would be most beneficial for a child. The Evaluator has to complete this, in cooperation with the parent and other responsible adults. The form must be submitted with the evaluation and will be reviewed during the ISPT Meeting. If the ISPT team requests changes to the hours recommended, the changes can be recorded on the ISPT Summary Form, to be reviewed, approved, and signed by the evaluator. What is the effect of the form?

 

Services will be delivered only during the times specified on the TSS Schedule Form
Service time for TSS will match the clinical needs of the child as outlined in the BHRS Symptom Worksheet.

These forms will be mandatory beginning 1/1/12.

Medical assistance concerns 2012

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE has announced changes in Medical Assistance for children with disabilities effective January 3, 2012....

1. The reviews of Medicaid eligibility that started this past summer have particularly affected children. As discussed in previous newsletters, DPW officials ordered local County Assistance Offices to process a backlog of Medicaid cases that were overdue for renewal resulting in more than 700,000 eligibility reviews.

Medicaid enrollment data for children shows a drop of 88,000 –half of that in December alone – since August 2011. These numbers do not include an additional 23,000 children whose benefits
were cut but eventually restored retroactively. Given that virtually all Pennsylvania children without insurance are eligible for either CHIP or Medicaid, it is particularly troubling that the CHIP enrollment did not see a corresponding increase. According to program rules and procedures, when a child’s family income is too high for Medicaid, they are automatically referred to the CHIP program.

However, even as 88,000 children lost Medicaid coverage, CHIP program enrollment remained virtually flat, growing by only 309 children in the same August to December 2011 period.
Social service agencies, healthcare providers and legal aid programs across the Commonwealth all report an increase in individuals terminated from Medicaid due to alleged failure to furnish renewal documents. Many of those terminated not only continued to be eligible for Medicaid, but turned in the required paperwork in a timely fashion and had proof that they faxed, mailed or hand delivered the requested documents. However, their paperwork was apparently lost or was not properly attached to their case record by the County Assistance Office, and their benefits ended.

Individuals who receive MA termination notices and think they are still eligible can contact our
Helpline for assistance at 1-800-274-3258.
REMINDER:
The CAOs are required to send individuals a 15-day advance written notice before closing a Medicaid case. If individuals receive a termination notice but believe they might still be eligible for Medicaid, they should file an appeal within 15 days of the mailing date on the notice.

2.
DPW announced that it plans to ask families with children under age 18 on Medicaid due to their disability, and whose family income is more than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines ($44,700 for a family of four), to pay part of the cost of services starting September 2012. These co-pays are a result of the state budget cost-savings mandated by Act 22 of 2011 and will affect approximately 38,000 children. The Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) is in the process of finalizing policies and procedures regarding the co-pays. Notices will be sent to affected families 30 days prior to implementation.

Medical providers will be responsible for collecting co-payments and may do so at the time of service or make other arrangements for payment. The total amount of co-payments for all Medical Assistance services the child (or children, if more than one child in the family is on Medical Assistance) receives can not exceed the federal legal limit of five percent of the family's income, counted on a monthly or quarterly basis. So, for example, if the family’s income is $48,000 a year, the total amount of all Medical Assistance copays for which they would be responsible could not exceed $200 a month ($4000 a month income x5%) or $600 for three months if DPW decides to calculate this quarterly. Each copay can not be in excess of 20 percent of the cost of the service. Reportedly, co-payments will not be applied to school-based services,
preventative services, and other items or services that are currently excluded from MA co-payment under federal rules.

It is not known whether DPW will deduct a family’s current out-of-pocket costs for their child’s health care when calculating family income. Other questions include: how will DPW track their co-pays paid to all providers to determine when a family can stop paying co-pays? How will DPW notify providers when the family no longer has to pay co-pays?

It is unclear whether providers will be required to provide services if the co-payment is not paid. More clarity will be needed, as these rules are under the Deficit Reduction Act, which is different from co-payments under traditional Medicaid rules.

PHLP will continue updates as new information is received.

3.PLease visit http://www.phlp.org/home-page/about to learn more about Pennsylvania Health Law Project or call 1-800-274-3258.

PHLP is a nationally recognized expert and consultant on access to health care for low-income consumers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. For more than two decades, PHLP has engaged in direct advocacy on behalf of individual consumers while working on the kinds of health policy changes that promise the most to the Pennsylvanians in greatest need.
They are a free law legal service organization and back up center......

BEAVER COUNTY AGENCIES (WRAP, MOBILE THERAPY, BSC, CASE MANAGEMENT

If you have had an evaluation completed for your child by a psychologist and services have been recommended for wrap around, mobile therapy, strength based, family based, socical skills training, or outpatient therapy, you first want to contact the BEAVER COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH and set up and ISTP meeting.
This is where Value Behavioral Health, the insurance provider for your state insurance, will meet with you and make a determination if they will cover the services being recommended.


Evaluation cannot be older than 60 days for services to be approved.

Beaver County Behavioral Health
1040 Eighth Avenue,
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
(724) 847-6225
***You also need to choose a service provider from Beaver County. Below are the agencies that you can choose from. You can also switch providers at anytime. so you are not stuck with the first one you choose.



Northwest Human Services (NHS)
Kelly Nardone, Site Manager
260 Ohio River Blvd.. Baden Plaza
Baden, PA 15005
(724)869-5004
Fax: (724) 869-5449
BSC, TSS ,
Mobile therapy
Social skills group called Stepping Stones for ages 3-15
after school 4:30 to 7:30
Saturdays 9-12 or 12-3pm
Contact - Stepping Stone manager
Erin Dixon

Community Alternatives
Janine Cecconi, Program Director
500 Market St., Suite 300
Bridgewater, PA
15009
(724) 728-0535
Fax: (724) 728-1605





Family Behavioral Resources
Rachel Cornilius, Clinical Directors
Nicole Maneul, austim director
1301 Riverside Dr.
Beaver, PA 15009
(724) 775-1362
Fax: (724) 775-3793
*ASD support group
Social; skills group offered while parents meet
Internal staff available for kids while at the meeting
6-8pm
*Trauma support group - PTSD -
6-7:30pm
*TSS, BSC, Mobile Therapy
**Trauma trained masters level therapists available





Glade Run
Lutheran Services
Jackie Skinner, Operations Director
Jennifer Barch
1008 7th Avenue,
Suite 210
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
(724) 843-0816
Fax: (724)
843-0818
BSC, TSS, Family based, outpatient therapy, Mobile therapy, Strength based therapy ( not avail to ASD)
www.gladerun.org
Specialized ASD classrooms at the Glade Run Zelienople Campus - Contact Jamie Grace
http://www.gladerun.org/autism-services.php





Western PA Psych Care

Dawn Brendle - Autism Supervisor
Heather Morrow, Program Director
Greg DeDominicis, Admin.Mgr.
1607 3rd St.
Beaver, PA 15009
(724) 728-8400
Fax: (724)843-0818
Anger Mangement class
Mondays
6-7:30pm
Social skills
Tuesday
6-7:30pm
Family Support Network
November 1 and November 15
6:00 to 7:30pm
Agency Website:
www.westernpapsychcare.com
Group run by parents
www.familysupportnetwork.info





Cranberry Psychiatric Services

Mental Health Solutions
Eric Dennison, ProgramDirector
717 12th St
Beaver, PA 15010
(724) 843-4647
Fax: (724)843-8033



Wesley Institute

Heather Dawn Filipiak/Erika Gribble
5465 William Flynn Highway,
3rd Floor
Gibsonia, PA 15044
(724) 443-4888
Fax: (724)443-4889





Comprehensive Children & Family Services,
Inc.
Mike Trotta, Autism Program Coordinator
Misty Trosch
220 Fifth St.
Ellwood City, PA 16117
(800) 630-2237
Fax: (724)656-8046


OR




20 South Mercer St.
New Castle, PA 16101
(724) 656-8483
Fax: (724)656-8046

TECHNOLOGY GRANT - I-PAD

http://www.autismcares.org/site/c.mqLOIYOBKlF/b.4844551/k.9606/Technology_Grant.htm

Financial Support Awards

NEXT APPLICATION DEADLINE:March 22, 2011

Note: All applicants from the February 22nd cycle will be notified via email of decisions by the 3rd of March.
 

   Technology Grant

<><>

Autism Speaks iPad 2 Technology Grant Through the generosity of Wyndham Worldwide, the Pickle Foundation, and Heather Nix of Washington, Autism Speaks will select 160 individuals with autism to receive an Apple iPad 2! Eligible applicants are individuals who: - Have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder by a licensed professional, - Reside in the United States, - Have limited income and cannot afford to purchase an iPad. *Note: If you already submitted an application for the HP Slate 2 grant in December 2011, you will automatically be considered for the iPad 2 grant and there is no need to re-apply. Technology Grant Timeline February 29: Online Application Opens March 7: Application Closes March 8-29: Review Committee Selects Recipients March 30: Recipients Announced!! How to Apply Applications must be submitted by the person with autism or an immediate family member of the person with autism. The Technology Grant Review Committee will review eligible applications based on established criteria and select the iPad grant recipients. Some applicants will be contacted by staff for follow up information. All applicants selected to receive an iPad 2 will be contacted on March 30. Others will receive an email informing them of their status. Click here to apply! You must create a login and select AutismCares iPad 2 Grant. Autism Apps! We are also thrilled to announce that Brain Parade™ has partnered with Autism Speaks to provide each iPad 2 recipient with a copy of their See.Touch.Learn.™ Pro 2012 app. Brain Parade has also arranged with developers in the Moms with Apps collaborative to donate hundreds of copies of their family friendly apps. Together they are providing 1,120 free apps to the iPad 2 recipients! Click here for details about Brain Parade and the apps provided. Click here to see a list of Autism Apps in the Autism Speaks Resource Library! Questions or comments? Contact Serena Selkin, Family Services Grants Manager at sselkin@autismspeaks.org or (917) 475-5059.

Beaver County Special Needs Support Groups

Blessings
Blessings is a community support group where individuals can feel cared for, supported, and grow in their faith in God while facing the challenges of raising a child with learning differences.
Learning differences include but are not limited to, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Autism Specturm Disorder

2nd Friday of each month
7:30pm to 8:30pm
Room 206
Through May 11, 2012
First Presbyterian Church
252 College Avenue
Beaver, PA 15009

Childcare provided in Fellowship Hall for elementary school age children.
Invite a friend or join anytime!
Please contact blessingsfpc@gmail.com or the FOC office at 724-774-6398 for additional information.

Visit The Blessings Blog
http://blessingsfpc.blogspot.com/



Family Behavioral Resources
Rachel Cornilius, Clinical Directors
Nicole Maneul, autism director
1301 Riverside Dr.
Beaver, PA 15009
(724) 775-1362
Fax: (724) 775-3793

**ASD support group
Social; skills group offered while parents meet
Internal staff available for kids while at the meeting
6-8pm


*Trauma support group -
Family Support Groups are offered in every region that FBR serves. The Family Support Groups are offered at the same time as our Social Skill / Play Groups. Meetings are offered in collaboration with the Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders (ABOARD) and are usually two hours in length. When requested by families, monthly guest speakers are featured on various topics of interest pertaining to treatments for autism and related issues. Please contact Cathy Hughes, Director of Family Support Services, at 1-866-4-FBR-ASD or autismservices@familybehavioralresources.com for additional information.


Family Support Network
meets the first Tuesday of every month at the Mental Health Association in Rochester on the 2nd Floor from 6:30pm -- 8:00pm
Contact Shirl at 724-843-3763 for additional information.



PARENTS IN TOTO
143 Main Street
Zelienople, PA
www.parentsintoto.org
They offer....
Young Adult Support group
Fridays, 7:00 to 8:00pm
Welcomes all men and women ages 16+ for friendship, board games, and sharing. No charge. Contact Mary at 724.473.0990 or mary@parentsintoto.org for more information or to RSVP.
Family Support Groups
First three Saturdays of the month
1:00 to 3:00pm
Parents in Toto welcomes all family members: parents, siblings, relatives and friends of a child diagnosed along the Autism Spectrum. No charge.


Cranberry CARES
Cranberry CARES Support Group meets the second Friday of each month from 10AM-12PM at Parents in Toto. This group is geared towards parents with children diagnosed with Asperger's or HFA to share experiences.


Autism Support Group
meets the Fourth Thursday of each month from 12-2PM at Parents in Toto. This group welcomes parents with children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder to share experiences.
Dates for August - December 2011:



Western PA Psych Care
Heather Morrow, Program Director
Greg DeDominicis, Admin.Mgr.
1607 3rd St.
Beaver, PA 15009
(724) 728-8400
Fax: (724)843-0818
Anger Mangement class
Mondays
6-7:30pm
Social skills
Tuesday
6-7:30pm



Family Support Network



6:00 to 7:30pm
Group run by parents
www.familysupportnetwork.info


PITTSBURGH PARENT CHADD
Second Tuesday of month
Classrooms at St John Newman Church, Rochester Road 7-9pm
pghparentchadd@gmail.com
Beth Tauberg 412-967-0913
Parents, teachers, advocates and individuals interested in learning about attention deficits
Driving directions are at
http://www.stjohnneumannpgh.org
www.chadd.org


PITTSBURGH WARRIOR PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP
Group for parents/caregivers of children with AUTISM, ADHD, and other neurological disorders interested in discussing environmental impacts, dietary interventions, and biomedical treatments. Meets monthly at Aspire Pediatric Therapy in Moon Township.
Meeting times/dates please contact
Angela Short
angndon@gmail.com
Online discussion at
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PittsburghWarriorParents




ABOARD AUTISM CONNECTION
http://autism-support.org/
412-781-4116
800-827-9385


ABOARD’s Autism Connection of PA provides autism support across the state of Pennsylvania. We offer autism support to parents, including autism support groups, autism resources, and autism conferences and events. We also provide information on the signs and symptoms of autism, getting an autism diagnosis, and applying for medical assistance and health insurance. Finally, we help people with autism by providing information on autism treatments, links to autism research studies, and support groups for people on the spectrum.
Do you have a child newly diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder? Please contact us. We will help you receive the services you need.



PEAL CENTER
www.pealcenter.org
Pennsylvania’s Parents Training and Information Center serving Western and Central Pa. Organization provides disability info, info about special education process and parent’s rights, Parent Advixors are available to provide info and resources to assist the family with problem-solving strategies and direct them to other community resources ,trainings in Understanding IEP’s, IDEA’04, Building Continuity, etc


For information contact:


Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership Center
1119 Penn Avenue
Suite 400
Pittsburgh Pa 15222
412-422-1040
1-866-950-1040
cduch@pealcenter.org


PARENT TO PARENT OF Pennsylvania
www.parenttoparent.org