Special Needs Resource Directory

Chronically Ill Day Care facilities provide for children with chronic medical and / or mental health conditions. Care for these children includes:

• Medications and treatments
• Developmental therapies
• Tracheotomy and feeding tube care
• Ventilator management
• Enteral (by way of the intestine) feeds

Chronically Ill Day Care is mostly needed before and after school, on weekends, holidays and during the summer months. Therapies such as occupational, physical and speech therapies and / or counseling can often be provided. In addition, respiratory therapies, medication and feedings could also be administered.

They are usually separate for mental health versus medical health and various age groups. Occasionally, these facilities are also limited by the severity of the condition and / or level of care.

Acutely Ill Day Care facilities care for children with acute infectious illnesses who are otherwise well or chronically ill. There are usually some limitations to which infectious diseases each facility will care for.

They are mostly needed during weekday school hours since September through June is when infectious illnesses are most common.

Respite Care is usually periodic, overnight care to:

• Give caregivers a break
• Cover caregiver vacations
• Help look after child when the caregivers are too ill to provide the care themselves

Respite Care is needed year-round to cover family illnesses, special events, vacations and stressful times when families need a break. Respite care should be able to provide the same services as Chronically Ill Day Cares.

It is not uncommon for a child to have multiple conditions that include all three of these categories.

Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) centers provide medical care for children with complex medical needs in a day care setting. PPECs complement home care by combining medical care along with the benefits of socialization, activities and therapies. They are staffed by registered nurses who provide the acute medical care needed for children to attend. PPECs receive reimbursement by Medicaid for services that are determined to be medically necessary. They are not available in every state and guidelines vary. Ohio does not support PPECs which makes it challenging for children with a range of chronic conditions to find day care. Organizations in Ohio are lobbying to change this.

• Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Services Handbook, Florida Medicaid

• 4C for Children, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky local resource for child care referrals, information for families on how to choose quality child care, free publications, links, resources and child care eSearch feature. They provide free referrals to child care centers and family home providers and are able to search for providers that care for children with special needs.
• 249Smiles is a free site to search for child care providers in Cincinnati. Providers can indicate if they have a background in caring for children with special needs.
• Camp Courageous, located in Whitehouse, Ohio, offers residential, day and respite weekend camps throughout the summer and fall.
• Care.com provides an online directory of respite providers for special needs, organized by zip code. However, Cincinnati Children's cannot endorse or recommend any specific providers.  
• Children's Home of Cincinnati offers a Child Care Program for day care and kindergarten readiness for children ages 3 months through 5 years of age. Children with special needs are accepted, but they must be able to function in their day care and preschool program settings.
• Family Support Services Program, sponsored by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, may fund services that promote self-sufficiency or inclusion, prevents or reduces inappropriate institutional care, or furthers family unity. In order to be eligible an individual must qualify for Developmental Disabilities services. Also, there may be a percentage of cost share depending on taxable income. You can reach them at 513-559-6800.
• Good Shepherd Home Care provides respite services.
• Head Start of Hamilton County early childhood development program offers children, ages 3 to 5, and their families access to educational opportunities as well as services to meet their health, nutritional and social needs. Head Start's comprehensive program is funded through grants from the federal and state government and is targeted primarily to children from families with limited resources.
• Josh Cares provides extra companionship and comfort to children hospitalized in critical care units at Cincinnati Children’s who are alone. Josh Cares Fellows serve as surrogates for, and as links to, the families who would be by their children's sides if they could.
• Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has information on waivers which can help with respite services for eligible families. Contact your Service Facilitator to begin the process.     
• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services provides a daycare facility locator.
• Parent Group Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati works to address the common needs and concerns of individuals, families and children living with developmental disabilities. They provide a comprehensive directory of respite care providers in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
• Positive Leaps, located in West Chester, Ohio, provides day treatment, mental health assessment and counseling services to young children and their families, child behavior coaching for parents, and training services to professionals throughout the greater Cincinnati region.
• Recreation Unlimited, located in Ashley, Ohio, provides year-round respite weekend camps for youth and adults ages 8 and older.  
• Resident Home Corporation (RHC) provides short term emergency respite services.
• Saint Joseph Home of Cincinnati offers a respite program with 24-hour personal and medical services for medically fragile and developmentally disabled infants and young adults.
• Stepping Stones Center provides evening respite opportunities throughout the year.
• Camp Allyn offers weekend respite for children, teens, and adults with disabilities. Programming, offered twice a month, provides opportunities to spend time with friends, play games, participate in arts and crafts projects and outdoor exploration under the supervision qualified staff.
• UC UCEDD has information and resource on respite care.
• Youthland Academy Enrichment Center in Sharonville accepts children ages 6 weeks to 12 years diagnosed with autism and other related neuro-behavioral disorders such as ADD, ADHD, sensory integration, and generalized anxiety disorder. Services include occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychological services. Availability for siblings in need of typical childcare will be accommodated.

• 4C for Children, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky local resource for child care referrals, information for families on how to choose quality child care, free publications, links, resources and child care eSearch feature. They provide free referrals to child care centers and family home providers and are able to search for providers that care for children with special needs.

• Care.com provides an online directory of respite providers for special needs, organized by zip code. However, Cincinnati Children's cannot endorse or recommend any specific providers.

• Home of the Innocents, Kosair Charities Pediatric Convalescent Center, Louisville, Kentucky, serves medically fragile children, ages birth to 21. The skilled nursing facility provides short-term, long-term and respite care for children with severe developmental and/or physical disabilities, as well as ventilator dependency.

• Kidz Club is a day care center for children who are medically fragile. They are a Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) facility with locations in Northern Kentucky, Louisville and Lexington. They accept insurance and Kentucky Medicaid and have a links to helpful resources in Kentucky.
• Parent Group Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati works to address the common needs and concerns of individuals, families and children living with developmental disabilities. They provide a comprehensive directory of respite care providers in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
• Redwood, located in Northern Kentucky, offers quality programs that serve children with and without special needs, including:
• Early intervention
• Preschool education
• School age child care
• Summer Youth Program
• Early childhood child care
• Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) facility offers comprehensive nursing and developmental services for children with special healthcare needs.
• Sproutlings Pediatric Day Care & Preschool, located in Kosair Charities Center on the Masonic Homes' Louisville, Kentucky campus, is scheduled to open August 15, 2011. As a prescribed pediatric extended care center, they can provide skilled nursing as well as occupational, speech and physical therapy. They have a fully inclusive approach that provides support for medically fragile children alongside children attending their traditional day care and preschool. Sproutlings provides day, evening and weekend services for infants through school-age.
• UC UCEDD has information and resource on respite care.

• Care.com provides several helpful resources for family caregivers:
• Special Needs Childcare Guide
• Special Needs Respite Care Guide
• Special Needs Care for Adult Children
• ChildCareAware™ provides a guide to choosing quality child care for a child with special needs.
• Get Creative About Respite, developed by the Connecticut Lifespan Respite Coalition, has helpful suggestions on different types of respite, finding respite providers, questions to ask and many other tips.
• National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education has information on choosing child care, individual state licensure regulations and standards on caring for children with special needs.
• Zero to Three", a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping promote the healthy development of our nation's infants and toddlers, offers various tips on child care.